Bexar County, TX Rental Property Rules: Rental Registration (2026)
Key Facts
- County registration
- Not required
- State habitability
- TX Property Code 92
- Smoke alarms
- Required per 92.251
- Locks
- Deadbolts and window latches required
- City rules
- San Antonio has separate programs
Summary
Bexar County does not require landlords to register rental properties. Individual cities within the county (such as San Antonio) may have their own inspection or registration programs for certain rental types.
Sec. 92.001. DEFINITIONS. ... (6) 'Tenant' means a person who is authorized by a lease to occupy a dwelling to the exclusion of others and, for the purposes of Subchapters D, E, and F, who is obligated under the lease to pay rent. Sec. 92.002. APPLICATION. This chapter applies only to the relationship between landlords and tenants of residential rental property. Sec. 92.006. WAIVER OR EXPANSION OF DUTIES AND REMEDIES. (a) A landlord's duty or a tenant's remedy concerning security deposits, security devices, the landlord's disclosure of ownership and management, or utility cutoffs, as provided by Subchapter C, D, E, or G, respectively, may not be waived.
Full Breakdown
Unincorporated Bexar County does not operate a residential rental registration or inspection program. Landlords renting single-family homes, duplexes, or small multifamily properties outside city limits are not required to obtain a county rental license or submit to proactive inspections. 170 (keyed deadbolts, keyless deadbolts, and window latches), and prompt repair of conditions affecting health or safety after written notice. Inside certain Bexar County cities, however, rental programs exist. For example, San Antonio has a proactive Code Enforcement program and a short-term rental permit system. Short-term rentals (fewer than 30 days) are separately regulated by some cities even when the underlying county has no rule. Landlords should verify jurisdiction before assuming no rules apply. Commercial multifamily over certain unit counts may trigger state fire marshal inspections.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to register my rental in Bexar County?
What safety equipment must landlords install?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bexar County
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