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Pampa is a small city in Gray County in the Texas Panhandle, home to roughly 17,000 residents. Like many Texas communities of its size, a significant share of households rent rather than own, and those renters rely on state law for all of their core tenant protections — there are no local ordinances in Pampa that add to or modify what Texas law already provides.
The most common questions Pampa renters ask involve security deposit returns, landlord obligations to make repairs, and what to do when facing eviction. Texas law addresses all of these through the Texas Property Code, and understanding those rights is the most important tool a renter in Gray County has when dealing with a difficult landlord situation.
This page is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws can change, and every tenancy is different. If you are facing an urgent housing problem, contact a legal aid organization or a licensed Texas attorney for guidance specific to your circumstances.
Pampa has no rent control, and no city in Texas may enact one. Texas state law explicitly prohibits municipalities and counties from adopting any ordinance, order, or rule that would control the price of rent for private residential property. This prohibition is codified at Tex. Prop. Code § 214.902, which states that a municipality may not adopt a rent control ordinance or other measure that would control the rental price of privately owned residential property.
In practical terms, this means a landlord in Pampa can raise your rent by any amount, at any time, as long as they provide the legally required written notice before the increase takes effect. For month-to-month tenants, that means at least one month's written notice (Tex. Prop. Code § 91.001). For tenants with a fixed-term lease, the rent is locked for the duration of the lease term and cannot be changed until renewal.
Because there is no cap on rent increases in Texas, Pampa renters should pay close attention to the notice requirements for rent changes and ensure any increases are communicated in writing before they are required to take effect.
Although Pampa has no local tenant ordinances, Texas state law provides several important protections that apply to every renter in Gray County.
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 after you vacate the unit. If a landlord wrongfully withholds all or part of your deposit in bad faith, you may be entitled to three times the withheld amount plus attorney's fees as damages.
Repairs and 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. After you give written notice of the problem, the landlord must repair it within a reasonable time. If the landlord fails to act, you 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 remedies through the courts.
Notice to Terminate a Month-to-Month Tenancy (Tex. Prop. Code § 91.001): Either party must provide at least one month's written notice to terminate a month-to-month lease. This protects renters from being suddenly displaced without adequate time to find alternative housing.
Anti-Retaliation Protections (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.331): A landlord may not retaliate against you for exercising a legal right — such as requesting repairs, reporting code violations to a housing inspector, or contacting a government agency. Prohibited retaliatory acts include raising rent, reducing services, and threatening or initiating eviction. A retaliation presumption applies if the landlord acts within six months of a protected activity (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.333).
Lockout and Utility Shutoff Prohibition (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.0081): Self-help eviction is illegal in Texas. A landlord cannot change your locks, remove your doors or windows, or shut off your utilities to force you out. Doing so entitles you to actual damages, one month's rent plus $1,000, attorney's fees, and injunctive relief.
Texas law governs security deposits for all Pampa rentals through Tex. Prop. Code §§ 92.101–92.109. There is no statutory cap on the amount a landlord may charge as a security deposit in Texas, so the amount is set by whatever the lease agreement states.
Return Deadline: After you move out, your landlord has 30 days to return your deposit. If the landlord intends to make deductions, they must also provide a written, itemized description of each deduction and the cost within that same 30-day window (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.104). To protect yourself, provide your landlord with a forwarding address in writing — the 30-day clock does not begin until the landlord has received your forwarding address.
Deductions: Landlords may only deduct for unpaid rent, damages beyond normal wear and tear, and other charges permitted by the lease. They may not deduct for ordinary wear and tear on the unit (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.104).
Penalty for Wrongful Withholding: If a landlord retains your deposit in bad faith and fails to return the balance or provide an itemized statement, you can sue for three times the amount wrongfully withheld, plus reasonable attorney's fees, in addition to the amount actually due (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.109). Small claims (Justice of the Peace) courts in Gray County handle these cases, and the filing fee is generally low.
Evictions in Pampa follow the Texas eviction process set out in Tex. Prop. Code §§ 24.001–24.011 and the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure. A landlord must follow every required step — there are no shortcuts.
Step 1 — Written Notice to Vacate: Before filing in court, the landlord must give you written notice to vacate. For non-payment of rent, the minimum notice is 3 days unless the lease provides a longer period (Tex. Prop. Code § 24.005). For other lease violations or a month-to-month tenancy termination, the landlord must give the notice required by the lease or at least one month's notice under Tex. Prop. Code § 91.001. Notice may be delivered in person, by posting on the main entry door, or by mail.
Step 2 — Filing a Forcible Detainer Suit: If you do not vacate after the notice period expires, the landlord may file an eviction (forcible detainer) lawsuit at the Justice of the Peace court in Gray County Precinct 1 in Pampa. You will receive a citation with a hearing date, which is typically set 10–21 days after filing (Tex. R. Civ. P. 510.4).
Step 3 — The Hearing: Both you and the landlord present your cases before the Justice of the Peace. You have the right to appear and defend yourself. If the court rules against you, you have 5 days to appeal to the County Court at Law (Tex. R. Civ. P. 510.9).
Step 4 — Writ of Possession: If no appeal is filed and the judgment is final, the landlord may request a writ of possession, which authorizes a constable to remove you from the property. Only a constable — not the landlord — may physically enforce the writ.
Self-Help Eviction Is Illegal: A landlord in Pampa may never lock you out, remove your belongings, or shut off your utilities to force you out without going through the court process. Doing so violates Tex. Prop. Code § 92.0081 and entitles you to damages, one month's rent plus $1,000, and attorney's fees.
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 with proper notice on a month-to-month tenancy. However, evictions carried out in retaliation for protected tenant activity may be challenged 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 are subject to change, and the specific facts of your situation may affect how the law applies to you. Nothing on this page creates an attorney-client relationship. If you are facing an eviction, a security deposit dispute, or any other housing legal matter, you should consult a licensed Texas attorney or contact a qualified legal aid organization in your area to get advice tailored to your circumstances.
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