Killeen TX rent increase 2026 Killeen has no rent control — Texas Local Government Code §214.902 (enacted 1993) explicitly bars all Texas municipalities from adopting any ordinance that controls the amount of rent charged for private residential property. Bell County and the City of Killeen have no authority to impose rent caps, annual increase limits, stabilization boards, vacancy control, or any other regulatory constraint on rents under any circumstances. Texas Property Code: no deposit cap (§92.102); 30-day return (§92.103); 3× treble damages + $100 penalty + attorney fees for wrongful withholding (§92.109); habitability warranty with 7-day HVAC/life-safety repair deadline (§92.056); repair-and-deduct up to $500 or one month’s rent; 3-day Notice to Vacate before eviction (§24.005); Bell County Justice Court (1201 Huey Drive, Belton TX 76513). FORT CAVAZOS (formerly Fort Hood; renamed June 2, 2023; named for General Richard E. Cavazos — FIRST HISPANIC-AMERICAN FOUR-STAR GENERAL IN US ARMY HISTORY): ONE OF THE LARGEST US MILITARY INSTALLATIONS IN THE WORLD by land area (214,969 acres / 339+ square miles — LARGER THAN NEW YORK CITY at 302 square miles); ~40,000–45,000 ACTIVE-DUTY SOLDIERS. 1ST CAVALRY DIVISION (“FIRST TEAM”; most decorated US Army division; ONLY division maintaining active horse unit; Ia Drang Valley 1965 — first major battle US Army vs. NVA regulars; “We Were Soldiers” film). III CORPS (“PHANTOM CORPS”; Lieutenant General-commanded; JTF headquarters for major contingency operations). 13TH SUSTAINMENT COMMAND (Expeditionary; theater-level logistics). 3RD CAVALRY REGIMENT (“Brave Rifles”; Mexican War through present). 504TH MILITARY INTELLIGENCE BRIGADE (largest MI brigade in US Army). SCRA CRITICAL — KILLEEN/FORT CAVAZOS IS AMONG THE TOP 5 HIGHEST-SCRA-RISK RENTAL MARKETS IN THE UNITED STATES. McLane Company (4747 McLane Pkwy, Temple TX; Berkshire Hathaway subsidiary; $57–60B annual revenue; Fortune 50 level). Baylor Scott & White Health (2401 S 31st St, Temple TX; largest not-for-profit health system in Texas; $10–11B revenue; Level I Trauma; ~8,000–10,000 Temple metro employees). Central Texas Veterans HCS (Temple TX; ~3,000–3,500 VA employees). TAMUCT (Texas A&M University–Central Texas; Killeen TX; Texas A&M System). Central Texas College (CTC; LARGEST MILITARY STUDENT BODY OF ANY US COMMUNITY COLLEGE; 70,000+ students). 2026 rents: Harker Heights 2BR $1,150–$1,800; Killeen near Fort Cavazos 2BR $1,000–$1,600; Copperas Cove 2BR $850–$1,300; Temple central 2BR $950–$1,500.

Why Killeen has no rent control: Texas Local Government Code §214.902

Texas Local Government Code §214.902 (enacted by the 73rd Texas Legislature, 1993, in response to the City of Austin exploring residential rent regulation) provides the statewide prohibition on local rent control. The statute reads: “A municipality may not adopt an ordinance that controls the amount of rent charged for private residential property.”

This prohibition covers all Texas municipalities — including Killeen, Temple, Harker Heights, Copperas Cove, and every other Bell County city — without exception. There is no emergency exception, no population threshold, no referendum process, and no city-by-city opt-in. The prohibition covers “private residential property,” which encompasses apartments, single-family rentals, condominiums, duplexes, and manufactured housing. The statute has been in effect for over 30 years and has not been successfully challenged.

Texas’s preemption is broader in one respect than North Carolina’s comparable statute (N.C.G.S. §42-14.1): while North Carolina’s version covers both residential and commercial property, Texas’s §214.902 covers residential property specifically (commercial property is similarly unregulated in Texas by practice and state policy). Texas also has no statewide rent cap of any kind — unlike California (AB 1482; CPI+5% cap on qualifying multi-family), Oregon (7% + CPI annual cap), or New York (HSTPA 2019 rent stabilization system) — meaning both local and state rent regulation are entirely absent in Texas. Killeen landlords face no rent ceiling from any governmental source.

Texas Property Code: security deposit, habitability, eviction, and anti-retaliation

While Texas imposes no rent caps, the Texas Property Code does establish important landlord obligations and tenant rights that Killeen landlords must follow carefully. The penalties for non-compliance — particularly the treble damages provision for security deposit violations — can substantially exceed the value of the deposit itself.

Security deposit (Texas Property Code §§92.101–92.109): Texas imposes no maximum on the amount of security deposit a landlord may charge (§92.102). Killeen market practice is typically one to two months’ rent due to competitive conditions near Fort Cavazos, but nothing in state law prevents collecting more. The landlord must return the deposit — or provide a written itemized statement of deductions with any remaining balance — within 30 days after the tenant surrenders possession (§92.103). The itemized statement must specifically describe each deduction. Failing to provide the required written statement forfeits the landlord’s right to make any deductions whatsoever.

The penalty for wrongful withholding under §92.109 is among the most punitive in the United States: the landlord is liable for (a) $100; (b) three times the amount of the portion wrongfully withheld (treble damages); and (c) the tenant’s reasonable attorney’s fees. A Killeen landlord who improperly retains a $1,500 deposit faces $100 + $4,500 (3× $1,500) + attorney fees that could reach $2,000–$5,000 in contested litigation — total exposure well above $7,000 on a $1,500 dispute. The statute applies regardless of whether the landlord acted in good faith. For SCRA-terminated leases (Fort Cavazos soldiers presenting PCS or deployment orders), return the deposit within 30 days of the effective SCRA termination date rather than waiting for possession surrender.

