Tarrant County, TX Rental Property Rules: Just Cause Eviction (2026)
Just cause eviction rules in Tarrant County, TX, sometimes called tenant protection or "for cause" eviction ordinances, list the specific legal reasons a landlord can end a tenancy.
Key Facts
- Texas Has
- Texas has no just cause eviction requirement
- Month-to-month May
- Month-to-month may end with 30-day notice without cause
- Non-payment Eviction
- Non-payment eviction typically starts with 3-day notice
- Justice The
- Justice of the Peace court handles eviction filings
- 5-day Window
- 5-day window to appeal to County Court at Law
Summary
Texas does not require just cause for eviction. Tarrant County landlords may end month-to-month tenancies with 30-day notice and evict for non-payment or lease violation under Texas Property Code Chapter 24.
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 contracted for a shorter or longer notice period in a written lease or agreement.
Full Breakdown
Texas is a landlord-friendly state without a just cause eviction requirement. Under Texas Property Code Chapter 91 and Chapter 92, a landlord of a month-to-month residential tenancy may terminate the tenancy at will with at least 30 days written notice (unless the lease specifies a different period), without providing a reason. For fixed-term leases, the landlord may not terminate early without cause but is not required to renew at the end of the term. Grounds for eviction during a tenancy include non-payment of rent, material lease violations, nuisance activity, criminal conduct on the premises, and holding over after notice.
The eviction process is governed by Texas Property Code Chapter 24 (Forcible Entry and Detainer) and begins with a written notice to vacate, typically 3 days for non-payment unless the lease specifies otherwise. If the tenant does not leave, the landlord files a forcible detainer lawsuit in the Tarrant County Justice of the Peace court for the appropriate precinct. Hearings typically occur within 10 to 21 days of filing. Tenants can appeal to Tarrant County Court at Law within 5 days of judgment. Federal protections such as the CARES Act 30-day notice rule for covered properties still apply.
Local just cause eviction ordinances would be preempted by state law, so no such ordinance applies in unincorporated Tarrant County or any city within it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my Tarrant County landlord evict me without a reason?
How fast can an eviction happen in Tarrant County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Tarrant County
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