Want to skip straight to checking your own building? Use the RentCheckMe address checker.
Kingsville is a small city of roughly 25,000 residents in Kleberg County, South Texas, home to Texas A&M University-Kingsville and a significant military presence from Naval Air Station Kingsville. A substantial share of residents rent their homes, including students, military families, and working-class households who rely on federal and state law for housing protections.
Because Texas state law preempts local rent regulation, Kingsville has no city-level rent control or rent stabilization ordinances. Renters in Kingsville are governed entirely by the Texas Property Code, which provides meaningful protections on security deposits, habitability, anti-retaliation, and the eviction process — but places no cap on how much a landlord can raise rent.
This page explains the tenant rights most relevant to Kingsville renters, citing specific Texas statutes. This information is provided for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. If you have a specific legal dispute, consult a licensed Texas attorney or contact a local legal aid organization.
Kingsville has no rent control, and Texas law makes it impossible for the city to create one. Texas Property Code § 214.902 expressly prohibits any municipality or county from adopting an ordinance that controls the price of rent charged for residential property. This statewide preemption has been in effect for decades and applies to every city in Texas, including Kingsville.
In practice, this means your landlord can raise your rent by any amount — there is no percentage cap or formula limiting increases. The only requirement is that the landlord provide proper advance notice before a rent increase takes effect. For month-to-month tenants, Texas law requires at least one month's written notice of any change in lease terms, including rent increases (Tex. Prop. Code § 91.001). If your lease is fixed-term, the landlord generally cannot raise rent until the lease expires unless the lease specifically allows mid-term increases.
Renters who feel a rent increase is unaffordable have limited legal recourse under Texas law. Your best options are to negotiate directly with your landlord, look for alternative housing, or seek assistance from local organizations like Texas RioGrande Legal Aid if you believe the increase is connected to illegal retaliation.
Although Kingsville has no local tenant ordinances, the Texas Property Code provides several important protections that apply to every renter in the city.
Security Deposits (Tex. Prop. Code §§ 92.101–92.109): Landlords must return your security deposit — along with a written, itemized list of any deductions — within 30 days of you vacating the unit. There is no statutory cap on the deposit amount in Texas. If a landlord wrongfully withholds your deposit without a good-faith itemized explanation, you may be entitled to three times the withheld amount plus reasonable attorney's fees (§ 92.109).
Habitability & Repairs (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.056): Landlords in Kingsville must make repairs that materially affect the health or safety of an ordinary tenant within a reasonable time after receiving written notice. If your landlord fails to act, you may have the right to repair the problem yourself and deduct the cost from rent (up to the lesser of $500 or one month's rent), terminate the lease, or pursue other legal remedies — provided you follow the statutory procedures exactly.
Notice to Terminate (Tex. Prop. Code § 91.001): For a month-to-month tenancy, either party must give at least one month's written notice before terminating the lease. This protects renters from abrupt displacement without advance warning.
Anti-Retaliation (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.331): Your landlord cannot retaliate against you for exercising a legal right — such as requesting repairs in writing, complaining to a housing inspector, or joining a tenant organization. Prohibited retaliatory acts include raising rent, reducing services, filing an eviction, or threatening any of these actions. Retaliation is presumed if the landlord acts within six months of your protected activity (§ 92.333).
Lockout & Utility Shutoff Prohibition (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.0081): Self-help eviction is illegal in Texas. Your landlord cannot change your locks, remove your door, or disconnect your utilities to force you out without first obtaining a court order. Violations entitle you to actual damages, one month's rent plus $1,000, attorney's fees, and the right to immediate re-entry.
Texas Property Code §§ 92.101 through 92.109 govern security deposits for all Kingsville rentals. There is no statutory limit on how large a security deposit your landlord can charge — it is set by negotiation in the lease agreement.
Return deadline: After you vacate the property, your landlord has 30 days to return your deposit, along with a written, itemized statement explaining any deductions (§ 92.103). The 30-day clock begins when you surrender the unit. If you provide a forwarding address in writing, the deposit and statement must be mailed to that address.
Permitted deductions: Landlords may deduct amounts for unpaid rent, damage beyond normal wear and tear, and other lease violations. They may not deduct for ordinary wear and tear (§ 92.104).
Penalty for wrongful withholding: If a landlord acts in bad faith by retaining your deposit without a written itemized statement — or by making false deductions — you are entitled to three times the amount wrongfully withheld, plus reasonable attorney's fees (§ 92.109). To protect your rights, document the condition of the unit at move-in and move-out with dated photos, and always provide your forwarding address in writing.
Evictions in Kingsville follow the Texas eviction process, governed primarily by Texas Property Code Chapter 24 and the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure.
Step 1 — Written Notice: Before filing in court, the landlord must serve you with a written notice to vacate. For nonpayment of rent, the default notice period is 3 days (Tex. Prop. Code § 24.005), unless your lease specifies a longer period. For lease violations or end of tenancy, the notice period depends on the tenancy type — month-to-month tenants are entitled to at least one month's notice (§ 91.001). Notice may be delivered in person, by affixing it to the inside of the main entry door, or by mail (§ 24.005).
Step 2 — Filing a Forcible Detainer Suit: If you do not vacate by the deadline, the landlord may file a forcible detainer (eviction) lawsuit in Kleberg County Justice of the Peace Court. You will receive a citation with a hearing date, typically set within 10–21 days after filing.
Step 3 — The Hearing: You have the right to appear at the hearing and present your defense. Common defenses include improper notice, retaliation (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.331), failure to maintain habitable conditions, or acceptance of rent after the notice period. If the court rules against you, you have five days to appeal to the County Court at Law.
Step 4 — Writ of Possession: If you do not vacate or appeal after losing, the landlord can obtain a writ of possession, and a constable will oversee your removal from the property.
Just Cause: Texas does not require landlords to have just cause to evict a tenant after a lease ends or proper notice is given. There is no local just-cause ordinance in Kingsville.
Self-Help Eviction is Illegal: Regardless of any lease clause, a landlord cannot lock you out, remove your belongings, or shut off utilities to force you out without a court order (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.0081). If this happens, you can contact local law enforcement and may sue for damages.
The information on this page is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Tenant rights laws and local ordinances can change, and the application of any law depends on the specific facts of your situation. If you have a legal dispute with your landlord or need advice tailored to your circumstances, please consult a licensed Texas attorney or contact a qualified legal aid organization such as Texas RioGrande Legal Aid. RentCheckMe makes no warranties regarding the accuracy or completeness of this information and is not responsible for actions taken in reliance on it.
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.