How long does a Texas landlord have to return the security deposit?

Texas: 30 days with itemization (after forwarding address).

What is the late fee cap in Texas?

Texas: 12% monthly for 4 or fewer units, 10% for larger (92.019).

Does Texas have rent control?

Texas: None; local rent control preempted.

What is the security deposit cap in Texas?

Texas does not have a statewide statutory cap on the security deposit amount. Local ordinances in specific cities may impose caps. Reference: Tex. Prop. Code Ch. 92.

How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Texas?

Texas requires the landlord to return the security deposit (or an itemized statement of deductions) within 30 days of the tenant vacating. Reference: Tex. Prop. Code Ch. 92. Missing the deadline can forfeit the landlord's right to withhold any portion of the deposit and, in some states, expose the landlord to double or treble damages.

How much notice is required for a rent increase in Texas?

Texas requires 30 days of advance written notice for a rent increase. Reference: Tex. Prop. Code Ch. 92.

What is the late fee cap in Texas?

Texas caps late fees at 12% of monthly rent. Texas Property Code Section 92.019 uses a refined cap: 12% for buildings with four or fewer units and 10% for larger. Fees above the cap are unenforceable.

How many days is the pay-or-quit notice in Texas?

Texas requires a 3-day pay-or-quit notice before an unlawful detainer or eviction filing can be initiated for non-payment of rent. Reference: Tex. Prop. Code Ch. 92.

How much notice terminates a month-to-month tenancy in Texas?

Texas requires 30 days of written notice to end a month-to-month tenancy. Reference: Tex. Prop. Code Ch. 92.

What mandatory disclosures does Texas require in a lease?

Texas leases must include these disclosures: Federal lead-based paint disclosure (pre-1978 units); Parking rules disclosure (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.0131) if applicable; Tenant's rights in case of domestic violence (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.016); Special conditions for cancellation (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.0161). Missing a required disclosure can invalidate the lease's enforceability on that point and sometimes on the lease as a whole. Reference: Tex. Prop. Code Ch. 92.

Which Texas statute governs landlord-tenant law?

Texas has no statewide rent control. Late fees capped at 12% of monthly rent for units of 4 or fewer, 10% for larger (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.019). SB 38 amended Tex. Prop. Code § 24.005 effective January 1, 2026 (applies to petitions filed on or after that date) but preserved the three-day notice-to-vacate rule before forcible detainer. Section 16 of SB 38 (Supreme Court rulemaking) took effect September 1, 2025 separately. The primary citation used across LeaseKit templates for this state is: Tex. Prop. Code Ch. 92.

LeaseKit/States/Texas

Texas · Full coverage

Texas landlord-tenant law.

Quick-reference on Texas residential landlord-tenant rules, primary statute Tex. Prop. Code Chapter 92. Below are every LeaseKit tool that applies to Texas: calculators, templates, free checklist PDF, blog guides, and frequently asked questions.

Recent changes

SB 38 amending 24.005 effective January 2026

Quick reference

Texas rules at a glance.

Deposit cap: No statewide cap
Return deadline: 30 days with itemization (after forwarding address)
Late fee cap: 12% monthly for 4 or fewer units, 10% for larger (92.019)
Pay-or-quit notice: 3 days (24.005)
Month-to-month termination: 30 days (91.001)
Rent cap: None; local rent control preempted

Templates, $29 each

Texas documents.

Residential lease

$29 signature-ready PDF →

Notice to quit

$29 signature-ready PDF →

Rent increase notice

$29 signature-ready PDF →

Move-out checklist

$29 signature-ready PDF →

Free calculators

Answer questions for free before the PDF.

Deep-dive articles

Written for Texas landlords.

Common questions

Texas landlord FAQ.

Top Texas cities

Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, Fort Worth. Local ordinances in major cities can add stricter rules (especially rent control, just-cause eviction, and inspection requirements). Always check the city code in addition to the state statute.

Honest limits

This is a quick reference, not legal advice. Texas landlord-tenant law changes year to year. Always verify the current statute text and any local ordinances before relying on this page for a specific dispute. For contested cases, consult a Texas-licensed attorney.

