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Kilgore is a small city in Gregg County in the East Texas Piney Woods region, with a population of roughly 14,000 residents. The city is home to Kilgore College and has a mix of long-term residents and student renters, making tenant rights awareness especially important for those navigating the local rental market.
Kilgore has no local tenant protection ordinances beyond what Texas state law provides. That means renters here rely entirely on the Texas Property Code for protections covering security deposits, repairs, retaliation, and eviction procedures. While those statewide protections are meaningful, renters should understand exactly what they cover — and what they do not — particularly when it comes to rent increases, which are entirely unregulated in Texas.
This page provides a plain-language summary of the laws that apply to Kilgore renters as of April 2026. It is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. If you have a specific legal dispute with your landlord, consult a licensed Texas attorney or a free legal aid organization serving Gregg County.
Kilgore has no rent control, and Texas state law prohibits any city or county from enacting one. Under Tex. Prop. Code § 214.902, local governments in Texas are expressly forbidden from adopting or enforcing any ordinance, order, or policy that controls the amount of rent charged for private residential housing. This is a blanket statewide preemption, meaning the Kilgore City Council — even if it wanted to — has no legal authority to cap rents or limit how much a landlord can raise them.
In practice, this means your landlord in Kilgore can raise your rent by any amount, at any time, as long as they provide the legally required notice before the increase takes effect. For month-to-month tenants, that is at least one month's written notice under Tex. Prop. Code § 91.001. For fixed-term leases, rent cannot be increased mid-lease unless the lease itself permits it — but when the lease expires, the landlord is free to offer renewal at any price.
Renters facing steep rent increases in Kilgore have limited legal recourse. The most practical options are negotiating directly with the landlord, seeking lower-cost housing, or consulting a legal aid provider to ensure all proper notice and procedural requirements were followed.
Although Kilgore has no local tenant ordinances, Texas state law provides several important protections for all renters in the state, including those in Gregg County.
Security Deposits (Tex. Prop. Code §§ 92.101–92.109): Texas law does not cap the dollar amount a landlord may charge for a security deposit, but it strictly regulates how deposits must be handled. Landlords must return the deposit — along with a written, itemized statement of any lawful deductions — within 30 days of the tenant surrendering the property. Wrongful withholding can expose the landlord to liability for three times the withheld amount plus attorney's fees (§ 92.109).
Repairs & Habitability (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.056): Landlords in Texas are required to make repairs that materially affect the health or safety of an ordinary tenant within a reasonable time after receiving written notice. If a landlord fails to make such repairs, tenants may have the right to repair-and-deduct (up to the lesser of $500 or one month's rent), terminate the lease, or pursue other legal remedies — provided the tenant is current on rent and has followed proper notice procedures.
Notice to Terminate (Tex. Prop. Code § 91.001): For month-to-month tenancies, either the landlord or the tenant must give at least one month's written notice before terminating the tenancy. Lease agreements may specify a different notice period, but it cannot be less than what the parties contractually agreed.
Anti-Retaliation (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.331): A landlord may not retaliate against a tenant for exercising a legal right — such as requesting repairs, reporting a housing code violation to a government agency, or joining a tenant organization. Prohibited retaliatory acts include raising rent, reducing services, or filing an eviction. If retaliation is proven, the tenant may recover one month's rent plus $500 in additional damages, attorney's fees, and court costs (§ 92.333).
Lockout & Utility Shutoff Prohibition (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.0081): Self-help eviction is illegal in Texas. A landlord cannot change the locks, remove doors or windows, or disconnect utilities (water, electricity, gas) to force a tenant out. Doing so without a court order can result in the landlord being liable to the tenant for actual damages, one month's rent plus $1,000, attorney's fees, and court costs.
Texas law governs security deposits for all Kilgore rentals under Tex. Prop. Code §§ 92.101 through 92.109. There is no statutory cap on the amount a landlord may charge — so what a Kilgore landlord collects is set by the lease agreement, not by law.
Return deadline: After you vacate and surrender possession of the unit, your landlord has 30 days to return your security deposit. The landlord must also provide a written, itemized list of any deductions made from the deposit. If the landlord in good faith cannot determine the final deduction amounts within 30 days, they may send a written, good-faith estimate and a final accounting within 30 additional days (§ 92.103).
Lawful deductions may include unpaid rent, damage beyond normal wear and tear, and certain lease-specified charges. Normal wear and tear — such as minor scuffs on walls or carpet worn from ordinary use — cannot legally be deducted from the deposit.
Penalties for wrongful withholding: If your landlord wrongfully withholds all or part of your deposit in bad faith, you may be entitled to recover three times the amount wrongfully withheld, plus $100, plus reasonable attorney's fees (§ 92.109). To protect your rights, always provide your landlord with a forwarding address in writing; failure to do so may delay the return clock or reduce your remedies.
Evictions in Kilgore follow the Texas eviction process established under Tex. Prop. Code Chapter 24 and the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure. Landlords must follow every step in order — a landlord cannot skip straight to removing a tenant without a court judgment.
Step 1 — Written Notice: Before filing anything with a court, the landlord must give the tenant written notice to vacate. For nonpayment of rent, the minimum notice period is 3 days, unless the lease specifies a different period (Tex. Prop. Code § 24.005). For month-to-month tenancies being terminated without cause, the landlord must provide at least 1 month's written notice (§ 91.001). Notice may be delivered in person, posted on the inside of the main entry door, or sent by regular mail or certified mail.
Step 2 — Filing in Justice Court: 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 Gregg County Precinct 1 (or the applicable precinct). A hearing is typically scheduled within 10 to 21 days of filing.
Step 3 — Court Hearing: Both parties may appear and present evidence. If the judge rules in the landlord's favor, a judgment for possession is issued. The tenant then has 5 days to appeal to the county court at law; if no appeal is filed, the landlord may request a Writ of Possession after that period.
Step 4 — Writ of Possession: A constable or sheriff, not the landlord, executes the Writ of Possession and oversees the physical removal of the tenant and their belongings. The landlord has no authority to physically remove the tenant without this court-ordered writ.
Self-help eviction is illegal: Under Tex. Prop. Code § 92.0081, a landlord who locks out a tenant, removes entry doors, or shuts off utilities without a court order is liable for actual damages, one month's rent plus $1,000, and attorney's fees. Tenants who experience an illegal lockout may seek emergency relief from the Justice Court.
No just cause requirement: Texas does not require landlords to have a reason (just cause) to non-renew a lease or terminate a month-to-month tenancy. However, evictions carried out in retaliation for a tenant exercising a legal right are prohibited 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 in Texas — including those applicable to Kilgore and Gregg County — may change, and the accuracy of any information here cannot be guaranteed beyond the last updated date of April 2026. If you have a specific legal situation or dispute with your landlord, you should consult a licensed Texas attorney or contact a qualified legal aid organization serving your area. RentCheckMe is not a law firm and does not provide legal representation or advice.
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