Habitability warranty (§§92.051–92.061): The Texas Property Code imposes a warranty of habitability on all residential landlords. The most significant provision for Killeen landlords is the repair deadline for conditions affecting health or safety: after written notice from the tenant, the landlord must repair HVAC systems and other conditions affecting health or safety within seven days (§92.056). The repair-and-deduct procedure requires two notices (first notice: landlord has 7 days to repair; second notice if not repaired: tenant may repair the condition and deduct the cost from rent, up to the lesser of $500 or one month’s rent; or terminate the lease; or sue for damages). Texas summers routinely exceed 100°F in Bell County; an HVAC failure during a Killeen summer constitutes an immediate health and safety emergency requiring the fastest possible response to avoid both habitability claims and tenant repair-and-deduct rights.

Anti-retaliation (§92.331): Texas Property Code §92.331 prohibits retaliatory rent increases, eviction filings, service reductions, or non-renewals within 6 months of a tenant’s good-faith exercise of a legal right — such as requesting repairs, complaining to a government agency, or asserting SCRA protections. Document the independent business basis for any rent increase or non-renewal decision separately from any tenant complaint or assertion of rights.

Self-help eviction prohibition (§92.0081): Texas Property Code §92.0081 prohibits lockouts, removal of a tenant’s personal property, interruption of utilities, and other self-help eviction tactics. The civil penalty for a lockout violation is up to $1,000 per day of the violation — an extremely punishing provision for landlords who bypass the court system. This is entirely separate from the criminal exposure under federal SCRA law if the tenant turns out to be on active duty.

Fort Cavazos: one of the largest US military installations in the world

Fort Cavazos is located in Bell County and Coryell County, Texas (address: Fort Cavazos Boulevard, Fort Cavazos TX 76544), approximately four miles west of Killeen city limits. The installation encompasses 214,969 acres — approximately 336 square miles — making it one of the LARGEST ACTIVE US MILITARY INSTALLATIONS IN THE WORLD by land area. For geographic context, Fort Cavazos is larger than New York City (302 square miles), Rhode Island (1,214 square miles is the state but the developed area is far smaller), and larger than many entire counties. The installation straddles the Bell County/Coryell County line, with the main post and most facilities on the Bell County side (Killeen address) and training ranges extending into Coryell County.

The active-duty population at Fort Cavazos is approximately 40,000–45,000 soldiers at peak strength — making it one of the largest US Army installations by active-duty personnel count alongside Fort Liberty (Fort Bragg; Fayetteville NC; ~54,000) and Fort Campbell (Clarksville TN; ~26,000). Including civilian employees (approximately 8,000+), contractors, and the immediate military family community living in Bell County, the total Fort Cavazos-connected population exceeds 100,000 people. The annual economic impact of Fort Cavazos on the Bell County economy exceeds $10 billion, and the installation is by far the dominant employer in the Killeen-Temple-Belton metropolitan statistical area.

Fort Cavazos was established in 1942 as Camp Hood, a temporary training post for tank destroyer units during World War II. It was later converted to a permanent installation and renamed Fort Hood. The installation grew substantially during the Cold War as it became the primary home of armored and mechanized infantry forces in the continental United States. Fort Hood hosted two full armored divisions simultaneously during the Cold War — a testament to its enormous land area and infrastructure capacity — and was the primary staging and training site for armored forces deployed during Desert Shield and Desert Storm (1990–91).

Key commands at Fort Cavazos and their rental market implications

III Corps (“Phantom Corps”) is the corps-level headquarters at Fort Cavazos, commanded by a Lieutenant General (O-9). III Corps takes its “Phantom Corps” nickname from World War II, when a deception operation led by General George S. Patton (the fictional “First US Army Group” created to deceive the Germans about the D-Day invasion site) gave rise to the phantom formation concept. In the modern Army, III Corps deploys as a Joint Task Force (JTF) headquarters for major contingency operations, capable of commanding multinational forces across all domains. III Corps deployed as the JTF headquarters for major operations in Iraq (Multiple Force levels during 2003–2011) and has maintained European deterrence roles since 2022. Corps headquarters staff include senior officers (O-5 to O-8) and senior NCOs (E-8 to E-9) who tend to rent in Harker Heights premium zones and the newer Nolanville/Belton corridor at the higher end of the Killeen market.

1st Cavalry Division (“First Team”) is the most decorated division in the United States Army and Fort Cavazos’s signature unit. Activated September 13, 1921, as horse cavalry, the 1st Cav converted to armored and infantry roles during World War II and served in the Pacific — Philippines (Leyte, Manila), Japan occupation. The division converted to air cavalry in 1965 and was deployed to Vietnam, where it fought the Battle of Ia Drang Valley (November 14–18, 1965) — the FIRST MAJOR BATTLE BETWEEN US ARMY FORCES AND NORTH VIETNAMESE ARMY REGULARS, depicted in Lieutenant General Hal Moore and journalist Joe Galloway’s account “We Were Soldiers Once...And Young” (1992) and the 2002 film “We Were Soldiers” (Mel Gibson as LTG Hal Moore). The 1st Cavalry Division deployed to Desert Shield/Storm (1990–91), Bosnia, Iraq (2003–2015, multiple rotations), Afghanistan, and continues to maintain a European deterrence presence post-2022. The 1st Cavalry Division is the ONLY division in the US Army that maintains an active horse unit — the 1st Cavalry Division Horse Cavalry Detachment, which performs mounted ceremonial functions at the Pentagon and nationally and has appeared at numerous inaugurations and national events. The 1st Cav’s approximately 18,000–20,000 soldiers constitute the single largest source of rental demand in the Killeen market, with brigade combat teams (BCTs) typically cycling between home-station and rotation (Combat Training Center rotations at Fort Irwin CA or Joint Readiness Training Center LA, or overseas deployments) on approximately 18–24 month schedules.

