Dallas and Fort Worth / Jurisdiction guide

Which rules apply to a Dallas and Fort Worth rental?

By Homzora Team · September 22, 2026

In Texas, most landlord and tenant law comes from the state, but cities still set building and property standards, and the county decides which court hears a dispute. Knowing which layer governs your address tells you where to look and whom to call.

Three layers of rules

Every rental in the region is governed by at least three layers of law. Federal law sets baseline protections that apply everywhere, such as the Fair Housing Act, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status or disability.^[1] Some federal programs add their own requirements. For example, the federal CARES Act requires a 30 day notice to vacate for nonpayment at certain properties with federally backed mortgages or federal housing assistance.^[2]

State law provides the core of the landlord and tenant relationship. Chapter 92 of the Texas Property Code covers security deposits, repairs, security devices, smoke alarms, late fees, lockouts, utility interruptions and retaliation.^[3] Chapter 24 governs eviction suits.^[4] These rules apply in Dallas, Fort Worth, Plano, Frisco, Arlington and every other Texas city in the same way.

Local law adds building and property maintenance standards, rental registration and code enforcement. This is where the region's cities differ most, and it is why the city in which an address actually sits matters.

The state protections that follow you anywhere in the region

Because the Property Code applies statewide, a renter who moves from Oak Lawn to Plano or from Fort Worth to Arlington keeps the same core rights. The most important are these.

Security deposits: Refund, less lawful deductions with an itemized list, on or before the 30th day after you surrender the home, with no deductions for normal wear and tear (Sections 92.103 and 92.104).^[5][6]
Repairs: A duty to make a diligent effort to repair conditions that materially affect the health or safety of an ordinary tenant, after proper notice, while you are current on rent (Section 92.052).^[7]
Security devices: Required locks, latches, door viewers and sliding door devices at the landlord's expense, and rekeying within seven days after each turnover (Sections 92.153 and 92.156).^[8][9]
Late fees: Allowed only if disclosed in a written lease and only after rent has remained unpaid two full days, with limits of 12 percent of rent in buildings with four or fewer units and 10 percent in larger buildings (Section 92.019).^[10]
Lockouts and utility cutoffs: Tightly restricted, with civil penalties for violations (Sections 92.0081 and 92.008).^[11][12]
Retaliation: Protection for six months after you request repairs, exercise a legal right or make a good faith complaint to a government agency (Section 92.331).^[13]

A lease cannot waive most of these protections.^[3] Where the Property Code allows the parties to agree otherwise, it usually requires the agreement to be in writing and often in a conspicuous form, such as bold or underlined text.

Why Texas cities have limited power over rentals

Texas law restricts what cities can do in the rental market. Section 214.902 of the Local Government Code bars ordinary rent control.^[14] A city may adopt it only if its council finds a housing emergency caused by a disaster and the governor approves the ordinance.^[14]

In 2023, the Legislature passed House Bill 2127, often called the Texas Regulatory Consistency Act. It limits city and county ordinances in fields that the state already regulates, including those covered by the Property Code, unless state law expressly authorizes the local rule.^[15] The law took effect on September 1, 2023.^[15] A Travis County district court declared it unconstitutional that year, but the ruling did not block enforcement.^[15] In July 2025, the Third Court of Appeals reversed that decision, finding that the cities challenging the law lacked standing, so the law remains in effect.^[16] For renters, the practical result is that most rights you can enforce against a landlord come from the Property Code rather than from a city ordinance. City housing codes remain important, but they are enforced mainly through code compliance inspections rather than through private lawsuits.

The city of Dallas

Dallas sets minimum property standards in Chapter 27 of the Dallas City Code.^[17] The section of that chapter titled Minimum Property Standards; Responsibilities of Owner includes several standards that renters in other Texas cities do not always enjoy.

Cooling: Refrigerated air equipment capable of keeping each habitable room at least 15 degrees cooler than the outside temperature, and in no event warmer than 85 degrees Fahrenheit.^[17]
Heating: Heating capable of keeping a room at least 15 degrees warmer than the outside temperature, and in no event below 68 degrees Fahrenheit.^[17]
Hot water: Water heating equipment that supplies hot water of at least 110 degrees Fahrenheit at the outlet.^[17]
Pests: Infestations must be eliminated by a person licensed under the Texas Structural Pest Control Act, and the owner must correct conditions that contribute to them.^[17]

If cooling or heating fails during extreme weather, report it to the city promptly as well as to the landlord. Dallas also requires owners of single family homes, duplexes and condominium units offered for rent to register them with the city, and it inspects registered properties at least once every five years.^[18] To report a violation, contact Dallas 311 by phone, online or through the app.^[19] Code compliance inspectors can cite the owner, which is often faster than a private legal claim.

