Austin City Code § 4-14-121 PURPOSE.
§ 4-14-121 - PURPOSE.
The purpose of this article is to grant a right to a tenant to establish or participate in a tenant organization.
(Ord. No. 20221027-025, Pt. 3, 11-7-22)
TENANT RIGHT TO ORGANIZE.
Austin City Code tit. 4, ch. 4-14, art. 3
in effectAustin City Code § 4-14-122 DEFINITIONS.
§ 4-14-122 - DEFINITIONS.
In this article:
(1) ACCOUNTABLE OFFICIAL means the City officer or employee designated to administer, implement, and enforce this article.
(2) DWELLING means one or more rooms leased for use and occupancy as a residence.
(3) LANDLORD means a person who owns, leases, or subleases a dwelling but does not include a property manager or agent.
(4) LEASE means any written or oral agreement between a landlord and tenant that establishes or modifies the terms, conditions, rules, or other provisions regarding the use and occupancy of a dwelling.
(5) ON-SITE AREA means a community room or other available space for meetings that is located at the premises.
(6) PREMISES means a tenant's dwelling, any on-site area or facility the lease authorizes a tenant to use, and the appurtenances, grounds, and facilities held out for the use of tenants generally.
(7) TENANT means a person, or a member of their household, who is authorized to use or occupy a dwelling to the exclusion of others.
(8) TENANT ORGANIZER means a person who works or volunteers for a non-profit organization that assists tenants in establishing and operating a tenant organization; and is not an employee or representative of the current or prospective owner, the current or prospective manager, or an agent of such persons.
(Ord. No. 20221027-025, Pt. 3, 11-7-22)
Austin City Code § 4-14-123 ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT.
§ 4-14-123 - ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT.
(A) The accountable official administers, implements, and enforces this article.
(B) The accountable official may adopt rules under Chapter 1-2 (Adoption of Rules) to implement, administer, and enforce this article.
(Ord. No. 20221027-025, Pt. 3, 11-7-22)
Austin City Code § 4-14-124 RIGHT ESTABLISHED.
§ 4-14-124 - RIGHT ESTABLISHED.
(A) A tenant may establish and participate in a tenant organization without landlord interference with the activities described in Subsection (B).
(B) A tenant establishes or participates in a tenant organization if the tenant engages in one or more of the following activities:
(1) initiates contact with other tenants at the premises related to tenant organizing;
(2) posts information related to tenant organizing on a bulletin board that is available at the premises for use by tenants generally;
(3) distributes information related to tenant organizing to other tenants at the premises;
(4) meets or attempts to meet with tenants, non-tenants, or tenant organizations at the premises;
(5) invites tenant organizers to assist with organizing; or
(6) takes other actions related to establishing or operating a tenant organization.
(C) In this article, initiating contact with other tenants at the premises includes, but is not limited to, conducting door-to-door surveys of tenants to ascertain interest in establishing a tenant organization or offering information about tenant organizations.
(D) Nothing in this article requires a tenant to establish or participate in a tenant organization.
(E) A tenant's right to invite a tenant organizer to assist with organizing includes the tenant organizer entering the multi-family property and communicating with tenants on the premises; assisting tenants in establishing and operating a tenant organization; and participating in protected tenant organizing activities. This provision does not protect tenant organizer conduct that is otherwise in breach of local, state, or federal laws.
(Ord. No. 20221027-025, Pt. 3, 11-7-22)
Austin City Code § 4-14-125 INTERFERENCE PROHIBITED.
§ 4-14-125 - INTERFERENCE PROHIBITED.
(A) A landlord may not intentionally interfere or allow another to interfere with a tenant's right to exercise the activities defined in Section 4-14-124 (Right Established).
(B) A landlord interferes with a tenant's right under Section 4-14-124 (Right Established) if the landlord intentionally acts in a way that hinders, impedes, or obstructs:
(1) the tenant from the use of the premises for tenant organizing activities defined in Section 4-14-124 (Right Established);
(2) services or decreases services to the tenant except as provided for in Subsection (C);
(3) a tenant initiating contact with other tenants at the premises related to tenant organizing;
(4) a tenant from posting information related to tenant organizing on a bulletin board that is available at the premises for use by tenants generally;
(5) a tenant from distributing information related to tenant organizing to other tenants at the premises;
(6) a tenant from meeting or attempting to meet with tenants, non-tenants, or organizations at the premises; or
(7) a tenant from inviting tenant organizers to assist with organizing.
(C) A landlord does not interfere with a tenant's right under Section 4-14-124 (Right Established) if the landlord:
(1) initiates contact with tenants related to concerns;
(2) meets or attempts to meet with tenants except for meetings related to tenant organization activities which require invitation from the tenant organization;
(3) informs tenants which bulletin boards are available for use by tenants generally;
(4) removes information posted or distributed by a tenant or a tenant organization that is discriminatory;
(5) requests a tenant or a tenant's guest to comply with the conduct outlined in an existing lease provided such request does not interfere with a right protected under Section 4-14-124 (Right Established);
(6) assesses a fee that is included in the tenant's written lease provided that it does not interfere with a right protected under Section 4-14-124 (Right Established);
(7) assesses a fee that is included in the tenant's written lease and imposed on each tenant for the use of an on-site area or facility provided that it does not interfere with a right protected under Section 4-14-124 (Right Established);
(8) reduces services as part of a pattern of service reductions applicable to each tenant at the premises;
(9) enforces any section of an existing lease provided such request does not interfere with a right protected under Section 4-14-124 (Right Established); or
(10) exercises reasonable limitations on time, manner, and place of activities under Section 4-14-124 (Right Established) to avoid disruption of landlord's business operations or the quiet enjoyment of the premises by other tenants.
(Ord. No. 20221027-025, Pt. 3, 11-7-22)
Austin City Code § 4-14-126 TENANT CONDUCT AND BREACH OF LEASE.
§ 4-14-126 - TENANT CONDUCT AND BREACH OF LEASE.
This article does not authorize conduct that constitutes a breach of a tenant's lease and is not protected under Section 4-14-124 (Right Established).
(Ord. No. 20221027-025, Pt. 3, 11-7-22)
Austin City Code § 4-14-127 OFFENSE AND PENALTY.
§ 4-14-127 - OFFENSE AND PENALTY.
(A) A landlord who violates or allows another to violate this article commits a misdemeanor punishable as provided by Section 1-1-99 (Offenses; General Penalty).
(B) A violation of this article and any subsequent enforcement of this article does not limit or modify a tenant's remedy in a proceeding authorized under Chapter 92 of the Texas Property Code.
(Ord. No. 20221027-025, Pt. 3, 11-7-22)
Source: City of Austin, City Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/tx/austin/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT4BUREPERE_CH4-14REPR_ART3TERIORFetched: 10/27/2026