Killeen, TX Rental Property Rules: Repairs & Habitability (2026)
Key Facts
- Minimum heat
- 65°F in habitable rooms and baths
- Enforcing agency
- Killeen Code Enforcement Division
- Screen mesh
- At least 16 per inch
- Duct rule
- Must stay free of dust, mold
- Max fine
- $2,000 per day, health violations
- Code basis
- 2024 International Property Maintenance Code, as amended
Summary
Killeen's Property Maintenance Code, adopted from the 2024 International Property Maintenance Code, requires any landlord who furnishes heat under a lease to keep every habitable room, bathroom, and toilet room at least 65°F. The Code Enforcement Division enforces the standard, and a narrow exception applies only when outdoor temperatures drop below the winter design threshold and the furnace runs at full capacity.
602.3 Heat supply. Every owner and operator of any building who rents, leases, or lets one or more dwelling unit, rooming unit, dormitory, or guestroom on terms, either expressed or implied, to furnish heat to the occupants thereof shall supply heat to maintain a temperature of not less than 65°F (18°C) in all habitable rooms, bathrooms, and toilet rooms. Exception: When the outdoor temperature is below the winter outdoor design temperature for the locality, maintenance of the minimum room temperature shall not be required provided that the heating system is operating at its full design capacity... 602.4 Occupied workspaces. Indoor occupiable workspaces shall be supplied with heat to maintain a temperature of not less than 65°F (18°C) during the period the space is occupied.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 38 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Section 8-320 adopts the 2024 International Property Maintenance Code for the city, and Section 8-321(2) creates the Killeen Code Enforcement Division as the agency that implements, administers, and enforces it. 3 requires 'every owner and operator of any building who rents, leases, or lets one or more dwelling unit, rooming unit, dormitory, or guestroom' and who furnishes heat under the lease to maintain at least 65°F in all habitable rooms, bathrooms, and toilet rooms. The only exception applies when the outdoor temperature falls below the winter outdoor design temperature listed in Appendix D of the International Plumbing Code, and only if the heating system is already running at full design capacity.
4, holds occupied indoor workspaces to the same 65°F floor during occupied hours, except for processing or storage areas that need cooling or spaces used for vigorous physical activity. ' Appeals from a code official's ruling under any of these sections go to the Killeen Board of Adjustment, established at Section 31-66.
Violations & Fines
A landlord who fails to supply the required heat, screens, or duct maintenance is subject to Killeen's general penalty, Section 1-8: a fine up to $500 per offense, rising to $2,000 per day for violations touching public health and sanitation, with each day of a continuing violation counted as a separate offense. Severe or unrepaired conditions can also trigger the dangerous-building process, including a Board of Adjustment hearing and a repair or vacate order.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the minimum indoor temperature my Killeen landlord must provide?
Who do I call if my rental has no heat in Killeen?
Can my landlord be cited for moldy air ducts?
What screens does my rental unit need?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Killeen
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