Bexar County has no local tenant anti-harassment ordinance. Tenants rely on Texas Property Code 92.0081 lockout protections and 92.331 retaliation rules for relief from landlord harassment.
Cities like Los Angeles and Seattle adopted detailed tenant anti-harassment ordinances banning specific landlord behaviors such as utility shutoff, threats, false eviction filings, and surveillance pressure. Texas relies on narrower statutory tools. Property Code 92.0081 makes it unlawful for landlords to interrupt utilities, change locks, or remove tenant property as a self-help eviction tool, with treble-damage penalties. Property Code 92.331 prohibits retaliation against tenants who exercise rights such as requesting repairs or contacting code enforcement, with civil penalties of one month's rent plus $500 plus damages. Bexar County provides no additional anti-harassment cause of action.
Unlawful lockout or utility shutoff triggers treble damages plus one month's rent plus attorney fees under Property Code 92.0081. Retaliation triggers one month's rent plus $500 plus actual damages under 92.331.
See how Universal City'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 If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.