Last updated: April 2026
Fort Worth is one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States, and renters here are protected by Texas state law on deposits, habitability, and eviction — though no local rent control ordinance exists.
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Fort Worth, the seat of Tarrant County and the fifth-largest city in Texas, has experienced rapid population growth over the past decade, with tens of thousands of residents renting apartments, houses, and condos across neighborhoods from the Near Southside to the Alliance corridor. Like all Texas cities, Fort Worth renters are governed exclusively by state law — the Texas Property Code — rather than any local tenant ordinance.
The questions Fort Worth renters most commonly ask involve security deposit returns, landlord repair obligations, protection from retaliation, and what steps a landlord must follow before pursuing eviction. Texas law provides meaningful answers to all of these questions, and this page explains each protection with the specific statute that backs it up.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws can change, and your specific situation may involve facts that alter the legal outcome. If you face an eviction, a withheld deposit, or an unsafe living condition, contact a qualified attorney or a free legal aid organization in Tarrant County.
Fort Worth has no rent control, and Texas state law makes that permanent. Texas Property Code § 214.902 expressly prohibits any municipality or county from enacting an ordinance that controls the price of rent. This preemption applies statewide, meaning the Fort Worth City Council cannot pass a rent stabilization or rent control ordinance even if it wanted to.
In practical terms, this means a landlord in Fort Worth can raise your rent by any amount — $50, $500, or more — at the end of any lease term. During a fixed-term lease, your rent is locked at whatever the lease states, so a landlord cannot legally raise it mid-lease without your written agreement. Once the lease expires or on a month-to-month tenancy, the landlord must give at least one month's advance written notice of a rent increase before it takes effect (Tex. Prop. Code § 91.001). There is no cap on the size of that increase.
Renters who are concerned about large rent increases should document all written communications from their landlord, confirm any rent change is reflected in a written notice, and verify that an increase is not being used as cover for illegal retaliation under Tex. Prop. Code § 92.331.
Texas state law provides the following core protections for Fort Worth renters:
Security Deposit (Tex. Prop. Code §§ 92.101–92.111): Landlords must return your security deposit within 30 days of your move-out date, along with an itemized written description of any deductions. A landlord who wrongfully withholds all or part of your deposit may owe you three times the amount withheld, plus your actual damages, attorney's fees, and court costs (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.109). Providing your forwarding address in writing is essential — failure to do so can limit your ability to recover.
Habitability & Repairs (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.056): Your landlord is legally required to make repairs that materially affect the health or safety of an ordinary tenant. To trigger this duty, you must give written notice of the problem, be current on rent, and allow a reasonable time for repair. If the landlord fails to act, you may have the right to terminate your lease, pursue a rent reduction, or use the repair-and-deduct remedy — repairing the condition yourself and deducting the cost from rent, up to the lesser of $500 or one month's rent (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.0561). Important procedural steps apply; follow them carefully.
Notice to Terminate a Month-to-Month Tenancy (Tex. Prop. Code § 91.001): A landlord must give you at least one full month's written notice before terminating a month-to-month rental agreement. Likewise, a tenant who wants to end a month-to-month tenancy must give the landlord at least one month's notice. Shorter notice periods can be agreed upon in writing.
Anti-Retaliation (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.331): A landlord may not retaliate against you for, among other things, requesting repairs, reporting housing code violations to a government authority, or organizing with other tenants. Retaliation includes raising rent, reducing services, filing an eviction, or threatening any of these actions. If you can show your landlord retaliated, you may recover one month's rent plus $500 in additional damages, attorney's fees, and court costs (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.333).
Prohibition on Lockouts & Utility Shutoffs (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.0081): It is illegal in Texas for a landlord to lock you out, remove exterior doors or windows, or interrupt essential utilities (electricity, water, gas) in order to force you out of your home. If your landlord does any of these things, you may recover actual damages, one month's rent plus $1,000, attorney's fees, and court costs. You also have the right to use self-help remedies to regain entry.
Texas law governs all security deposit rules for Fort Worth rentals under Tex. Prop. Code §§ 92.101–92.111. Here is what you need to know:
No Statewide Cap: Texas does not limit how much a landlord can charge as a security deposit. The amount is whatever the lease agreement states. Be sure to review your lease carefully before signing.
30-Day Return Deadline: After you vacate and provide your landlord with your forwarding address in writing, the landlord has exactly 30 days to return your deposit and any remaining balance (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.103). If the landlord makes deductions, they must provide a written, itemized list of each deduction along with the refund.
Deductions Allowed: Landlords may deduct for unpaid rent, damages beyond normal wear and tear, and other costs specifically authorized by the lease (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.104). They cannot deduct for ordinary wear and tear — the gradual deterioration that results from normal everyday use.
