Austin, TX Rental Property Rules: Relocation Assistance (2026)
Key Facts
- Local ordinance
- Austin Code Ch. 25-1 Subch. F
- Triggers
- Park closure, demolition, rezoning
- Notice period
- Up to 270 days
- Property threshold
- 5+ unit multifamily typically
- Enforcement
- Austin Code Department
Summary
Austin's Tenant Relocation Assistance Ordinance, codified at City Code Chapter 25-1 Subchapter F, requires landlords to pay relocation benefits when manufactured-home parks close, multifamily properties demolish, or zoning changes displace tenants. Most private market evictions still require nothing.
Sec. 92.001. DEFINITIONS. Except as otherwise provided by this chapter, in this chapter: (1) "Dwelling" means one or more rooms rented for use as a permanent residence under a single lease to one or more tenants. (2) "Landlord" means the owner, lessor, or sublessor of a dwelling, but does not include a manager or agent of the landlord unless the manager or agent purports to be the owner, lessor, or sublessor in an oral or written lease. (3) "Lease" means any written or oral agreement between a landlord and tenant that establishes or modifies the terms, conditions, rules, or other provisions regarding the use and occupancy of a dwelling.
Full Breakdown
Austin City Code Chapter 25-1 Subchapter F creates a narrow tenant relocation duty triggered by specific landlord actions: closing or selling a manufactured-home park, demolishing or substantially rehabilitating multifamily housing of five or more units, or rezoning that eliminates residential use. Eligible tenants receive a relocation payment scaled to unit size, plus a 270-day notice in many cases. Standard no-fault terminations, lease nonrenewals, and small-property displacements remain unregulated. The Austin Code Department, Tenant Relocation Specialist, administers claims. Federally funded displacements still trigger Uniform Relocation Act benefits separately. Texas HB 4 (2023) preemption challenges loom; the ordinance survives because it ties to land-use rather than landlord-tenant regulation.
Violations & Fines
Landlords who fail to pay required relocation assistance or provide adequate notice face civil penalties up to $2,000 per day under Austin Code Chapter 25-1, plus tenant private right of action for actual damages and attorney fees.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does every Austin tenant get relocation pay?
How much relocation assistance is required?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Austin
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