The city of Fort Worth

Fort Worth runs a Multifamily Inspection and Registration Program.^[20] Properties with three or more units under the same roof, or three or more units on one lot under the same ownership, must register every year, and out of state owners must designate a local agent.^[20] The city's multifamily inspection section checks whether landlords provide safe and sanitary conditions, and the city publishes inspection results in an online database that you can search before you sign a lease.^[20] Tenants can report problems through the MyFW app or the city's customer service line.^[20]

Plano, Frisco, Arlington and other cities

Each suburb has its own property maintenance code and code compliance office, and the standards are not identical. Some cities require specific cooling standards and some do not. Before you rely on a Dallas rule at an address outside Dallas, find the code for the city where the home actually sits and search for its property maintenance or minimum housing standards chapter. Many cities publish their codes through online code libraries.

Confirm the city, not just the mailing address

A mailing address can mislead. Postal city names follow post office boundaries rather than city limits, so a home with a Dallas mailing address may sit in a neighboring city or in an unincorporated part of a county. Unincorporated areas are governed by county rules rather than a city housing code, and they often have far fewer local standards.

The most reliable way to confirm jurisdiction is to look up the property on the county appraisal district website. The record lists each taxing unit for the property, including the city if there is one.^[21][22] The region spans several counties, including Dallas, Tarrant, Collin and Denton, and a single city such as Dallas extends into more than one of them.

The county decides which court hears a dispute

Most rental disputes in Texas are heard in justice courts, the local courts led by justices of the peace in each county. Justice courts hear eviction cases and small claims, and they can hear a tenant's repair case under the Property Code.^[23][24] Their monetary limit is generally $20,000.^[23] The justice court precinct that hears an eviction is determined by where the property is located, so find your county and precinct before a problem arises.^[25]

Eviction procedure changed significantly on January 1, 2026, when reforms from Senate Bill 38 and new Texas Rules of Civil Procedure took effect.^[26] The changes affect how notices can be delivered, how quickly cases move and what a tenant must do to remain in the home during an appeal, including paying rent into the court registry.^[26] A landlord must still use the court process. Texas does not allow a landlord to remove a tenant by force, and lock changes for unpaid rent are permitted only under strict conditions that always entitle the tenant to a new key.^[11] If you receive a notice to vacate or court papers, read them immediately and seek legal help without delay, because the deadlines are short.

Where to get help

For a live dispute, start with the free resources built for Texas renters. TexasLawHelp publishes plain language guides and forms on deposits, repairs and eviction.^[27] Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas provides free civil legal help to eligible residents across the region.^[28] The Texas Attorney General publishes a renters' rights guide.^[29] For code problems such as broken air conditioning or pest infestations, contact the city's code compliance office through 311 or its equivalent. For discrimination complaints, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Texas Workforce Commission Civil Rights Division accept fair housing complaints.^[1]

This guide is a research tool, not legal advice. Laws, court rules and city ordinances change, and the facts of your situation matter. Do not let a response deadline pass while you research general information.

Starting points by area

Downtown Dallas, Oak Lawn and Lakewood: Inside the city of Dallas, so Chapter 27 standards apply and 311 handles code complaints.^[17] Most of Dallas is in Dallas County.
Downtown Fort Worth: City of Fort Worth standards apply, and larger apartment buildings are covered by the multifamily registration and inspection program.^[20] The area is in Tarrant County.
Plano and Frisco: Each city has its own code, and both extend across county lines. Check the appraisal district record for the exact address.
Arlington: City of Arlington standards apply, and the city is in Tarrant County.

Your completion record

City confirmed through the appraisal district
County and justice court precinct
City housing code chapter
Code complaint channel
Registration or inspection records checked
Legal aid contact saved

Keep this record with the date you checked each source. Use the area shortlist to compare locations, and see the inspection guide for how to use these standards at a viewing.

Sources and official resources

Use the planning tools · All Dallas and Fort Worth guides