Tex. Prop. Code Ann. §§ 92.001–92.355 § 92.251
DEFINITIONS.
Operative Text
Sec. 92.251. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:(1) "Bedroom" means a room designed with the intent that it be used for sleeping purposes.(2) "Dwelling unit" means a home, mobile home, duplex unit, apartment unit, condominium unit, or any dwelling unit in a multiunit residential structure. It also means a "dwelling" as defined by Section 92.001.(3) "Smoke alarm" means a device designed to detect and to alert occupants of a dwelling unit to the visible and invisible products of combustion by means of an audible alarm. Acts 1983, 68th Leg., p. 3649, ch. 576, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1984.Amended by: Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 257 (H.B. 1168), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2011.
Section 92.251 of the Texas Property Code establishes the foundational definitions that apply throughout the smoke alarm subchapter. It clarifies that a 'bedroom' is any room intended for sleeping, that a 'dwelling unit' covers a broad range of residential structures including apartments, condominiums, mobile homes, and duplexes, and that a 'smoke alarm' is a device that detects combustion products and alerts occupants through an audible signal. These definitions set the scope for all smoke alarm requirements that follow in the subchapter.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers should be familiar with the definitions in § 92.251, as they determine which spaces and structures fall under the smoke alarm requirements of this subchapter. Because 'dwelling unit' is defined broadly to include apartments, condominiums, duplexes, and mobile homes, operators of a wide variety of residential properties are generally subject to the rules that follow. Understanding what qualifies as a 'bedroom' under § 92.251 is also relevant, since smoke alarm placement requirements in subsequent sections often reference sleeping areas specifically.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 92.251 defines the key terms that shape tenant protections under the Texas smoke alarm subchapter, including what counts as a 'dwelling unit' and a 'bedroom.' Because the definition of 'dwelling unit' is broad, renters in apartments, condominiums, duplexes, and mobile homes are generally covered by the protections established in the sections that follow § 92.251. Tenants who have questions about whether their home falls within these definitions may find it helpful to consult a tenant-rights organization or review the full subchapter.
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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