Denton, TX Rental Property Rules: Repairs & Habitability (2026)
Key Facts
- Required fixtures
- Bathtub/shower, lavatory, toilet, kitchen sink
- Citation
- City Code Sec. 17-160
- Enforced by
- Code enforcement officer / building official
- Remedy
- Notice of violation, correction order
- Escalation
- Substandard placard, misdemeanor prosecution
Summary
City code requires every dwelling unit to have its own working bathtub or shower, lavatory, water closet, and kitchen sink to remain a habitable rental.
Every dwelling unit shall contain its own bathtub or shower, lavatory, water closet and kitchen sink, each of which shall be maintained in a sanitary, safe working condition. The lavatory shall be placed in the same room as the water closet or located in close proximity to the door leading directly into the room in which such water closet is located. A kitchen sink shall not be used as a substitute for the required lavatory.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 37 Update 1 | Development Code: Supplement 27).
Full Breakdown
Denton's minimum housing standards, enforced through the substandard structure program in Chapter 17, require every dwelling unit to contain its own bathtub or shower, lavatory, water closet, and kitchen sink, each maintained in sanitary, safe working condition. The lavatory must sit in the same room as the water closet or close to its door, and a kitchen sink cannot substitute for the required lavatory. The code enforcement officer inspects for compliance, issues correction orders, and can placard noncompliant units as substandard.
Violations & Fines
Missing or non-functioning required fixtures draw a code enforcement notice of violation and repair order; noncompliant units can be placarded substandard, and occupying a placarded unit is a separate criminal offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Denton require a working kitchen sink in rental units?
Can a kitchen sink count as the required lavatory in Denton?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Denton
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Denton to another location·View the Texas rental property rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Repairs & Habitability in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Denton County handle repairs & habitability.