Dallas County has not adopted a comprehensive tenant anti-harassment ordinance. Tenants countywide rely on Texas Property Code Section 92.331 retaliation rules and Section 92.0081 lockout and utility-shutoff protections, with city-level civil rights ordinances providing additional coverage in some Dallas County cities.
Texas Property Code Section 92.331 prohibits landlords from retaliating against tenants who exercise lawful rights such as reporting code violations, requesting repairs, or joining tenant organizations. Remedies include a civil penalty of one month's rent plus $500, actual damages, and attorney fees. Sections 92.008 and 92.0081 prohibit landlord-initiated utility shutoffs and unlawful lockouts, with statutory penalties of one month's rent plus $1,000 plus damages. Dallas County itself has no harassment ordinance enumerating prohibited landlord conduct. Some cities such as Dallas extend protection through Anti-Discrimination Code Chapter 46. In unincorporated areas and suburbs without local ordinances, Texas Property Code is the only available remedy.
Shutting off utilities, changing locks without proper procedure, repeat illegal entry, threats, or retaliatory actions for code complaints violate Texas Property Code Sections 92.008, 92.0081, and 92.331; harassment based on protected classes triggers federal and any city-level civil rights enforcement.
See how Mesquite's tenant anti-harassment rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.