Pharr, TX Rental Property Rules: Repairs & Habitability (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing law
- Code of Ordinances Ch. 22, Art. VIII
- Minimum hot water temp
- 110°F required
- Multi-family license/inspection fee
- $50 annual + $20/unit
- Placard tampering penalty
- $500 fine
- Penalty structure
- each day = separate offense
Summary
Pharr's Housing Code sets minimum habitability standards for rental units, working plumbing, heat, hot water, and structural soundness, and lets the city order repairs, disconnect utilities, or placard units that fall short.
A premise is considered substandard under this division if any one or more, in any combination, of the following conditions exist on the premises: (1)Inadequate sanitation. a.Lack of a bathroom or the existence of an improper bathroom. b.Lack of or an improper kitchen. c.Lack of hot and cold running water to plumbing fixtures. d.Lack of or improper required heating, mechanical ventilation or electric facilities. ... h.Infestation of insects, vermin or rodents.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 44).
Full Breakdown
Under Chapter 22, Article VIII of Pharr's Code of Ordinances, a rental dwelling is "substandard" if it lacks a working bathroom or kitchen, hot and cold running water, required heating or ventilation, adequate electrical service, or is infested with insects or vermin, among other listed defects (Sec. 22-390). Owners must also supply hot water of at least 110°F and keep plumbing, electrical, and HVAC systems in good working order (Sec. 22-391). Multi-family complexes are inspected under a separate annual registration and licensing program, and the building official can placard and order tenants to vacate a dwelling unit found unfit for human habitation (Sec. 22-396).
Violations & Fines
Renting or occupying a substandard unit, or violating this division, is a misdemeanor; each day of violation is a separate offense, and a suspended or revoked multi-family license carries re-inspection and licensing fees.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a rental unit "substandard" in Pharr?
Can Pharr order a rental unit vacated?
What hot water temperature must a Pharr rental provide?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Pharr
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Repairs & Habitability in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Hidalgo County handle repairs & habitability.