Texas Deposit Law — Applies Everywhere in DFW
30-Day Deadline
Landlord must return deposit or itemize deductions within 30 days of move-out + forwarding address
Itemization Required
Every deduction must be listed in writing with description and amount
Normal Wear Protected
Landlord cannot charge for normal wear and tear — only actual damage
Bad Faith Penalty
$100 + 3× wrongfully withheld + attorney fees if landlord acts in bad faith
DFW multi-county alert: "Dallas" is a city, not a county. The Dallas metro spans 7+ counties. You must file in the JP court for the county where your rental property is located — not where you currently live. Use the county routing below to find your court.
Find Your DFW County Court
The DFW metro spans 7+ counties. You must file in the JP court for the county where your rental property is located. Select your county below — or use the county appraisal district website to confirm your county.
Dallas County
LIVE GUIDEDallas proper, Garland, Mesquite, Irving, Grand Prairie (portions), Richardson (portions), Carrollton (portions)
Tarrant County
COMING SOONFort Worth, Arlington, Bedford, Euless, Grapevine, Mansfield, Hurst
Collin County
COMING SOONPlano, McKinney, Frisco, Allen, Richardson (north portions)
Denton County
COMING SOONDenton, Lewisville, Flower Mound, Carrollton (north portions), The Colony
Ellis County
COMING SOONWaxahachie, Midlothian, Grand Prairie (south portions)
Common DFW Address Scenarios
| Your Address | County | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Apartment in Uptown Dallas | Dallas County | File in Dallas County JP Court |
| Townhome in Plano | Collin County | NOT Dallas County — file in Collin County |
| House in Arlington | Tarrant County | NOT Dallas County — file in Tarrant County |
| Apartment in Carrollton | Check address | Could be Dallas, Collin, OR Denton — verify at county CAD |
| House in Richardson | Mostly Dallas County | Portions in Collin County — verify your exact address |
| Apartment in Grand Prairie | Mostly Dallas County | Extends into Tarrant and Ellis — verify your exact address |
| House in Garland | Mostly Dallas County | Small portions in Rockwall and Collin — verify your exact address |
| Apartment in Irving | Dallas County | Entire city in Dallas County |
| House in Mesquite | Dallas County | Entire city in Dallas County |
When in doubt, enter your rental property address at dallascad.org or the relevant county CAD to confirm your county.
Dallas Security Deposit FAQ
Dallas Renter — Start Your Free Audit
See if your landlord violated Texas deposit law. Takes 60 seconds. No account required.
Content Integrity
DepositRights provides legal information and self-help tools, not legal advice. This page does not create an attorney-client relationship.
Primary Statutes