13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) (13th ESC) provides logistical command and control for Army operations globally, frequently deploying as the theater sustainment command (TSC) headquarters for major operations. The 13th ESC deployed in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom and maintains EUCOM logistical support responsibilities. Sustainment soldiers (Transportation, Ordnance, Quartermaster, Finance, Human Resources MOSs) represent a significant portion of Fort Cavazos’s E-4 to E-7 population and are primary renters in the Killeen near-post corridor (Fort Hood Road / Clear Creek Road).

504th Military Intelligence Brigade is the largest Military Intelligence brigade in the US Army, providing intelligence support across III Corps and deployed operations worldwide. The 504th employs a significant population of TS/SCI-cleared military intelligence analysts, signals intelligence professionals, and human intelligence officers. Military intelligence soldiers tend to be mid-career (E-4 to E-7) with dependents, generating demand in the Harker Heights and Hope II area at the $1,200–$1,700 range. Civilian contractors embedded with the 504th — including SAIC, Leidos, CACI, and Booz Allen Hamilton employees holding TS/SCI clearances — earn $85,000–$160,000+ and contribute demand at the premium end of the Harker Heights and Nolanville markets.

89th Military Police Brigade is the largest MP brigade in the US Army, responsible for law enforcement and internment/resettlement operations. The 89th’s MP soldiers serve as on-post law enforcement, corrections officers, and deploy as internment/ resettlement units in contingency operations. MP families rent across the Killeen market with particular concentration in the Killeen near-post corridor and lower Harker Heights.

3rd Cavalry Regiment (“Brave Rifles”) is one of the US Army’s most storied regiments, with a lineage from the Mexican-American War (1846–48). The regimental battle cry “Brave Rifles!” was spoken by General Winfield Scott at the Battle of Churubusco, Mexico (August 20, 1847). The 3rd Cavalry Regiment has served continuously from the Mexican War through the Indian Wars, Spanish-American War, World War I, Iraq (multiple rotations including the Battle of Tall Afar 2005), and Afghanistan. The regiment operates as an armored cavalry regiment with a mix of Abrams tanks, Bradley fighting vehicles, and reconnaissance assets, and its soldiers are primarily in the E-4 to E-7 range renting in the Killeen near-post corridor and lower Harker Heights.

The renaming to Fort Cavazos: General Richard E. Cavazos

General Richard Edward Cavazos was born January 31, 1929, in Kingsville, Texas, the son of Lauro Cavazos Sr., a foreman on the legendary King Ranch (one of the largest cattle ranches in the world, covering approximately 825,000 acres in South Texas) and Tomasa Quintero Cavazos. Richard Cavazos earned his commission from Texas Technological College (now Texas Tech University) through ROTC in 1951.

As a company commander with the 65th Infantry Regiment (the “Borinqueneers” — a Puerto Rican regiment; one of the most decorated units of the Korean War) during the Korean War in 1951, Cavazos performed acts of extraordinary valor that earned him the Distinguished Service Cross — the second-highest US military decoration for valor after the Medal of Honor. He was again awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism in Vietnam in 1967 while serving as a battalion commander with the 1st Cavalry Division — the same division now garrisoned at the installation that bears his name. General Cavazos is one of a very small number of officers to have earned two Distinguished Service Crosses in two separate wars.

In 1976, Cavazos was promoted to Brigadier General, becoming one of the first Hispanic-American general officers in the US Army. In 1982, he was promoted to General (four stars) — the first Hispanic-American to achieve the rank of four-star general in the United States Army in the history of that institution. From 1982 to 1984, General Cavazos commanded III Corps at Fort Hood — the very corps whose headquarters is now located at the installation renamed in his honor. He served as Commander in Chief, Forces Command (FORSCOM) from 1984 until his retirement in 1984. General Richard E. Cavazos died February 29, 2016, in San Antonio, Texas. He was 86 years old. The renaming of Fort Hood to Fort Cavazos on June 2, 2023, was attended by senior Army leadership including Army Secretary Christine Wormuth and Army Chief of Staff General James McConville.

McLane Company: Berkshire Hathaway’s Temple TX distribution giant

McLane Company (corporate headquarters: 4747 McLane Parkway, Temple TX 76504) is the largest private employer in Temple and one of the largest companies in Texas measured by annual revenue. McLane is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE: BRK.A / BRK.B; Warren Buffett, Chairman and CEO; market capitalization approximately $900 billion+), which acquired McLane from Walmart Inc. in May 2003 for approximately $1.45 billion in cash. The acquisition represented one of the largest non-insurance Berkshire acquisitions in the Buffett era.

McLane was founded in 1894 in Cameron, Texas, by Robert McLane and moved to Temple, Texas, where it has remained headquartered for over 130 years. The company has grown from a regional grocery wholesale operation into the largest wholesale grocery and foodservice distribution company in the United States by revenue, serving approximately 50,000 customer locations across the country. McLane’s annual revenue is approximately $57–$60 billion — a Fortune 50–level revenue figure that ranks it alongside companies of the size of Target, Costco, and AT&T by top-line revenue, though McLane is privately reported as a Berkshire subsidiary and does not file independent public financials. Its customers include 7-Eleven (McLane’s largest single customer by volume; McLane distributes tobacco, beverages, snacks, and general merchandise to 7-Eleven’s US network), as well as Walmart, McDonald’s, Subway, and thousands of other convenience stores, chain restaurants, drug stores, and mass merchandise retailers.

