Dallas, TX Rental Property Rules: Source-of-Income Discrimination (2026)
Key Facts
- Local law
- Dallas Code Chapter 46
- Year added
- 2020 amendment
- Vouchers covered
- Section 8 HCV and others
- First in Texas
- Major-city SOI protection
- Enforcement office
- Fair Housing Office
Summary
Dallas amended its Anti-Discrimination Ordinance Chapter 46 in 2020 to ban housing discrimination based on lawful source of income, including Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers. Dallas became the first major Texas city to extend this protection citywide for rental housing.
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) This section does not affect any authority of a muni...
Full Breakdown
In 2020 the Dallas City Council amended Chapter 46 of the Dallas City Code to add source of income, including federal Section 8 vouchers, veterans' housing assistance, Social Security, SSI, and child support, as a protected class in housing. Landlords with covered rental properties cannot refuse to rent, charge different terms, advertise preferences, or otherwise discriminate against an applicant solely because the applicant intends to use a Housing Choice Voucher administered by the Dallas Housing Authority. The Office of Equity and Inclusion's Fair Housing Office investigates complaints. Texas does not preempt this protection. Federal HUD fair housing rules also apply but do not include source of income.
Violations & Fines
Refusing to accept Section 8 vouchers, posting 'no Section 8' ads, requiring higher deposits or income ratios for voucher holders, or steering voucher tenants to certain units violates Dallas Code Chapter 46 and triggers civil penalties and HUD-style remedies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Dallas landlord refuse a Section 8 voucher?
Where do I file a source-of-income discrimination complaint?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Dallas
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Dallas to another location·View the Texas rental property rules overview
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