Tex. Prop. Code Ann. §§ 92.001–92.355 § 92.018
LIABILITY OF TENANT FOR GOVERNMENTAL FINES.
Operative Text
Sec. 92.018. LIABILITY OF TENANT FOR GOVERNMENTAL FINES. (a) In this section, "governmental entity" means the state, an agency of the state, or a political subdivision of the state.(b) A landlord or a landlord's manager or agent may not charge or seek reimbursement from the landlord's tenant for the amount of a fine imposed on the landlord by a governmental entity unless the tenant or another occupant of the tenant's dwelling actually caused the damage or other condition on which the fine is based. Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 1344 (S.B. 399), Sec. 1, eff. June 18, 2005.Renumbered from Property Code, Section 92.016 by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 921 (H.B. 3167), Sec. 17.001(64), eff. September 1, 2007.
Under Texas Property Code § 92.018, a landlord generally cannot pass along to a tenant the cost of a government-imposed fine unless the tenant or another occupant of that dwelling actually caused the underlying damage or condition that triggered the fine. This rule applies to fines levied by any state agency or political subdivision of Texas. The provision draws a clear line between fines that arise from a landlord's own conduct or property conditions and fines that stem directly from a tenant's actions.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Texas Property Code § 92.018 means that compliant operators absorb government fines that result from their own property conditions or management decisions rather than billing those costs back to tenants. When a fine does stem from damage or a condition directly caused by a tenant or another occupant of that unit, a landlord may seek reimbursement for that specific amount. Operators generally document the connection between a tenant's conduct and any resulting fine before attempting to charge it back, to ensure the charge falls within the narrow exception the statute permits.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 92.018 of the Texas Property Code gives tenants a protection against being billed for government fines that were not caused by their own actions or those of other occupants in their dwelling. If a landlord attempts to charge a tenant for such a fine, the tenant may raise this provision as a defense, noting that the charge is only permissible when the tenant actually caused the underlying condition. Tenants who believe this protection has been violated can consult a local tenant-rights organization or legal aid office to understand the general enforcement paths available to them.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 28, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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Rules and statutes that cite this regulation