McLane operates 35+ distribution centers nationwide, with the Temple TX campus serving as corporate headquarters and the primary administrative and logistics management center. The Temple HQ employs approximately 3,000–5,000 people in distribution management, information technology, finance, legal, human resources, and operations roles. McLane’s total nationwide workforce is approximately 25,000–30,000 people. The Temple McLane workforce earns salaries ranging from approximately $45,000 (warehouse and logistics operations) to $120,000+ (senior IT and finance management). McLane employees are primary renters in the Temple central submarket, the BSW Medical Center corridor along South 31st Street, and the I-35 north Temple corridor. The stability of McLane’s Berkshire Hathaway ownership — Berkshire is famous for its permanent capital and no-sell approach to wholly-owned subsidiaries — means McLane is a permanent anchor employer in Bell County with essentially no near-term divestiture or restructuring risk.

Baylor Scott & White Health: Texas’s largest not-for-profit health system

Baylor Scott & White Health (BSW; headquarters: 301 N Washington Avenue, Dallas TX 75246; flagship Bell County facility: Scott & White Medical Center, 2401 South 31st Street, Temple TX 76508) is the largest not-for-profit health system in the state of Texas by revenue and number of hospitals, operating 52 hospitals across Texas and New Mexico with annual revenues of approximately $10–$11 billion. BSW was formed by the 2013 merger of Baylor Health Care System (Dallas-based; founded 1903 by Baylor University as a hospital) and Scott & White Health (Temple-based). The Scott & White side of the merger has roots in Temple dating to 1897, when Dr. Arthur Carroll Scott and Dr. Raleigh R. White Jr. established the Scott & White Clinic in Temple — making it one of the oldest multi-specialty group practices in the Southwest United States, contemporaneous with the Mayo Clinic’s early development in Minnesota.

The Scott & White Medical Center in Temple is the BSW flagship: a 636-bed Level I Trauma Center with 900+ physicians across approximately 40 medical specialties, a 100+ bed McLane Children’s Hospital (opened 2011; named for a major gift from the McLane family and McLane Company; the only freestanding children’s hospital between Dallas/Fort Worth and Austin), and the Central Texas Veterans Health Care System’s co-location relationship. BSW Medical Center–Temple is the primary referral hospital for all of Central Texas, serving a catchment area that includes Bell, Coryell, Lampasas, Milam, Falls, McLennan, and surrounding counties. BSW employs approximately 8,000–10,000 people in the Temple metro area including the Medical Center–Temple, the BSW Clinic–Temple, McLane Children’s, and multiple outpatient centers. Womack Army Medical Center (on-post at Fort Cavazos) maintains a referral relationship with BSW Medical Center for complex cases beyond WAMC’s organic capability.

BSW employees are the dominant driver of rental demand in the Temple central submarket (along South 31st Street, Adams Avenue, and the medical center corridor). Physicians and advanced practice providers earn $150,000–$400,000+ and often prefer to purchase homes in Temple’s established neighborhoods (Hillcrest, Watercress, Tanglewood). Nurses, medical technologists, physical therapists, respiratory therapists, and clinical support staff earning $55,000–$110,000 are the primary rental tenant base in the Temple central and I-35 north corridor, typically renting 2BR units in the $1,000–$1,500 range. BSW’s status as a nonprofit health system provides long-term employment stability; BSW is not subject to for-profit quarterly earnings pressure that might trigger large-scale layoffs.

Central Texas Veterans Health Care System and federal healthcare employment

The Central Texas Veterans Health Care System (CTVHCS; 1901 Veterans Memorial Drive, Temple TX 76504; a component of the Department of Veterans Affairs South Central VA Health Care Network / VISN 17) operates the primary VA medical center serving the Fort Cavazos catchment area and all of Central Texas. The CTVHCS is co-located with BSW Medical Center in Temple, enabling clinical collaboration for complex veteran care. The facility includes a 156-bed medical/surgical and psychiatric facility plus multiple Community-Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) in Killeen (at 2201 Veterans Memorial Boulevard, Killeen TX — immediately adjacent to Central Texas College), Austin, Brownwood, and Cedar Park. The CTVHCS serves approximately 140,000 enrolled veterans in the Central Texas region — a population enormously inflated by the Fort Cavazos veteran and retiree community. The system employs approximately 3,000–3,500 federal employees (VA civil servants) including physicians, nurses, pharmacists, mental health counselors, social workers, and administrative staff earning approximately $65,000–$250,000+. VA employees are considered federal civil servants and tend to be long-term area residents — stable renters who rarely PCS and often eventually purchase homes in Killeen or Temple.

Texas A&M University–Central Texas and Central Texas College

Texas A&M University–Central Texas (TAMUCT; 1001 Leadership Place, Killeen TX 76549) is a member of the Texas A&M University System — one of the largest university systems in the United States with a $16.4 billion endowment (as of 2023, making it one of the largest university endowments in the nation, alongside Harvard, Yale, and UT Austin). TAMUCT was established in 2009 specifically to serve the higher-education needs of the Fort Cavazos military community and the broader Central Texas region. Located approximately two miles from Fort Cavazos’s main gate, TAMUCT enrolls approximately 7,000–8,000 students with significant active-duty and veteran enrollment using Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) benefits, MyCAA (Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts), and TA (Tuition Assistance from DoD). TAMUCT offers upper-level bachelor’s and master’s programs in business administration, education, criminal justice, health administration, STEM, and liberal arts. TAMUCT employs approximately 350+ faculty and staff.

