DeSoto, TX Rental Property Rules: Rent Control (2026)
Rent control rules in DeSoto, TX, also known as rent stabilization or rent cap ordinances, limit annual rent increases and protect tenants from displacement.
Key Facts
- Rent Control
- No rent control in Texas
- Preemption
- TX Local Gov't Code 214.902 preempts
- Notice Period
- 30 days notice for MTM rent change
- Tenant protections via
- Tenant protections via TX Prop. Code Ch. 91-92
- Fair Housing Act
- Fair Housing Act still applies
Summary
DeSoto does not have rent control, and Texas law prohibits any Texas city from adopting rent control. Texas Local Government Code Section 214.902 preempts local rent control ordinances: a municipalit
Sec. 214.902. RENT CONTROL. (a) The governing body of a municipality may, by ordinance, establish rent control if:(1) the governing body finds that a housing emergency exists due to a disaster as defined by Section 418.004, Government Code; and(2) the governor approves the ordinance.(b) The governing body shall continue or discontinue rent control in the same manner that the governor continues or discontinues a state of disaster under Section 418.014, Government Code. Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987. Amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1420, Sec. 12.108, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.
Sec. 214.903. FAIR HOUSING ORDINANCES. (a) The governing body of a municipality
Full Breakdown
DeSoto does not have rent control, and Texas law prohibits any Texas city from adopting rent control. Texas Local Government Code Section 214.902 preempts local rent control ordinances, a municipality may adopt rent control only if the governing body declares a housing emergency due to a disaster and the Texas Governor approves the measure, and any such control automatically expires when the Governor's approval ends. As a practical matter, there is no rent control anywhere in Texas. Landlords in DeSoto may set initial rents and raise them at any time for month-to-month tenancies with 30 days' advance written notice, or upon lease renewal for fixed-term leases. Tenant protections come from Texas Property Code Chapters 91-92 (landlord-tenant) rather than rent regulation, including security deposit rules, habitability warranties, retaliation protections, and notice requirements for non-renewal or termination. Federal laws like the Fair Housing Act prohibit discrimination, but do not regulate rent amounts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can DeSoto cap my rent increase?
How much notice must a DeSoto landlord give for a rent increase?
Is there any protection from huge rent increases in DeSoto?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in DeSoto
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Rent Control in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Dallas County handle rent control.