Tex. Prop. Code Ann. §§ 92.001–92.355 § 92.154
HEIGHT, STRIKE PLATE, AND THROW REQUIREMENTS--KEYED DEAD BOLT OR KEYLESS BOLTING DEVICE.
Operative Text
Sec. 92.154. HEIGHT, STRIKE PLATE, AND THROW REQUIREMENTS--KEYED DEAD BOLT OR KEYLESS BOLTING DEVICE. (a) A keyed dead bolt or a keyless bolting device required by this subchapter must be installed at a height:(1) not lower than 36 inches from the floor; and(2) not higher than:(A) 54 inches from the floor, if installed before September 1, 1993; or(B) 48 inches from the floor, if installed on or after September 1, 1993.(b) A keyed dead bolt or a keyless bolting device described in Section 92.151(6)(A) or (B) in a dwelling must:(1) have a strike plate screwed into the portion of the doorjamb surface that faces the edge of the door when the door is closed; or(2) be installed in a door with a metal doorjamb that serves as the strike plate.(c) A keyed dead bolt or keyless dead bolt, as described by Section 92.151(6)(A), installed in a dwelling on or after September 1, 1993, must have a bolt with a throw of not less than one inch.(d) The requirements of this section do not apply to a keyed dead bolt or a keyless bolting device in one door of a pair of French doors that is installed in accordance with the requirements of Section 92.153(b)(1) or (2). Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 357, Sec. 3, eff. Sept. 1, 1993.
Texas Property Code § 92.154 sets specific physical standards for keyed dead bolts and keyless bolting devices in residential dwellings. These locks must be mounted between 36 and 48 inches from the floor (or up to 54 inches for devices installed before September 1, 1993), must include a properly secured strike plate screwed into the doorjamb or a metal doorjamb acting as the strike plate, and—for devices installed on or after September 1, 1993—must have a bolt throw of at least one inch. An exception applies to one door of a pair of French doors installed under the companion requirements of § 92.153(b).
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers subject to Texas Property Code § 92.154 generally ensure that any keyed dead bolt or keyless bolting device is mounted at the correct height, features a strike plate properly fastened into the doorjamb face, and—for hardware installed since September 1, 1993—uses a bolt with at least a one-inch throw. Compliant operators typically verify these specifications when installing new hardware, replacing existing locks, or preparing a unit for a new tenant. Keeping documentation of installation dates can help demonstrate whether the pre- or post-1993 height standard applies to a given device.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Texas Property Code § 92.154, tenants in residential dwellings have a right to locks that meet defined height, strike plate, and bolt-throw standards. If a dead bolt or keyless bolting device appears to fall outside these specifications—for example, mounted too high or too low, lacking a properly secured strike plate, or having an insufficient bolt throw—tenants can raise this as a potential violation of the subchapter's security-device requirements. General enforcement paths include notifying the landlord in writing, consulting a local tenant-rights organization, or exploring remedies available under the broader security-device provisions of Chapter 92 of the Texas Property Code.
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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