Central Texas College (CTC; 6200 W Central Texas Expressway, Killeen TX 76549; established 1967) is a community college with a distinctive national and international mission: CTC serves the largest military student body of any community college in the United States, with approximately 70,000+ students annually across its network of locations including the Killeen main campus, US military bases worldwide (CTC operates programs on installations in Germany, Japan, South Korea, Italy, and across the continental US), and online. The Killeen main campus enrolls approximately 11,000+ students. CTC is the primary GI Bill-funded associate degree provider for Fort Cavazos active-duty soldiers pursuing academic credentials during their service. Programs include nursing, electrical technology, welding technology, automotive technology, criminal justice, business, and STEM courses. CTC’s nursing program feeds graduates into BSW Medical Center–Temple and the Killeen-area healthcare employment market.

Killeen TX SCRA compliance: the highest-priority issue for Fort Cavazos landlords

Killeen / Fort Cavazos is among the top five highest-SCRA-risk rental markets in the United States. With approximately 40,000–45,000 active-duty soldiers at Fort Cavazos, the probability that any given Killeen rental tenant is subject to SCRA protection or will become so during a standard 12-month lease is extremely high. Unlike civilian rental markets where tenant turnover is driven by economic and personal factors, Killeen tenant departures are overwhelmingly driven by DoD-issued orders that the tenant has no ability to refuse.

The deployment profiles of Fort Cavazos units make SCRA compliance an operational necessity for every Killeen landlord: the 1st Cavalry Division rotates brigade combat teams on approximately 18–24 month deployment/home-station cycles; III Corps deploys as a JTF headquarters for major contingency operations with no fixed schedule; the 13th ESC deploys with major theater logistics operations; and the 3rd Cavalry Regiment deploys frequently to training centers and overseas. A Killeen landlord with ten units in the Fort Hood Road corridor should realistically expect one to two SCRA lease terminations or deployment protection events per year as a baseline.

SCRA compliance requirements for Killeen landlords: (1) At lease signing: run SCRA.DMDC.OSD.MIL for every tenant — enter last name plus Social Security Number and/or date of birth; download and retain a dated PDF of the result. Include an SCRA clause in every lease notifying the tenant of their rights and requiring prompt notice of orders. (2) When a tenant delivers PCS or deployment orders: acknowledge receipt in writing; calculate the effective termination date (30 days after the next rent due date following delivery of written notice and orders copy); return the security deposit within 30 days of effective termination; charge no early termination fee (void under 50 U.S.C. §3955). (3) Before filing any eviction: re-run SCRA.DMDC.OSD.MIL; download another dated PDF. If the tenant is on active duty, do not file eviction without a court order and expect a mandatory 90-day stay upon the servicemember’s request. (4) Criminal exposure: wrongful eviction of a protected servicemember (lockout, utility shutoff, belongings removal without court order) is a federal crime under 50 U.S.C. §3951 carrying up to 1 year imprisonment (first offense) or up to 5 years (subsequent offense). These are criminal statutes enforced by the Department of Justice, not civil penalties.

Killeen TX neighborhood rent guide 2026

• Harker Heights (most expensive submarket): 1BR $900–$1,400; 2BR $1,150–$1,800; 3BR $1,400–$2,200. Preferred by senior NCOs (E-7 to E-9), officers (O-3 to O-6), and defense contractors. Harker Heights ISD (well-regarded schools). Lower crime than Killeen proper. Newer construction — Harker Heights Marketplace retail corridor (HEB Plus, Target, restaurants, national chains). 5–10 miles from main Fort Cavazos gate via Fort Hood Road or Whitaker Lane. Homes in Harker Heights frequently see multiple offers at lease-up due to school district and safety premiums.
• Nolanville / Belton corridor: 2BR $1,100–$1,700. Between Harker Heights and Temple on US-190/I-14. Newer apartment complexes catering to both military families and Temple-area healthcare workers. Belton ISD. Growing retail. Good I-35 access for Temple commute.
• Killeen near Fort Cavazos (Fort Hood Road / Clear Creek Road / Roy Reynolds Drive corridor): 2BR $1,000–$1,600. Closest civilian housing to Fort Cavazos main gate (Rancier Ave Gate, Clear Creek Gate). Highest concentration of E-4 to E-6 military families. BAH-driven demand; competitive at E-4 with dependents (~$1,300) to E-6 with dependents (~$1,550). Older apartment complexes and newer developments intermixed. SCRA compliance essential — highest military concentration of any Killeen submarket.
• Temple central / BSW Medical Center corridor (South 31st St / Adams Ave): 2BR $950–$1,500. Healthcare worker demand dominates. BSW Medical Center walking or short drive. Mix of older housing stock near downtown Temple and newer I-35 corridor apartments. VA medical center proximity. McLane Company commute 10–15 minutes. Stable civilian employment-backed demand insulated from military PCS cycles.
• Killeen central / downtown / Rancier Avenue / Killeen Drive: 2BR $850–$1,350. Mix of older apartment complexes and small single-family rentals. Affordable for E-3 to E-5 range. Some transitional neighborhoods around downtown Killeen. Proximity to CTC main campus drives some student demand. Retail and dining improving as Fort Cavazos-adjacent consumer base grows.
• Copperas Cove (west Bell County / Coryell County border): 2BR $850–$1,300. Family-oriented suburb. Copperas Cove ISD. Fort Cavazos west gate commute (approximately 10–15 minutes to West Fort Hood gate). Limited retail compared to Harker Heights but significantly more affordable. Primarily E-4 to E-6 families who prioritize school quality over gate proximity. Coryell County precinct justice court handles evictions (separate from Bell County JP courts).
• Killeen Northgate / Westcliff / Pershing Park: 2BR $800–$1,200. Most affordable Killeen submarket. Older housing stock — some units built in the 1970s and 1980s. Higher vacancy than near-post corridors. E-1 to E-3 primary market (BAH at these grades ~$900–$1,050 without dependents; many lower enlisted live in barracks and are not BAH-eligible). Some civilian workforce renters who commute to CTC or Killeen ISD employment.

