Houston Code of Ordinances § 17-21 Certain sales and rental exempted.
Sec. 17-21. - Certain sales and rental exempted.
(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section:
(1) The sale or rental of a single-family house sold or rented by an owner does not constitute an unlawful action under this chapter if the owner does not:
a. Own more than three single-family houses at any one time; or
b. Own any interest in, nor is there owned or reserved on his behalf, under any express or voluntary agreement, title to or any right to any part of the proceeds from the sale or rental of more than three single family houses at any time; and
(2) The sale or rental of rooms or units in a dwelling containing living quarters occupied or intended to be occupied by no more than four families living independently of each other does not constitute an unlawful act under this chapter if the owner maintains and occupies one of the living quarters as the owner's residence.
(b) The exemption in item (1) of subsection (a) of this section applies only when there is one sale or rental in a 24-month period, if:
(1) The owner was not the most recent resident of the house at the time of or prior to the sale or rental;
(2) The private, bona fide individual owner has sold or rented the house without the use in any manner of the sales or rental facilities or the sales or rental services of any real estate broker, agent, or salesman, or of such facilities or services of any person in the business of selling or renting dwellings, or of any employee or agent of any such broker, agent, salesman, or person; and
(3) The private, bona fide individual owner has sold or rented the dwelling without the publication, posting or mailing, after notice, of any advertisement or written notice in violation of the federal Fair Housing Act.
Nothing in this section shall prohibit the use of attorneys, escrow agents, abstractors, title companies, and other professional assistance as necessary to perfect transfer of title.
(Ord. No. 06-412, § 2(Exh. A), 4-26-06)