Penalty for Wrongful Withholding: A landlord who wrongfully withholds your deposit in bad faith — meaning without a legitimate reason or without providing the required itemization — may be liable to you for three times the amount wrongfully withheld, plus your actual damages, reasonable attorney's fees, and court costs (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.109). Proving bad faith is required; honest mistakes may not trigger the treble-damages penalty.
Practical Tips: Take dated photos and video of the unit at move-in and move-out, get receipts for any cleaning or repairs you perform, and deliver your forwarding address to your landlord in writing — ideally via certified mail — on or before your move-out date.
Landlords in Fort Worth must follow the Texas eviction process set out in the Texas Property Code and the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure. Self-help eviction — locking you out, removing your belongings, or cutting off utilities — is illegal (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.0081).
Step 1 — Written Notice to Vacate: Before filing in court, the landlord must deliver a written notice to vacate. The required notice period depends on the reason for eviction:
Notice must be delivered in person, by mail, or by affixing to the inside of the main entry door. Each method has specific rules under Tex. Prop. Code § 24.005(f).
Step 2 — Filing in Justice Court: If you do not vacate by the deadline, the landlord may file an eviction (forcible detainer) petition in the Tarrant County Justice Court for the precinct where the property is located. You will be served with a citation and given a court date, typically 10–21 days after filing (Tex. R. Civ. P. 510.4).
Step 3 — The Hearing: Both sides may present evidence and testimony. If the judge rules for the landlord, a judgment for possession is entered. You have 5 days to appeal the judgment to the County Court at Law by filing an appeal bond or an affidavit of inability to pay (Tex. R. Civ. P. 510.9).
Step 4 — Writ of Possession: If no appeal is filed or the appeal is unsuccessful, the landlord can request a writ of possession, which directs a constable to remove you and your belongings (Tex. Prop. Code § 24.0061). The constable must give at least 24 hours' notice before executing the writ.
No Just Cause Requirement: Texas does not require landlords to have a specific reason (just cause) to terminate a tenancy at the end of a lease term or a month-to-month arrangement. However, evictions that are retaliatory can be challenged under Tex. Prop. Code § 92.331.
No. Fort Worth does not have rent control, and it cannot enact one. Texas Property Code § 214.902 expressly prohibits all cities and counties in Texas from passing ordinances that control the price of rent. This preemption is statewide, so no local law can cap rent increases in Fort Worth.
There is no limit on how much a landlord can raise rent in Fort Worth. During a fixed-term lease, the rent is locked at the amount stated in your lease until the term ends. For month-to-month tenancies, the landlord must give at least one month's written advance notice before a rent increase takes effect (Tex. Prop. Code § 91.001). An increase timed to retaliate against you for requesting repairs or reporting code violations may be challenged under Tex. Prop. Code § 92.331.
Your landlord must return your security deposit within 30 days of your move-out date, provided you have given your landlord a written forwarding address (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.103). The refund must include an itemized written statement of any deductions. A landlord who wrongfully withholds the deposit in bad faith can be liable for three times the withheld amount, plus attorney's fees and court costs (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.109).
For nonpayment of rent, the landlord must give at least 3 days' written notice to vacate before filing in court, unless your lease states a different period (Tex. Prop. Code § 24.005). For ending a month-to-month tenancy without cause, the landlord must give at least one month's written notice (Tex. Prop. Code § 91.001). After the notice period expires without you vacating, the landlord must file in Justice Court — they cannot remove you without a court order.
No. Under Texas Property Code § 92.0081, it is illegal for a landlord to lock you out, remove doors or windows, or interrupt utilities such as electricity or water in order to force you to leave. If your landlord does this, you can recover actual damages, one month's rent plus $1,000, attorney's fees, and court costs. You also have the right to regain access to the property using reasonable means.
If a condition in your rental materially affects your health or safety, send your landlord a written repair request and keep a copy (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.056). You must be current on rent and allow a reasonable time for the repair. If the landlord still does not act, you may have the right to repair-and-deduct (up to the lesser of $500 or one month's rent) under Tex. Prop. Code § 92.0561, terminate the lease, or seek rent reduction through Justice Court. Contact Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas at lanwt.org for help with the required procedural steps.
The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Tenant rights laws are complex, fact-specific, and subject to change; the content here reflects our best understanding of Texas law as of April 2026 but may not reflect recent legislative changes, court decisions, or local ordinances. Nothing on this page creates an attorney-client relationship. If you are facing an eviction, a withheld security deposit, unsafe living conditions, or any other housing legal matter, please consult a licensed Texas attorney or contact a free legal aid organization such as Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas (lanwt.org) for advice specific to your situation.
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