Travis County, TX Rental Property Rules: Source-of-Income Discrimination (2026)
Key Facts
- TX preemption
- Loc Govt 250.007
- Voucher acceptance required
- No
- FHA protected classes apply
- Yes
- Austin local rule
- Preempted
Summary
Texas Local Government Code 250.007 prohibits cities and counties from requiring landlords to accept Section 8 housing vouchers. Travis County therefore cannot enforce source-of-income protections, and refusing voucher tenants is lawful.
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.
Full Breakdown
In response to local ordinances in Austin and Dallas, the Texas Legislature passed Local Government Code 250.007 in 2015, expressly forbidding any Texas county or municipality from requiring private landlords to accept federal Housing Choice Vouchers as a payment source. Travis County has no power to mandate voucher acceptance. Federal law similarly does not require participation. Voucher holders in unincorporated Travis County must rely on willing-landlord lists maintained by the Housing Authority of Travis County and ECHO, plus general Fair Housing Act protections for race, disability, and family status, which still apply.
Violations & Fines
No county ordinance can be enforced; voucher denials based on race, disability, or family status remain actionable under the federal FHA via HUD.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Travis County landlord refuse my Section 8 voucher?
What protections still apply?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Travis County
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Travis County to another location·View the Texas rental property rules overview
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