Celina has grown fast, and much of that growth is in HOA communities with their own rules layered on top of state law.
Renting out a home in one of these neighborhoods is completely legal, but it comes with a second set of requirements most landlords do not expect until the HOA sends its first letter.
We manage rentals across Celina and the rest of Collin County, so we deal with HOA rules on nearly every property we take on. Here is what actually applies, and what does not.
Key Takeaways
- Texas HOAs can legally restrict or ban leasing through their governing documents, but only if those restrictions are properly adopted.
- An HOA cannot require your tenant to be submitted to and approved by the association, and it cannot demand sensitive personal information like a Social Security number.
- HOAs can request basic occupant contact information and the lease start date and term.
- A 2025 Texas court ruling confirmed that an HOA can vote to ban leasing entirely, even for owners who bought under different rules.
- You remain responsible for your tenant's violations of HOA rules, so screening and lease terms matter as much as the HOA's own restrictions.
Yes, Your HOA Can Restrict Leasing
Texas law gives homeowners associations real authority to regulate rentals through their governing documents. Chapters 202, 204, and 209 of the Texas Property Code all play a role, allowing an HOA to ban short-term rentals, require a minimum lease term, or cap the percentage of homes in a community that can be leased at any given time.
These restrictions have to come from the community's recorded covenants, known as CC&Rs, or a properly adopted amendment to them. A board cannot simply pass a new leasing ban through an informal rules resolution if it conflicts with what is already recorded.
Amending a declaration to add or tighten a leasing restriction generally requires approval from a supermajority of owners, often around 67 percent of the votes allocated to the community, unless the existing declaration sets a lower threshold. That is a meaningful bar, but it is one that fast-growing Collin County communities can and do clear.
What Your HOA Cannot Do
Section 209.016 of the Texas Property Code specifically limits how far an HOA can go in regulating your lease. An association cannot require a tenant or lease applicant to be submitted to and approved for tenancy by the HOA, and it cannot demand sensitive personal information such as a Social Security number, driver's license number, or financial account numbers.
What the HOA can request is more limited: basic contact information for the occupant, along with the lease start date and term. If your association is asking for more than that, it is worth checking whether the request actually complies with state law.
A Recent Case Landlords Should Know About
A May 2025 ruling from the Corpus Christi Court of Appeals in Swan Point Landing v. Martin upheld an HOA's right to completely ban leasing through a covenant amendment, even against owners who had purchased their homes under different, more permissive leasing rules.
The court reasoned that banning leasing furthered the developer's intended residential scheme, even though the investors involved had no vested right to continue leasing based on the rules in place when they bought. This is a meaningful shift, and it means the leasing rights you have today are not necessarily permanent if enough owners vote to change them.
Enforcement Still Has to Follow Due Process
Even when an HOA has a valid leasing restriction, it cannot simply fine you without notice. Texas law requires written notice describing the violation, a chance to cure it when the issue is curable, and in many cases the right to request a hearing before the board takes final action.
If your HOA skips straight to a fine without following this process, that is worth challenging rather than simply paying and moving on.
Associations must also make certain contracts and financial records available for owner inspection, and payments you make toward assessments have to be applied in a specific legal order, starting with delinquent amounts before current charges. Understanding this order matters if you are ever disputing a balance the HOA claims you owe.
You Are Still Responsible for Your Tenant
Even though the HOA cannot approve or reject your tenant, you remain fully responsible for that tenant's behavior under the community's rules. A noise complaint, a parking violation, or an unapproved exterior change can result in a fine against you as the owner, not the tenant directly. Our tenant screening process factors HOA compliance into how we vet applicants, since a tenant who ignores community rules becomes your problem either way.
Setting Up Your Lease the Right Way
Your lease should spell out that the tenant must comply with all HOA rules and that violations may be passed through to them financially. Our HOA and association management team also works directly with community boards, which helps resolve issues faster than a landlord managing this alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my HOA reject my tenant application?
No. Texas law specifically prohibits an HOA from requiring a tenant to be submitted to and approved by the association. The HOA can only request basic contact information and lease term details.
Can my HOA ban leasing entirely, even though I already own the home?
A 2025 Texas appellate ruling confirmed that an HOA can vote to ban leasing through a covenant amendment, even for owners who purchased under more permissive rules. This makes it worth staying engaged with your HOA's votes and proposed amendments.
What information can my HOA legally request about my tenant?
An HOA can request basic occupant contact information and the lease start date and term. It cannot demand sensitive personal information like a Social Security number or financial account details.
Am I responsible if my tenant violates HOA rules?
Yes. HOAs typically hold the property owner responsible for a tenant's rule violations, which is why clear lease language about HOA compliance matters.
What should I do if my HOA fines me without proper notice?
Texas law generally requires written notice and an opportunity to cure before certain fines can be assessed. If your HOA skipped this process, it is worth reviewing your rights before paying the fine.
Let Us Navigate Your HOA for You
HOA rules add a real layer of complexity to renting out a home in Celina and the surrounding Collin County communities, and getting it wrong can mean fines that come straight out of your rental income.
At DWC Property Group, we work directly with HOA boards and build community compliance into every lease we manage. If you own a home in an HOA community and want help navigating the rules, schedule a consultation with our team, or explore our HOA management services to see how we support owners across Collin County.
