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Dallas, Texas

Dallas Landlord-Tenant Laws

Security deposit limits, eviction notices, rent control, and more for Dallas, Texas.

How we research these summaries

Every rule on this page is drawn from state statutes and municipal codes and summarized with AI assistance. Each one cites the statute it's based on and links to a published text of that law so you can read it firsthand. Where a page says a city or county has no local rule on a topic, that means none was found for the topics covered here — not that none exists. Local governments also regulate rental housing in ways these pages don't track, including registration, licensing, inspections and habitability standards. These summaries may be incomplete or out of date, laws change often, and every property and tenancy has specifics a summary can't capture — so treat this as a starting point for your own research, not as legal advice, and check with the local jurisdiction and a qualified attorney before acting on your particular situation.

What to Know in Dallas

Sources last checked July 2026

Dallas makes it a criminal offense for a landlord to attempt to evict a tenant within 6 months of a valid Minimum Property Standards complaint, and the same ordinance bars raising rent or cutting services in retaliation, under Dallas City Code § 27-5.2. Texas law otherwise governs: a security deposit carries no maximum and must be returned within 30 days of the tenant surrendering the unit and providing a forwarding address, with bad-faith withholding subject to penalties under Tex. Prop. Code § 92.109. Texas law also bars Dallas from enacting its own rent control.

  • Under Dallas City Code § 27-5.2, a landlord commits a criminal offense by attempting to evict a tenant within 6 months after the tenant filed a valid complaint with the city...
  • 30-day move-out notice required for month-to-month tenancies
  • No rent control — no statutory cap on rent increases
  • Dallas has no local ordinance requiring advance notice before a rent increase, and Texas state law contains no specific statute mandating rent increase notice periods.
  • No statutory cap on the security deposit amount
5 rules summarized · Each linked to the law it cites

Dallas Local Rules

Eviction Notice Requirements

What are the eviction notice requirements in Dallas?

Under Dallas City Code § 27-5.2, a landlord commits a criminal offense by attempting to evict a tenant within 6 months after the tenant filed a valid complaint with the city director or city attorney's office about a violation of Chapter 27 (Minimum Property Standards). This anti-retaliation protection also prohibits raising rent or diminishing services in retaliation for a code complaint. The state-law baseline also applies: before filing any forcible detainer suit, a landlord must provide at least 3 days' written notice to vacate under Tex. Prop. Code § 24.005, unless the lease specifies a different period.

Dallas City Code § 27-5.2; Tex. Prop. Code § 24.005
Move-Out & Lease Termination Notice

What is the move-out notice requirement in Dallas?

Dallas follows Texas state law for lease termination notice. Either the landlord or tenant may terminate a month-to-month tenancy by giving written notice to the other party. The tenancy terminates on the later of: (1) the date specified in the notice, or (2) one full month after the date the notice is given. For rent-paying periods shorter than one month, notice must be given at least one full rent-paying period in advance. Parties may contract in writing for a different notice period. Fixed-term leases do not require advance notice of non-renewal unless the lease specifies otherwise.

Tex. Prop. Code § 91.001
Rent Control / Rent Increase Caps

Is there rent control in Dallas?

Dallas has no rent control ordinance and is barred from enacting one. Texas Local Government Code § 214.902 preempts all municipalities from establishing rent control. The only narrow exception allows rent control by local ordinance if: (1) the governing body finds a housing emergency exists due to a governor-declared disaster under Gov't Code § 418.004, and (2) the governor separately approves the local ordinance. No such governor-approved rent control has been enacted in Dallas.

Tex. Local Gov't Code § 214.902
Rent Increase Notice Periods

How much notice is required for rent increases in Dallas?

Dallas has no local ordinance requiring advance notice before a rent increase, and Texas state law contains no specific statute mandating rent increase notice periods. For month-to-month tenants, the practical minimum is approximately 30 days because a rent change requires terminating the existing tenancy under Tex. Prop. Code § 91.001, which requires one month's notice with the tenancy ending on the later of the date stated or one month after notice is given. For fixed-term leases, rent cannot be increased until the lease expires unless the lease explicitly permits mid-term changes.

Tex. Prop. Code § 91.001
Security Deposit Limits

What is the security deposit limit in Dallas?

Texas imposes no maximum cap on security deposits, and Dallas has no local ordinance modifying this. Landlords must return the deposit within 30 days after the tenant surrenders the premises and gives the landlord written notice of a forwarding address — the 30-day clock does not begin until that address is provided (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.107), along with a written itemized list of any deductions. A landlord who in bad faith retains any portion of the deposit is liable for $100 plus 3 times the amount wrongfully withheld, plus the tenant's reasonable attorney's fees. Failure to return the deposit or provide an itemized list within 30 days creates a presumption of bad faith. No itemization is required if the tenant owed rent at surrender and there is no bona fide dispute over the amount (§ 92.104(c)).

Tex. Prop. Code §§ 92.101–92.109

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