El Paso Landlord-Tenant Rules
El Paso adds local rules on top of Texas landlord-tenant law. Here is what is different, with the city code or agency page behind each rule.
| Local tenant ordinances | No El Paso-specific tenant ordinances were found. There is no local tenant notice, just-cause, registration or rent rule. The City's fair housing and tenant pages describe only federal and state law. Texas law also limits what the City could adopt: cities may not regulate in fields the Property Code occupies, including evictions and notices to vacate; since January 1, 2026, only the Legislature may modify eviction procedures; and cities may not ban refusals of federal housing assistance, except for veterans. SB 38: https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB00038F.htm; SB 267: https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/84R/billtext/html/SB00267F.htm. The El Paso City Code itself was not searched. |
|---|---|
| Fair housing (local protected classes) | The City's Fair Housing page lists only the federal protected classes and names no local ordinance or extra classes. Complaints go to HUD (1-800-669-9777) or the Texas Workforce Commission Civil Rights Division (1-888-452-4778). For an imminent eviction, the City refers tenants to Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TRLA) at 1-888-988-9996 or 915-585-5100. Source: Official source |
| Habitability/code enforcement & complaint line | Report code violations, including substandard rental conditions, through El Paso 311 (dial 3-1-1 or 915-212-0000, or use the online 311 request). Code Enforcement is listed under the El Paso Police Department site. No local rental registration or proactive rental inspection program was found. Source: Official source |
| Local rental assistance | The City does not run its own rental assistance program. Its Housing Resources page refers tenants to El Paso County General Assistance for rent and utility help (915-546-8150), Project BRAVO, 2-1-1 Texas, and the Rio Grande Council of Governments for mediation (915-533-0998). Source: Official source |
Eviction cases in El Paso are heard in: El Paso County Justice of the Peace Courts; file in the JP precinct where the property is located
Eviction court, fees and help
Right to a lawyer in eviction cases
No right to counsel, and no City-funded eviction representation program was found. Official source
Local agencies
- City of El Paso Community + Human Development — Fair housing information, housing resource referrals and City-hosted TRLA tenant guides. (915) 212-0138.
- El Paso 311 / Code Enforcement — Takes property maintenance and code complaints. 3-1-1.
- Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TRLA) — Free legal aid for eviction and housing problems. 915-585-5100.
Frequently asked questions
What landlord-tenant rules does El Paso add on top of Texas law?
Local tenant ordinances: No El Paso-specific tenant ordinances were found. There is no local tenant notice, just-cause, registration or rent rule. The City's fair housing and tenant pages describe only federal and state law. Texas law also limits what the City could adopt: cities may not regulate in fields the Property Code occupies, including evictions and notices to vacate; since January 1, 2026, only the Legislature may modify eviction procedures; and cities may not ban refusals of federal housing assistance, except for veterans.; Fair housing (local protected classes): The City's Fair Housing page lists only the federal protected classes and names no local ordinance or extra classes. Complaints go to HUD (1-800-669-9777) or the Texas Workforce Commission Civil Rights Division (1-888-452-4778). For an imminent eviction, the City refers tenants to Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TRLA) at 1-888-988-9996 or 915-585-5100.; Habitability/code enforcement & complaint line: Report code violations, including substandard rental conditions, through El Paso 311 (dial 3-1-1 or 915-212-0000, or use the online 311 request). Code Enforcement is listed under the El Paso Police Department site.; Local rental assistance: The City does not run its own rental assistance program. Its Housing Resources page refers tenants to El Paso County General Assistance for rent and utility help (915-546-8150), Project BRAVO, 2-1-1 Texas, and the Rio Grande Council of Governments for mediation (915-533-0998).
← All Texas landlord-tenant rules
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.