Rental Property Rules in Houston, TX (2026)
11 verified rental property rules for Houston, Texas, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Rent Control
Houston has NO local rent control ordinance and cannot adopt one under Tex. Local Gov't Code § 214.902, which preempts municipal rent control unless the governor approves it after a declared housing-emergency disaster. The Houston Code of Ordinances contains no rent stabilization chapter and most rent increases are unrestricted.
Houston Rent Control: No Local Ordinance — Texas State Law Only
Few RestrictionsJust Cause Eviction
Houston has NO local just-cause eviction ordinance. Texas is a no-cause termination state under Tex. Prop. Code § 91.001 — a month-to-month tenancy may be ended by either party on 30 days' written notice without stating a reason. Fixed-term leases may be terminated for breach under Tex. Prop. Code Ch. 24.
Houston Just Cause Eviction: No Local Ordinance — Texas State Law Only
Few RestrictionsTex. Prop. Code § 91.001 (Notice for Terminating Certain Tenancies)
Sec. 91.001. NOTICE FOR TERMINATING CERTAIN TENANCIES. (a) A monthly tenancy or a tenancy from month to month may be terminated by the tenant or the landlord giving notice of termination to the other.(b) If a notice of termination is given under Subsection (a) and if the rent-paying period is at least one month, the tenancy terminates on whichever of the following days is the later:(1) the...
Rental Registration
Houston does not have a mandatory rental property registration or licensing program. Texas state preemption under HB 2127 limits the city's ability to create new local rental regulations. The only registration requirement is for short-term rentals under the 2025 STR ordinance.
Houston Rental Property Registration
Few RestrictionsRelocation Assistance
Texas law does not require landlords to pay relocation assistance when terminating a tenancy, demolishing a building, or converting use, and Houston has no local ordinance creating such a duty for displaced renters.
No Tenant Relocation Assistance Required in Houston
Few RestrictionsSecurity Deposit Rules
Texas Property Code Section 92.103 requires landlords to refund a tenant's security deposit within 30 days of move-out, with itemized deductions for damage beyond normal wear and tear; Houston has no stricter local rule.
Texas Security Deposit Rules Apply in Houston
Some RestrictionsTex. Property Code § 92.103
Sec. 92.103. OBLIGATION TO REFUND. (a) Except as provided by Section 92.107, the landlord shall refund a security deposit to the tenant on or before the 30th day after the date the tenant surrenders the premises.(b) A requirement that a tenant give advance notice of surrender as a condition for refunding the security deposit is effective only if the requirement is underlined or is printed in co...
Cash-for-Keys Agreements
Texas does not regulate cash-for-keys agreements between landlords and tenants, and Houston has no ordinance setting minimum payments, written-disclosure requirements, or cooling-off periods for voluntary move-out deals.
No Cash-for-Keys Rules in Houston
Few RestrictionsNo-Fault Evictions
Texas Property Code Chapter 24 allows landlords to terminate month-to-month tenancies or refuse to renew fixed-term leases without cause, requiring only proper written notice; Houston imposes no just-cause requirement.
Texas Allows No-Fault Eviction at Lease End
Few RestrictionsTex. Property Code § 91.001
Sec. 91.001. NOTICE FOR TERMINATING CERTAIN TENANCIES. (a) A monthly tenancy or a tenancy from month to month may be terminated by the tenant or the landlord giving notice of termination to the other.(b) If a notice of termination is given under Subsection (a) and if the rent-paying period is at least one month, the tenancy terminates on whichever of the following days is the later:(1) the day ...
Pass-Through Charges
Texas does not regulate landlord pass-through of utility, capital, or operating costs to tenants beyond lease terms, and Houston has no local ordinance limiting them; submetered utilities follow PUC rules.
Lease Governs Pass-Through Charges in Houston
Few RestrictionsTenant Anti-Harassment
Texas Property Code Section 92.331 prohibits landlord retaliation for a narrow set of tenant actions, but Houston has no Tenant Anti-Harassment Ordinance like Los Angeles or Seattle covering broader landlord harassment.
Texas Retaliation Statute Only; No Houston TAHO
Few RestrictionsTex. Property Code § 92.331
Sec. 92.331. RETALIATION BY LANDLORD. (a) A landlord may not retaliate against a tenant by taking an action described by Subsection (b) because the tenant:(1) in good faith exercises or attempts to exercise against a landlord a right or remedy granted to the tenant by lease, municipal ordinance, or federal or state statute;(2) gives a landlord a notice to repair or exercise a remedy under this ...
Source-of-Income Discrimination
Houston has not adopted a source-of-income antidiscrimination ordinance, so private landlords may legally refuse Section 8 vouchers, SSI, or housing-subsidy income; Texas state law preempts most local SOI protections.
No Source-of-Income Protection in Houston
Few RestrictionsTex. Local Government Code § 250.007
Sec. 250.007. REGULATION OF RENTAL OR LEASING OF HOUSING ACCOMMODATIONS. (a) Except as provided by this section, a municipality or county may not adopt or enforce an ordinance or regulation that prohibits an owner, lessee, sublessee, assignee, managing agent, or other person having the right to lease, sublease, or rent a housing accommodation from refusing to lease or rent the housing accommoda...
Section 8 Voucher Acceptance
Houston Housing Authority administers the federal Housing Choice Voucher program for over 18,000 households, but landlord participation is voluntary because Texas preempts mandatory voucher acceptance ordinances.
Houston Housing Authority Runs HCV; Acceptance Voluntary
Some RestrictionsLooking for Harris County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Houston city rules.
Rental Property Rules in Harris County →