Arlington vs Fort Worth
How do source-of-income discrimination rules compare between Arlington, TX and Fort Worth, TX?
Arlington and Fort Worth have similar restriction levels.
Arlington, TX
Tarrant County
Arlington does not prohibit landlord refusal of Section 8 housing-choice vouchers or other lawful sources of income. Texas Local Government Code §250.007 expressly preempts local source-of-income protections, leaving voucher acceptance entirely at landlord discretion citywide.
View full Arlington rules →Fort Worth, TX
Tarrant County
Unlike Dallas and Austin, Fort Worth has not amended its Human Relations ordinance to prohibit housing discrimination based on lawful source of income. Landlords may legally refuse Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers in Fort Worth, with no Texas state protection either.
View full Fort Worth rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Arlington | Fort Worth |
|---|---|---|
| Voucher acceptance | Optional | - |
| State preemption | TX §250.007 | - |
| Federal protected class | Income not included | - |
| Other discrimination banned | Yes | - |
| Fort Worth ordinance | - | No SOI protection |
| Texas state law | - | No SOI protection |
| Federal Fair Housing Act | - | Excludes source of income |
| Voucher refusal legality | - | Permitted in Fort Worth |
| Pretext discrimination | - | Still illegal |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Arlington FAQ
Can an Arlington landlord refuse my Section 8 voucher?
Yes. Texas Local Government Code §250.007 preempts cities from requiring voucher acceptance, so Arlington landlords may decline housing-choice vouchers without local penalty.
Are any income-based protections in place?
Federal law protects against race, disability, and familial-status discrimination but not source of income. Voucher denials alone are lawful under current Texas law.
Fort Worth FAQ
Can a Fort Worth landlord refuse a Section 8 voucher?
Yes. Fort Worth has not adopted a source-of-income protection ordinance, and Texas state law does not protect voucher holders. Landlords may decline to participate in the Housing Choice Voucher program.
Why does Dallas protect vouchers but Fort Worth does not?
Dallas amended its Anti-Discrimination Ordinance in 2020 to add source of income as a protected class. Fort Worth City Council has not enacted a similar amendment, so voucher protection is not available citywide.
Compare other topics
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