Houston, TX Rental Property Rules: Just Cause Eviction (2026)
Just cause eviction rules in Houston, TX, sometimes called tenant protection or "for cause" eviction ordinances, list the specific legal reasons a landlord can end a tenancy.
Key Facts
- Local Ordinance
- None: state law governs
- Month-to-Month Termination
- 30-day notice, no cause required (§ 91.001)
- Notice to Vacate
- 3 days minimum, Tex. Prop. Code § 24.005
- Retaliation Window
- 6 months from protected act (§ 92.331)
- Eviction Court
- Justice of the Peace court for the precinct
Summary
Houston has NO local just-cause eviction ordinance. Texas is a no-cause termination state under Tex. Prop. Code § 91.001: a month-to-month tenancy may be ended by either party on 30 days' written notice without stating a reason. Fixed-term leases may be terminated for breach under Tex. Prop. Code Ch. 24.
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 given in the notice for termination; or(2) one month after the day on which the notice is given.(c) If a notice of termination is given under Subsection (a) and if the rent-paying period is less than a month, the tenancy terminates on whichever of the following days is the later: the day given in the notice, or the day following the expiration of the rent-paying period.
Full Breakdown
Texas does not require landlords to articulate or prove just cause to end a month-to-month tenancy. Tex. Prop. Code § 91.001 states a monthly tenancy may be terminated by either party on notice, and the tenancy ends on the later of the day in the notice or one month after notice is given. For fixed-term leases, the landlord typically must wait until the term expires unless the tenant breaches a material covenant such as nonpayment of rent, which then triggers a three-day notice to vacate under Tex. Prop. Code § 24.005 (or longer if the lease provides) before an eviction (forcible-detainer) suit may be filed in justice court. Tex. Prop. Code Ch. 92 still bars retaliatory evictions under § 92.331: within six months of a protected tenant act, the landlord may not file an eviction except for limited reasons listed in § 92.332.
Violations & Fines
There is no city enforcement of just-cause grounds in Houston. A tenant facing retaliatory eviction may raise it as a defense in the justice-court forcible-detainer case and may sue under Tex. Prop. Code § 92.333 for one month's rent plus $500, actual damages, court costs, and attorney fees. Wrongful lockouts violate Tex. Prop. Code § 92.0081 with civil penalty of one month's rent plus $1,000.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Houston require just cause to evict?
How much notice must a Houston landlord give to end a month-to-month tenancy?
What protects Houston tenants from a retaliatory eviction?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Houston
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Houston 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.
Just Cause Eviction in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Harris County handle just cause eviction.