McAllen is a major commercial hub in the Rio Grande Valley. Renters here are protected by Texas state law — here's what that means for your deposit, repairs, and eviction rights.·Updated April 2026
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Key Takeaways
Find out whether McAllen or Texas allows rent control below.
Review how long a Texas landlord has to return your deposit and what happens if they don't.
Check the notice period your landlord must give before ending your lease in Texas.
Learn whether your tenancy in McAllen has just-cause eviction protections.
See whether McAllen has local rules that go beyond Texas tenant law.
Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (trla.org), Texas Law Help (texaslawhelp.org)
1. Overview: Tenant Rights in McAllen
McAllen is the largest city in Hidalgo County and the economic center of the Rio Grande Valley, sitting on the U.S.-Mexico border. It has a robust rental market shaped by its binational economy and large immigrant population. Like all Texas cities, McAllen has no local tenant protections — renters rely entirely on the Texas Property Code (Chapter 92).
Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, headquartered in the Valley, is the primary free legal resource for McAllen renters facing eviction or landlord disputes.
2. Does McAllen Have Rent Control?
McAllen has no rent control. Texas state law (Tex. Prop. Code § 214.902) explicitly bans all cities and counties in Texas from enacting rent control ordinances. Your landlord can raise your rent by any amount with proper notice, and there is no ceiling on rent increases anywhere in Texas.
3. Texas State Tenant Protections That Apply in McAllen
The Texas Property Code (Chapter 92) protects McAllen renters with the following rights:
Security Deposit: Must be returned within 30 days of move-out with a written itemized statement of deductions. Bad-faith withholding can cost your landlord 3× the deposit amount plus attorney's fees (Tex. Prop. Code §§ 92.103, 92.109).
Repairs & Habitability: Landlords must repair conditions that materially affect health or safety after written notice. Remedies include repair-and-deduct (up to $500 or one month's rent), lease termination, or rent reduction (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.056).
Notice to Terminate: Month-to-month tenants receive at least 1 month's written notice before the landlord can end the tenancy (Tex. Prop. Code § 91.001).
Anti-Retaliation: Landlords cannot retaliate by raising rent or cutting services when you exercise your legal rights (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.331).
No Self-Help Eviction: Lockouts and utility shutoffs to force you out are illegal in Texas (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.0081).
4. Security Deposit Rules in McAllen
Texas imposes no cap on the security deposit amount a McAllen landlord can charge. However, your landlord has 30 days after move-out to return the deposit with a written itemized list of any deductions (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.103). Bad-faith withholding or improper deductions can entitle you to three times the wrongfully withheld amount plus attorney's fees (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.109). Texas RioGrande Legal Aid can assist with deposit disputes for income-eligible renters.
5. Eviction Process and Your Rights in McAllen
McAllen landlords must serve a 3-day notice to vacate before filing an eviction suit in Justice of the Peace court. If the landlord prevails, a writ of possession allows a constable to remove the tenant. Self-help eviction is illegal: lockouts, utility shutoffs, and removal of belongings without a court order violate Texas law (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.0081). Texas does not require just cause to decline lease renewal, but active tenancies cannot be terminated without going through the court process.
6. Resources for McAllen Tenants
Texas RioGrande Legal Aid — Free civil legal services for low-income Texans in South and West Texas, headquartered in the Rio Grande Valley.
Texas Law Help — Free legal information and forms on Texas tenant rights.
This article provides general information about tenant rights in McAllen and is not legal advice. Laws change — verify current rules with a local attorney or tenant organization.
Check Your Address
Find out if your home is covered by rent control or tenant protections.
No. McAllen has no rent control, and Texas law (Tex. Prop. Code § 214.902) prohibits all Texas cities from enacting rent control ordinances. Landlords can raise rent by any amount.
How much can my landlord raise my rent in McAllen?
There is no limit on rent increases in McAllen or anywhere in Texas. Your landlord must give at least 1 month's written notice before raising rent on a month-to-month tenancy.
How long does my landlord have to return my security deposit in McAllen?
30 days after move-out, with a written itemized statement of deductions (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.103). Bad-faith withholding can result in 3× the withheld amount in damages (§ 92.109).
What notice does my landlord need before evicting me in McAllen?
A 3-day notice to vacate is required before filing an eviction suit. The landlord must then win a court judgment before you can be removed. For month-to-month tenancies, 1 month's notice is required to end the tenancy (Tex. Prop. Code § 91.001).
Can my landlord lock me out or shut off utilities in McAllen?
No. Self-help eviction is illegal in Texas (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.0081). Your landlord must obtain a court order. Contact Texas RioGrande Legal Aid if this happens.
What can I do if my landlord refuses to make repairs in McAllen?
Send a written repair request. Under Tex. Prop. Code § 92.056, your landlord must address health-and-safety repairs within a reasonable time. If they fail to act, you may repair-and-deduct, terminate the lease, or seek a rent reduction. Document all requests in writing.
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