Want to skip straight to checking your own building? Use the RentCheckMe address checker.
Azle is a growing suburban city in Tarrant County, Texas, situated along the border of Tarrant and Parker counties northwest of Fort Worth. As the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex continues to expand, communities like Azle have seen increased rental demand, making it important for tenants to understand their rights under Texas law.
Because Azle has no local tenant protection ordinances beyond what the state provides, all renter rights in the city flow from the Texas Property Code. The most common issues Azle renters search for include security deposit return timelines, how much a landlord can raise rent, and what happens if a landlord refuses to make repairs. This page walks through each of those topics with specific statutory references.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws can change, and every situation is different — if you have a specific legal problem, consult a licensed Texas attorney or a local legal aid organization.
Azle has no rent control, and Texas state law makes that permanent. Under Tex. Prop. Code § 214.902, no city or county in Texas may enact or enforce a rent control ordinance. This statewide preemption applies to Azle and every other municipality in Texas, regardless of local housing conditions or rental market pressures.
In practice, this means your landlord in Azle can increase your rent by any dollar amount at the end of a lease term or, for month-to-month tenants, with proper advance written notice. There is no cap on the percentage or frequency of rent increases. Landlords are not required to justify a rent increase or tie it to any inflation index.
The only practical limit on rent increases is the notice requirement: for month-to-month tenants, a landlord must provide at least one month's written notice before a rent change takes effect (Tex. Prop. Code § 91.001). For fixed-term leases, rent cannot change until the lease expires unless the lease itself allows for mid-term adjustments. Renters should carefully review lease renewal terms before signing.
Although Azle has no local ordinances, Texas state law provides several meaningful tenant protections that apply to every renter in the city.
Security Deposits (Tex. Prop. Code §§ 92.101–92.109): Texas law does not cap the amount a landlord may charge as a security deposit, but it does tightly regulate how deposits must be handled. Landlords must return the deposit — along with a written, itemized list of any deductions — within 30 days of the tenant surrendering the premises. A landlord who wrongfully withholds a deposit in bad faith may owe the tenant three times the withheld amount plus attorney's fees under Tex. Prop. Code § 92.109.
Habitability & Repairs (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.056): Landlords in Texas have a duty to make repairs that materially affect the health or safety of ordinary tenants. Before pursuing remedies, a tenant must first give the landlord written notice of the needed repair. If the landlord fails to act within a reasonable time (generally 7 days under § 92.056(d)), tenants may have the right to repair-and-deduct (up to the lesser of $500 or one month's rent), terminate the lease, or seek other court remedies.
Notice to Terminate (Tex. Prop. Code § 91.001): For month-to-month leases, either party must give at least one month's written notice before terminating the tenancy. The notice period for fixed-term leases is governed by the lease itself.
Anti-Retaliation (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.331): A landlord cannot retaliate against a tenant for exercising a legal right — such as requesting repairs in good faith, complaining to a housing code inspector, or participating in a tenant organization. Prohibited retaliatory acts include increasing rent, reducing services, or filing an eviction suit. A tenant who prevails on a retaliation claim may recover one month's rent plus $500, attorney's fees, and court costs (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.333).
Lockout & Utility Shutoff Prohibition (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.0081): Self-help eviction is illegal in Texas. A landlord may not change locks, remove doors or windows, or intentionally interrupt utility service to force a tenant out without a court order. Violations entitle the tenant to regain entry and may expose the landlord to a civil penalty of one month's rent plus $500 per occurrence.
Texas does not set a maximum cap on security deposit amounts, so Azle landlords may charge whatever the lease specifies. However, the Texas Property Code §§ 92.101–92.109 imposes strict rules on what happens to that deposit after you move out.
Return Deadline: Your landlord must return your security deposit — or the remaining balance after lawful deductions — within 30 days after you surrender possession of the unit (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.103). Surrendering possession means returning all keys and vacating the premises.
Itemized Statement: If the landlord makes any deductions, they must provide a written, itemized description of each deduction along with the returned funds (or an explanation if no funds remain). Normal wear and tear may not be deducted from a security deposit under Texas law.
Penalty for Wrongful Withholding: If a landlord retains a deposit in bad faith without providing the required itemization, the tenant may sue for three times the amount wrongfully withheld, plus reasonable attorney's fees (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.109). To protect your right to these remedies, provide your landlord with a written forwarding address when you move out. Failure to do so can delay the 30-day clock.
Practical Tips: Document the condition of the unit at move-in and move-out with dated photos or video. Send your forwarding address in writing — by certified mail if possible — and keep a copy for your records.
In Azle, as throughout Texas, a landlord must follow a specific legal process to remove a tenant. Self-help eviction — changing locks, removing belongings, or shutting off utilities without a court order — is illegal under Tex. Prop. Code § 92.0081.
Step 1 — Written Notice to Vacate: Before filing anything in court, the landlord must serve the tenant with a written Notice to Vacate. The standard notice period in Texas is 3 days for nonpayment of rent or lease violations (Tex. Prop. Code § 24.005), unless the lease specifies a longer period. For month-to-month tenancies being terminated without cause, at least one month's written notice is required (Tex. Prop. Code § 91.001). Notice may be delivered in person, posted on the inside of the main entry door, or sent by certified mail.
Step 2 — Filing an Eviction Suit (Forcible Detainer): If the tenant does not vacate by the deadline in the notice, the landlord may file an eviction suit — called a forcible detainer action — in the Justice of the Peace Court for Tarrant County Precinct 1 (or the appropriate precinct). The court will schedule a hearing, typically within 10–21 days of filing (Tex. Prop. Code § 24.011).
Step 3 — Court Hearing: Both the landlord and tenant may appear and present their case. Tenants have the right to raise defenses such as retaliation (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.331) or the landlord's failure to maintain habitable conditions. If the judge rules for the landlord, a judgment for possession is entered.
Step 4 — Writ of Possession: If the tenant does not appeal within 5 days or vacate voluntarily, the landlord may request a writ of possession. A constable will then carry out the removal. Tenants may appeal to the County Court at Law, but must post a bond or pay rent into the court registry to stay enforcement during the appeal.
No Just-Cause Requirement: Texas does not require landlords to have a specific reason (just cause) to terminate a month-to-month tenancy or decline to renew a fixed-term lease, as long as proper notice is given. Anti-retaliation rules still apply — an eviction filed in retaliation for a tenant exercising legal rights is unlawful under Tex. Prop. Code § 92.331.
The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Tenant rights laws can change, and the specific facts of your situation may affect how the law applies to you. For advice about your individual circumstances, consult a licensed Texas attorney or contact a local legal aid organization. RentCheckMe makes no warranty that the information on this page is current, complete, or accurate as of the date you read it — always verify the latest statutes and local ordinances independently or with qualified legal counsel.
Find out if your home is covered by rent control or tenant protections.
Use the Address Checker →We'll email you if the rent cap, coverage rules, or tenant protections change — no spam, unsubscribe any time.