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.
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.
No county ordinance can be enforced; voucher denials based on race, disability, or family status remain actionable under the federal FHA via HUD.
Travis County, TX
The Housing Authority of Travis County administers federal Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers in unincorporated areas. Acceptance is voluntary for landlords u...
Travis County, TX
Travis County has no dedicated tenant anti-harassment ordinance. Tenants rely on Texas Property Code retaliation protections, federal Fair Housing Act anti-h...
See how Travis County's source-of-income discrimination rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.