Rental Property Rules in Harris County, TX (2026)
6 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 6 cities in Harris County, Texas.
Verified from official government sources
Rent Control
Rent control is prohibited statewide in Texas under Texas Property Code Chapter 214. Harris County cannot impose rent control on any rental properties in unincorporated areas. Landlords set rents at market rates with no limits on increases.
Rental Property: Rent Control
Few RestrictionsTexas Local Government Code Sec. 214.902 (Rent Control — Authorized Only During Disaster Emergency with Governor Approval)
Sec. 214.902. RENT CONTROL. (a) The governing body of a municipality may, by ordinance, establish rent control if: (1) the governing body finds that a housing emergency exists due to a disaster as defined by Section 418.004, Government Code; and (2) the governor approves the ordinance. (b) The governing body shall continue or discontinue rent control in the same manner that the governor continu...
Just Cause Eviction
Texas has no just-cause eviction protections. Harris County landlords can terminate month-to-month leases with proper notice without stating a reason. Evictions follow Texas Property Code Chapter 24 procedures through Justice of the Peace courts.
Rental Property: Just Cause Eviction
Few RestrictionsTexas Property Code Sec. 24.005 (Notice to Vacate)
Sec. 24.005. NOTICE REQUIRED BEFORE FILING CERTAIN EVICTION SUITS. (a) If the occupant is a tenant under a written lease or oral rental agreement, the landlord must give a tenant who defaults or holds over beyond the end of the rental term or renewal period at least three days' written notice to vacate the premises before the landlord files a forcible detainer suit, unless the parties have cont...
Rental Registration
Unincorporated Harris County has no rental property registration requirement. Landlords are not required to register rental units with the county. No registry, fee, or inspection program exists for residential rental properties in unincorporated areas.
Rental Property: Rental Registration
Few RestrictionsTexas Property Code Sec. 92.0563 (Tenant Remedies)
Sec. 92.0563. TENANT'S JUDICIAL REMEDIES. (a) A tenant's judicial remedies under Section 92.056 shall include:(1) an order directing the landlord to take reasonable action to repair or remedy the condition;(2) an order reducing the tenant's rent, from the date of the first repair notice, in proportion to the reduced rental value resulting from the condition until the condition is repaired or re...
Security Deposit Rules
Texas Property Code Sections 92.101 through 92.110 set statewide security-deposit rules for all Harris County rentals. Landlords must return the deposit within 30 days of move-out with an itemized list of any deductions. The county does not impose stricter local limits; state law preempts local deposit regulation.
Security Deposits Governed by TX Property Code 92.103
Light RestrictionsTexas Property Code Sec. 92.103 (Obligation to Refund Security Deposit)
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...
No-Fault Evictions
Texas allows landlords to end fixed-term leases at expiration and to terminate month-to-month tenancies with at least 30 days' written notice for any lawful reason. Harris County has no just-cause requirement and no county ordinance restricting end-of-lease nonrenewal of private rentals.
No-Fault Lease Termination Allowed in Harris County
Few RestrictionsTexas Property Code Sec. 91.001 (Notice for Terminating Tenancy)
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 ...
Source-of-Income Discrimination
Texas has no statewide source of income protection, and Harris County has not adopted a county-level rule covering its 30-plus cities. Houston has not adopted a citywide source of income ordinance either, so voucher holders across the Houston metro generally lack local protection from refusal.
No County-Level Source of Income Protection
Few RestrictionsTex. Local Government Code Sec. 250.007 (Regulation of Rental Housing - Source of Income Preemption)
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 accomm...
Rental Property Rules by City in Harris County
6 cities in Harris County have their own rental property rules rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
7 verified rules • Repairs & Habitability, Just Cause Eviction
2 verified rules • Just Cause Eviction, Rent Control
4 verified rules • Repairs & Habitability, Just Cause Eviction
3 verified rules • Just Cause Eviction, Rent Control
2 verified rules • Rent Control, Rental Registration
3 verified rules • Just Cause Eviction, Rent Control
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