State-specific answers

What landlords ask about TX

What is the security deposit cap in Texas?: Texas does not have a statewide statutory cap on the security deposit amount. Local ordinances in specific cities may impose caps. Reference: Tex. Prop. Code Ch. 92.
How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Texas?: Texas requires the landlord to return the security deposit (or an itemized statement of deductions) within 30 days of the tenant vacating. Reference: Tex. Prop. Code Ch. 92. Missing the deadline can forfeit the landlord's right to withhold any portion of the deposit and, in some states, expose the landlord to double or treble damages.
How much notice is required for a rent increase in Texas?: Texas requires 30 days of advance written notice for a rent increase. Reference: Tex. Prop. Code Ch. 92.
What is the late fee cap in Texas?: Texas caps late fees at 12% of monthly rent. Texas Property Code Section 92.019 uses a refined cap: 12% for buildings with four or fewer units and 10% for larger. Fees above the cap are unenforceable.
How many days is the pay-or-quit notice in Texas?: Texas requires a 3-day pay-or-quit notice before an unlawful detainer or eviction filing can be initiated for non-payment of rent. Reference: Tex. Prop. Code Ch. 92.
How much notice terminates a month-to-month tenancy in Texas?: Texas requires 30 days of written notice to end a month-to-month tenancy. Reference: Tex. Prop. Code Ch. 92.
What mandatory disclosures does Texas require in a lease?: Texas leases must include these disclosures: Federal lead-based paint disclosure (pre-1978 units); Parking rules disclosure (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.0131) if applicable; Tenant's rights in case of domestic violence (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.016); Special conditions for cancellation (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.0161). Missing a required disclosure can invalidate the lease's enforceability on that point and sometimes on the lease as a whole. Reference: Tex. Prop. Code Ch. 92.
Which Texas statute governs landlord-tenant law?: Texas has no statewide rent control. Late fees capped at 12% of monthly rent for units of 4 or fewer, 10% for larger (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.019). SB 38 amended Tex. Prop. Code § 24.005 effective January 1, 2026 (applies to petitions filed on or after that date) but preserved the three-day notice-to-vacate rule before forcible detainer. Section 16 of SB 38 (Supreme Court rulemaking) took effect September 1, 2025 separately. The primary citation used across LeaseKit templates for this state is: Tex. Prop. Code Ch. 92.

Texas landlord-tenant law.

Recent changes

SB 38 amending 24.005 effective January 2026

Quick reference

Texas rules at a glance.

Deposit cap: No statewide cap
Return deadline: 30 days with itemization (after forwarding address)
Late fee cap: 12% monthly for 4 or fewer units, 10% for larger (92.019)
Pay-or-quit notice: 3 days (24.005)
Month-to-month termination: 30 days (91.001)
Rent cap: None; local rent control preempted

Top Texas cities

Honest limits

State-specific answers

What landlords ask about TX

What is the security deposit cap in Texas?: Texas does not have a statewide statutory cap on the security deposit amount. Local ordinances in specific cities may impose caps. Reference: Tex. Prop. Code Ch. 92.
How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Texas?: Texas requires the landlord to return the security deposit (or an itemized statement of deductions) within 30 days of the tenant vacating. Reference: Tex. Prop. Code Ch. 92. Missing the deadline can forfeit the landlord's right to withhold any portion of the deposit and, in some states, expose the landlord to double or treble damages.
How much notice is required for a rent increase in Texas?: Texas requires 30 days of advance written notice for a rent increase. Reference: Tex. Prop. Code Ch. 92.
What is the late fee cap in Texas?: Texas caps late fees at 12% of monthly rent. Texas Property Code Section 92.019 uses a refined cap: 12% for buildings with four or fewer units and 10% for larger. Fees above the cap are unenforceable.
How many days is the pay-or-quit notice in Texas?: Texas requires a 3-day pay-or-quit notice before an unlawful detainer or eviction filing can be initiated for non-payment of rent. Reference: Tex. Prop. Code Ch. 92.
How much notice terminates a month-to-month tenancy in Texas?: Texas requires 30 days of written notice to end a month-to-month tenancy. Reference: Tex. Prop. Code Ch. 92.
What mandatory disclosures does Texas require in a lease?: Texas leases must include these disclosures: Federal lead-based paint disclosure (pre-1978 units); Parking rules disclosure (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.0131) if applicable; Tenant's rights in case of domestic violence (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.016); Special conditions for cancellation (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.0161). Missing a required disclosure can invalidate the lease's enforceability on that point and sometimes on the lease as a whole. Reference: Tex. Prop. Code Ch. 92.
Which Texas statute governs landlord-tenant law?: Texas has no statewide rent control. Late fees capped at 12% of monthly rent for units of 4 or fewer, 10% for larger (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.019). SB 38 amended Tex. Prop. Code § 24.005 effective January 1, 2026 (applies to petitions filed on or after that date) but preserved the three-day notice-to-vacate rule before forcible detainer. Section 16 of SB 38 (Supreme Court rulemaking) took effect September 1, 2025 separately. The primary citation used across LeaseKit templates for this state is: Tex. Prop. Code Ch. 92.