Harris County, TX Rental Property Rules: Source-of-Income Discrimination (2026)
Key Facts
- State protection
- None. TX has no SOI law
- County protection
- None: county adopted nothing
- Houston city protection
- None: no SOI ordinance
- Suburban cities
- Generally no SOI protection
- Federal coverage
- Not under HUD Fair Housing
Summary
Texas has no statewide source of income protection, and Harris County has not adopted a county-level rule covering its 30-plus cities. Houston has not adopted a citywide source of income ordinance either, so voucher holders across the Houston metro generally lack local protection from refusal.
Sec. 250.007. REGULATION OF RENTAL OR LEASING OF HOUSING ACCOMMODATIONS. (a) Except as provided by this section, a municipality or county may not adopt or enforce an ordinance or regulation that prohibits an owner, lessee, sublessee, assignee, managing agent, or other person having the right to lease, sublease, or rent a housing accommodation from refusing to lease or rent the housing accommodation to a person because the person's lawful source of income to pay rent includes funding from a federal housing assistance program.(b) This section does not affect an ordinance or regulation that prohibits the refusal to lease or rent a housing accommodation to a military veteran because of the veteran's lawful source of income to pay rent.(c)
Full Breakdown
Source of income discrimination, refusing applicants who pay rent with Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers, Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing, Social Security, SSI, child support, or similar lawful sources, is not a protected class under Texas state law. Harris County has not adopted a countywide source of income ordinance and is constrained from doing so by state preemption arguments. The City of Houston has not amended its Fair Housing Ordinance Chapter 17 to add source of income protection. Suburbs such as Pasadena, Baytown, Pearland, Sugar Land, and La Porte similarly lack SOI rules. Voucher holders renting anywhere in Harris County may legally be turned away. Federal HUD fair housing rules apply but do not include source of income.
Violations & Fines
In unincorporated Harris County and across the metro, refusing voucher applicants is generally lawful absent a city ordinance. Discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, or disability still violates federal Fair Housing Act.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a landlord in Harris County refuse a Section 8 voucher?
Where do voucher holders find SOI protection in the Houston area?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Harris County
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Harris County to another location·View the Texas rental property rules overview
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