Travis County, TX Rental Property Rules: Tenant Anti-Harassment (2026)
Key Facts
- County ordinance
- None
- TX retaliation penalty
- 1 mo rent + $500 + fees
- Federal FHA
- Applies
- Austin city rules
- Inside city only
Summary
Travis County has no dedicated tenant anti-harassment ordinance. Tenants rely on Texas Property Code retaliation protections, federal Fair Housing Act anti-harassment rules, and common-law tort remedies for landlord misconduct.
Sec. 92.331. RETALIATION BY LANDLORD. (a) A landlord may not retaliate against a tenant by taking an action described by Subsection (b) because the tenant: (1) in good faith exercises or attempts to exercise against a landlord a right or remedy granted to the tenant by lease, municipal ordinance, or federal or state statute; (2) gives a landlord a notice to repair or exercise a remedy under this chapter. (b) A landlord may not, within six months after the date of the tenant's action under Subsection (a), retaliate against the tenant by: (1) filing an eviction proceeding; (3) decreasing services to the tenant; (4) increasing the tenant's rent or terminating the tenant's lease.
Full Breakdown
Texas Property Code 92.331 prohibits landlord retaliation against tenants who exercise statutory rights such as repair requests, with civil damages of one month's rent plus 500 dollars and attorney fees. The federal Fair Housing Act, enforced by HUD, prohibits harassment based on race, color, religion, sex, familial status, national origin, or disability. Travis County has not enacted a broader county anti-harassment ordinance covering source-of-income or sexual-orientation harassment, though City of Austin code does cover Austin-limits properties. Severe non-statutory landlord misconduct may support common-law claims for intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Violations & Fines
Texas retaliation: 1 month rent plus 500 dollars plus fees under Property Code 92.333; federal FHA harassment: HUD complaint and damages.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if my Travis County landlord harasses me?
Does Austin's stronger ordinance help me?
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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