Killeen TX / Bell County 2026 rent and BAH comparison table

Submarket	1BR	2BR	3BR	Primary Demand	BAH Match
Harker Heights	$900–$1,400	$1,150–$1,800	$1,400–$2,200	Senior NCOs (E-7–E-9); officers (O-3–O-6); defense contractors	E-7+ w/dep ($1,700+); O-3+ w/dep ($1,800+)
Nolanville / Belton	$850–$1,300	$1,100–$1,700	$1,300–$2,000	Military families; Temple healthcare commuters	E-6–E-7 w/dep ($1,550–$1,700)
Killeen near Fort Cavazos	$750–$1,200	$1,000–$1,600	$1,200–$1,900	E-4–E-6 with dependents; 1st Cav; 3rd ACR families	E-4 w/dep (~$1,300) to E-6 w/dep (~$1,550)
Temple central / BSW corridor	$750–$1,200	$950–$1,500	$1,150–$1,800	BSW nurses and techs; McLane employees; VA staff	Primarily civilian income (non-BAH)
Killeen central / downtown	$650–$1,050	$850–$1,350	$1,050–$1,650	E-3–E-5 with dependents; CTC students; civilian workers	E-4–E-5 w/dep (~$1,300–$1,450)
Copperas Cove	$650–$1,000	$850–$1,300	$1,050–$1,600	E-4–E-6 families preferring school quality; west gate commuters	E-4–E-5 w/dep range
Killeen Northgate / Westcliff	$600–$900	$800–$1,200	$1,000–$1,450	E-1–E-3 (if BAH-eligible); civilian entry-level workers	E-3 w/dep or w/o dep (~$900–$1,050)

BAH rates Killeen-Temple area 2026: pay grade comparison

Pay Grade	Rank (Army)	BAH Without Dependents	BAH With Dependents	Typical Killeen Submarket
E-1 / E-2 / E-3	PVT / PV2 / PFC	~$850–$1,000	~$1,100–$1,200	Killeen Northgate (if BAH-eligible; most E-1–E-3 live in barracks)
E-4	SPC / CPL	~$1,100	~$1,300	Killeen near Fort Cavazos; Killeen central
E-5	SGT	~$1,150	~$1,450	Killeen near Fort Cavazos; Copperas Cove; Killeen central
E-6	SSG	~$1,200	~$1,550	Killeen near Fort Cavazos; lower Harker Heights; Nolanville
E-7	SFC	~$1,250	~$1,700	Harker Heights mid; Nolanville/Belton
E-8 / E-9	MSG / SGM / CSM	~$1,300	~$1,850	Harker Heights premium; Nolanville quality
O-1 / O-2	2LT / 1LT	~$1,200	~$1,600	Killeen near Fort Cavazos; lower Harker Heights
O-3	CPT	~$1,400	~$1,800	Harker Heights mid; Nolanville
O-4	MAJ	~$1,550	~$1,950	Harker Heights premium; Belton quality
O-5	LTC	~$1,700	~$2,100	Harker Heights premium; often purchase
O-6+	COL / BG+	~$1,900+	~$2,200+	Harker Heights top tier; Belton; often purchase

Killeen TX versus comparable military markets: rent and legal framework

Market	Installation	Active Duty	2BR Mid-Market	E-5 BAH w/dep	Rent Control	Deposit Cap	Eviction Notice
Killeen TX	Fort Cavazos (formerly Hood)	~40,000–45,000	$1,000–$1,600	~$1,450	None — TX LGC §214.902	No cap (TX §92.102)	3-day Notice to Vacate
Fayetteville NC	Fort Liberty (formerly Bragg)	~54,000	$950–$1,500	~$1,550	None — G.S. §42-14.1	2 months (annual)	7-day pay-or-quit demand
Clarksville TN	Fort Campbell	~26,000	$900–$1,400	~$1,350	None — TCA §66-35-102	No cap (URLTA county)	14-day pay-or-quit (URLTA)
Columbus GA	Fort Moore (formerly Benning)	~30,000	$900–$1,450	~$1,350	None — O.C.G.A. §44-7-19	No cap (Georgia)	Demand before filing; no fixed notice
Jacksonville NC	Camp Lejeune / MCAS New River	~45,000	$1,000–$1,600	~$1,600	None — G.S. §42-14.1	2 months (annual)	7-day demand
Virginia Beach VA	JB Langley-Eustis / Naval Station Norfolk	~70,000+ (MSA)	$1,200–$1,900	~$1,900	None — VA §55.1-1215	2 months (VA)	5-day pay or quit (Virginia)
San Antonio TX	JBSA (Fort Sam Houston; Lackland; Randolph)	~80,000+ (tri-service)	$1,100–$1,700	~$1,500	None — TX LGC §214.902	No cap (TX §92.102)	3-day Notice to Vacate

Fort Cavazos history: from Camp Hood to Fort Cavazos

The installation that is today Fort Cavazos was established on January 15, 1942, as Camp Hood — named for Confederate General John Bell Hood (1831–1879) — in Bell County and Coryell County, Texas. The US Army selected the site in part because the terrain of the Central Texas hill country, with its flat prairies interrupted by rolling hills and creek draws, was well-suited for the training of tank destroyer units, which were a new branch of the Army developed to counter the German armored warfare doctrine that had proved so devastating in France in 1940. The tank destroyer concept — fast, lightly armored vehicles (initially towed anti-tank guns, later self-propelled gun carriages) designed to mass against enemy tank formations — required large maneuver training areas. Camp Hood’s land area was therefore enormous from the beginning, eventually growing to its current 214,969 acres.

Camp Hood trained hundreds of thousands of soldiers during World War II, including infantry divisions, tank destroyer units, and replacement training center (RTC) companies. After WWII, the installation was redesignated a permanent fort in 1948 and renamed Fort Hood. During the Cold War, Fort Hood became the primary home of US Army armored and mechanized infantry forces, hosting at various times the 1st Armored Division, the 2nd Armored Division, the 1st Cavalry Division (beginning 1971, its permanent home since), and elements of III Corps. During the Cold War’s height, Fort Hood simultaneously hosted two full heavy divisions and their supporting corps elements — a deployment of armored firepower unmatched at any other single US installation.

The Gulf War (Desert Shield / Desert Storm; 1990–91) saw Fort Hood deploy a massive proportion of its combat power: the 1st Cavalry Division deployed to Saudi Arabia and participated in the ground offensive, while III Corps headquarters exercised command over major operational formations during the “100-hour war.” Fort Hood was a primary mobilization and training hub for the hundreds of thousands of reserve and National Guard soldiers activated for Desert Shield. The installation’s railheads, motor pools, and equipment pre-positioning infrastructure processed enormous volumes of M1 Abrams tanks, M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, and support equipment during the mobilization.

Post-9/11, Fort Hood/Fort Cavazos became one of the most frequently deployed installations in the US Army. The 1st Cavalry Division conducted multiple yearlong rotations to Iraq (Operation Iraqi Freedom; Multinational Division Baghdad; 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, and follow-on stability operations). III Corps headquarters deployed as the Multi-National Corps–Iraq (MNC-I) headquarters during Operation Iraqi Freedom command rotations. The 504th Military Intelligence Brigade deployed in support of intelligence operations in both Iraq and Afghanistan. The 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) deployed as theater sustainment command for multiple Operation Iraqi Freedom / Operation New Dawn / Operation Enduring Freedom rotations. The sheer frequency and scale of Fort Hood deployments during 2003–2011 established Bell County as one of the most SCRA-impacted rental markets in the United States — a status that persists today with continued 1st Cavalry Division, III Corps, and 13th ESC deployment commitments.

Killeen TX economic profile beyond Fort Cavazos: defense contractors and civilian economy

While Fort Cavazos dominates the Killeen-Temple-Harker Heights economy, a substantial defense contractor ecosystem has grown alongside the installation that creates civilian professional rental demand above BAH constraints. Major defense IT and intelligence contractors operating in the Fort Cavazos area include Leidos Holdings (NYSE: LDOS; ~$15B revenue; Army intelligence systems and IT support); SAIC (NYSE: SAIC; ~$7B revenue; Army C4ISR support at Fort Cavazos); Booz Allen Hamilton (NYSE: BAH; ~$9B revenue; intelligence and digital transformation support for III Corps and 504th MI Brigade); and Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT; program management and systems support for Army aviation and armor programs at Fort Cavazos). These contractors employ thousands of TS/SCI-cleared professionals in the Killeen-Temple area earning $85,000–$175,000+ annually — a salary band that absorbs rents of $1,400–$2,000/month in Harker Heights premium zones, well above what BAH rates for even senior NCOs support.

The Bell County civilian economy beyond military and defense includes a significant logistics and distribution sector anchored by McLane Company’s Temple operations. The Temple/Belton US-190 and I-35 corridor has attracted additional distribution and manufacturing operations that benefit from Central Texas’s highway infrastructure (I-35 connecting San Antonio to Dallas/Fort Worth; US-190 connecting Killeen to Waco and beyond). Killeen ISD (~5,000+ employees; 45+ schools; ~42,000 students including a high proportion of military children) is a major civilian employer independent of the military. The approximately 42,000-student enrollment makes Killeen ISD one of the largest school districts in Texas by enrollment, which has a direct correlation with teacher and staff hiring that provides a stable civilian employment base. Killeen ISD employees earning $50,000–$80,000 annually are primary renters in the Killeen central and lower Harker Heights submarkets. Bell County government (county seat: Belton; courthouse: 550 E 2nd Avenue, Belton TX 76513; Sheriff’s Office, Tax Assessor-Collector, District Attorney, District Courts) and the City of Killeen (municipal police, fire, utilities, parks, public works: approximately 2,500 combined city employees) provide further civilian employment.

The retail and hospitality sector in Killeen has grown significantly to serve the Fort Cavazos military and family population. Killeen Mall (2100 S W S Young Drive, Killeen TX) and the extensive retail development along US-190 (Walmart Supercenter, Target, HEB Plus, Costco, national restaurant chains, auto dealerships, banking) employ thousands of retail and service workers who constitute the lowest-income rental demand tier in the Killeen Northgate and Killeen central submarkets. The automotive sector is particularly robust near Fort Cavazos, as young enlisted soldiers’ first major purchases upon receiving pay and signing bonuses are often vehicles; Killeen has a high concentration of car dealerships along East Central Texas Expressway serving this market.

Frequently asked questions about Killeen TX rents and Fort Cavazos

On-post housing at Fort Cavazos and its effect on off-post demand

Fort Cavazos operates privatized family housing under a partnership managed by Lendlease Communities (formerly Actus Lendlease), which manages the on-post family housing under a long-term agreement with the US Army. On-post housing is available for soldiers with dependents across all pay grades, but waitlists exist for popular unit sizes, particularly 3-bedroom and 4-bedroom homes for larger families. Soldiers who elect on-post housing assign their BAH directly to Lendlease; soldiers who live off-post receive BAH directly to spend in the private market. The waitlist dynamic is a key driver of off-post vacancy: when on-post waitlists are long (as has historically been the case for E-4 to E-6 families), demand in the Killeen near-post corridor spikes. When on-post housing is readily available (as sometimes occurs between large-unit deployments when population dips), off-post vacancy in the Fort Hood Road corridor rises. Killeen landlords near the main gate should track on-post availability through the Fort Cavazos housing office website to anticipate these demand cycles. The 2022–2024 period saw high off-post demand as deployment cycles reduced the on-post population occupying units, paradoxically making waitlists shorter and prompting some families to move off-post for more space and school district choice. Monitoring this dynamic — which has no analog in civilian rental markets — is part of the operational sophistication required to manage near-Fort-Cavazos rental property successfully.

Killeen TX landlord compliance checklist 2026 (8 steps)

1. No rent cap — Texas LGC §214.902 explicit preemption: Raise rent any amount at lease renewal or with appropriate notice on month-to-month tenancies. No filing required, no maximum percentage, no rent board. Provide written notice of rent change consistent with the lease terms; if lease is silent, best practice is 30 days’ written notice for clarity around PCS cycles.
2. No deposit cap — Texas Property Code §92.102: Collect any deposit amount the market supports. Near-Fort-Cavazos competitive conditions typically support 1–2 months’ rent. Document the deposit amount in the lease; specify permissible deductions (unpaid rent; physical damage beyond normal wear; required cleaning; etc.).
3. Return deposit within 30 days of vacating (§92.103) with written itemized deduction statement: Start the clock when the tenant surrenders possession (returns keys; vacates). For SCRA-terminated leases, start the clock at the effective SCRA termination date. Provide the itemized deduction list in writing simultaneously. Failure to provide a written statement forfeits the right to any deduction. Wrongful withholding triggers 3× treble damages + $100 penalty + attorney fees (§92.109).
4. Habitability duty — repair HVAC and life-safety systems within 7 days of notice (§92.056): Texas summers in Killeen/Bell County regularly exceed 100°F (37.8°C). A broken air conditioning system constitutes a health and safety emergency. After the tenant’s first written repair notice, you have 7 days to repair. After a second notice (if still unrepaired), the tenant may invoke repair-and-deduct (up to $500 or one month’s rent), terminate the lease, or sue for damages. Respond to written repair requests immediately and document your response.
5. Serve 3-day Notice to Vacate before filing forcible detainer (§24.005): Texas requires written Notice to Vacate (3 days minimum) before filing eviction. Texas has no statutory cure right for non-payment (unlike NC’s 7-day cure, TN’s 14-day cure, or Alabama’s 7-day cure) — if the notice expires unfulfilled, you may immediately file. File in Bell County Justice Court (1201 Huey Drive, Belton TX 76513 or Killeen precinct JP court).
6. SCRA verification before every eviction — mandatory: Fort Cavazos SCRA risk is among the highest in the United States. Before filing any eviction action, run SCRA.DMDC.OSD.MIL, download a dated PDF, and retain in the tenant file. If the tenant is on active duty, do not file eviction without a court order. Expect a mandatory 90-day stay on request. Wrongful eviction of an active-duty servicemember is a federal crime: up to 1 year imprisonment (first offense), up to 5 years (repeat).
7. Anti-retaliation (Texas Property Code §92.331): No retaliatory rent increase, eviction filing, service reduction, or non-renewal within 6 months of a tenant’s good-faith exercise of a legal right (repair request, government agency complaint, SCRA assertion). Document the independent business basis for any adverse action contemporaneously and separately from any tenant complaint file.
8. No self-help eviction (Texas Property Code §92.0081): Do not change locks, remove tenant’s personal property, cut off utilities, or take any other self-help action to force a tenant out without a Writ of Possession from the Bell County Justice Court. Civil penalty for lockout violations: up to $1,000 per day. This is in addition to — not instead of — criminal SCRA exposure if the tenant is on active duty.

Related RentCeiling resources for Texas and military markets

• Austin TX rent increase 2026 — Austin (Travis County); Texas LGC §214.902 preemption; same Texas Property Code framework as Killeen; tech industry hub (Dell, Tesla, Apple, Oracle, IBM, Amazon); University of Texas; one of the fastest-growing rental markets in the US; no rent control at any level.
• San Antonio TX rent increase 2026 — San Antonio (Bexar County); Fort Sam Houston / Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA); JBSA encompasses Fort Sam Houston, Lackland AFB, Randolph AFB, and Camp Bullis; largest Air Force base complex in the US; largest US military installation by number of personnel (military, civilian, contractor); same Texas Property Code framework; SCRA critical.
• Waco TX rent increase 2026 — Waco (McLennan County); Texas LGC §214.902; Baylor University; Texas Property Code; 30 miles north of Temple on I-35; McLane Company operates distribution center in Waco corridor.
• Fayetteville NC rent increase 2026 — Fayetteville (Cumberland County); Fort Liberty (formerly Fort Bragg); 82nd Airborne Division; XVIII Airborne Corps; USASOC; JFK Special Warfare Center; highest SCRA risk in North Carolina; similar military-dominated rental market; North Carolina RRAA vs. Texas Property Code comparison; 2-month deposit cap vs. Texas no cap.
• Clarksville TN rent increase 2026 — Clarksville (Montgomery County); Fort Campbell; 101st Airborne Division (“Screaming Eagles”); 5th Special Forces Group; 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (“Night Stalkers”); Tennessee URLTA; similar BAH-dominated military market; 14-day pay-or-quit vs. Texas 3-day.
• Columbus GA rent increase 2026 — Columbus (Muscogee County); Fort Moore (formerly Fort Benning); 1st Infantry Division; Maneuver Center of Excellence; Georgia no-cap security deposit framework; O.C.G.A. §44-7-19 preemption; similar Army post rental dynamics.
• SCRA lease termination: complete guide for landlords serving military markets 2026 — comprehensive guide to SCRA §3955 PCS termination rights; termination calculation examples; deposit return timelines; what orders qualify; SCRA lookup procedure; criminal penalties; updated 2026.
• Compare all jurisdictions — side-by-side comparison of rent control status, deposit caps, eviction timelines, SCRA risk levels, and habitability standards across all 50 states and major US cities.