Round Rock TX Rent Increase 2026
No rent control — Texas Prop. Code §92 governs — Dell Technologies HQ & Apple Austin campus
Rent Increase Rules: No Cap, No Limit
Round Rock landlords face zero regulatory ceiling on rent increases. Texas Government Code §214.902 (enacted as HB 2902, 2023) codifies an explicit statewide prohibition: no Texas municipality or county may enact, maintain, or enforce rent control ordinances. The only exception — a 60-day emergency cap during a declared state disaster requiring Governor approval to continue — has never been used for residential rents in the Austin metro.
For month-to-month tenancies, Texas Prop. Code §91.001 requires one rental period’s written notice before a new rent amount takes effect (30 days for monthly leases). For fixed-term leases, rent increases apply only at renewal. There is no threshold above which longer notice is required — a 100% increase requires the same 30-day notice as a 1% increase.
The absence of rent regulation means Round Rock landlords can adjust rents to market rates at each renewal, a significant factor as the Austin metro has experienced outsized rent growth driven by tech sector expansion (Dell, Apple, Samsung Taylor fab, Tesla Gigafactory Austin) and population growth.
| Rule | Round Rock TX (2026) | Authority |
|---|---|---|
| Rent increase cap | None — unlimited | Tex. Gov. Code §214.902 |
| Notice for rent increase (MTM) | 30 days | Tex. Prop. Code §91.001 |
| Security deposit cap | None — any amount | Tex. Prop. Code §92.102 |
| Deposit return deadline | 30 days after surrender | Tex. Prop. Code §92.103 |
| Wrongful withholding penalty | $100 + 3× withheld + attorney fees | Tex. Prop. Code §92.109 |
| Non-payment eviction notice | 3-day Notice to Vacate | Tex. Prop. Code §24.005 |
| Entry notice | Reasonable notice (no statutory hours) | Tex. Prop. Code §92.0081 |
| Eviction court | Williamson County Justice of the Peace | Tex. Prop. Code Ch. 24 |
Security Deposit: No Cap, Strong Tenant Remedies
Texas is one of only a few major states with no statutory security deposit cap. Tex. Prop. Code §92.102 permits landlords to require any deposit amount the parties agree to. Market practice in Round Rock is 1–2 months’ rent, but legally a landlord could require 6 months’ rent as a deposit if the tenant agrees.
Despite the lack of a cap, Texas has strict return and withholding rules. The full deposit (less documented, itemized deductions for actual damages beyond normal wear and tear) must be returned within 30 days of surrender. If the landlord in bad faith fails to return the deposit or provide the required written itemized statement within 30 days, the tenant can recover:
- A $100 fixed penalty (automatic upon finding of bad faith)
- Three times the amount wrongfully withheld
- Reasonable attorney fees and court costs
(Tex. Prop. Code §92.109.) This is one of the more severe wrongful-withholding penalties in the country. The $100 plus treble damages exposure on a $3,000 deposit would be $100 + $9,000 = $9,100, plus attorney fees.
Eviction Process: 3-Day Notice, Williamson County JP Court
Texas evictions are governed by Tex. Prop. Code Chapter 24 and Texas Rules of Civil Procedure for Justice Court. The process is famously fast compared to most states:
- 3-Day Notice to Vacate (§24.005): Serve written notice to the tenant demanding possession. For non-payment, the notice should state the amount owed. The tenant has 3 days to vacate (or pay, if the lease allows cure). Notice can be delivered in person, posted on the inside of the main entry door, or mailed (add 3 days if mailed).
- File FED Petition at the appropriate Williamson County Justice of the Peace Court for the unit’s precinct. Round Rock addresses are typically in Precinct 2 or 3. Filing fee: ~$50–$130.
- Hearing is set by the court within 10 days of filing. The constable serves the tenant with notice of the hearing.
- Judgment: If the landlord prevails, the JP issues a judgment for possession (and may include unpaid rent).
- Writ of Possession: After the 5-day appeal window, if the tenant does not appeal to the County Court at Law, the Writ issues. The constable executes the lockout within 5–10 days.
Uncontested total timeline: approximately 3–5 weeks from notice to lockout. This compares favorably to California (6–12 weeks), New York (8–16+ weeks), and Illinois (6–10 weeks).
Major Employers: Dell, Apple, Healthcare, and the Samsung Effect
Dell Technologies (One Dell Way, Round Rock TX 78682)
Dell Technologies (NYSE: DELL; Fortune 31; ~$93B revenue FY2024; ~120,000 worldwide employees) has been headquartered in Round Rock since 1988. Michael Dell founded the company in 1984 as PC’s Limited in his UT-Austin dorm room, initially operating from a condo in Austin before moving to Round Rock as growth demanded more space. The One Dell Way campus spans more than 2 million square feet across multiple buildings and houses approximately 8,000–12,000 employees in the headquarters complex, with additional employees at surrounding facilities. Dell’s product portfolio — Latitude and XPS laptops, OptiPlex and Precision workstations, PowerEdge servers, EMC enterprise storage, Dell APEX cloud services, and Secureworks cybersecurity — generates a headquarter workforce earning $80,000–$200,000+ annually. Dell is the single largest employer in Williamson County and the anchor of Round Rock’s identity as a technology city. Post-COVID hybrid work has maintained significant in-office requirements for Round Rock-based Dell employees, sustaining housing demand close to campus.
Apple Austin Campus (6900 Parmer Lane, Austin TX 78729)
Apple’s Austin campus — located on Parmer Lane on the north Austin / Round Rock border and accessible from both cities — is Apple’s largest office outside of Apple Park in Cupertino, California. In 2019, Apple announced a $1 billion+ expansion committing to 5,000 new jobs and eventually 10,000 total Austin-area employees. As of 2026, the campus houses approximately 10,000 employees spanning engineering, operations, AppleCare technical support, finance, HR, and supply chain roles. Apple’s campus drives significant rental demand in north Austin and Round Rock, particularly for tech workers seeking proximity to the Parmer Lane tech corridor (which also hosts Amazon, Oracle’s Austin campus, and numerous smaller tech firms). Apple employees skew toward the $100,000–$250,000 compensation range, with the highest earners owning and the balance creating robust demand for $1,800–$3,500/month rentals.
Samsung Austin Semiconductor (Taylor TX) — Spillover to Round Rock
Samsung Austin Semiconductor’s new semiconductor fabrication plant in Taylor, Texas (~25 miles northeast of Round Rock on TX-79) represents the largest foreign direct investment in Texas history at approximately $17 billion. The Taylor S2 fab began limited production in 2024 and employs approximately 2,000+ direct Samsung workers in manufacturing, engineering, and support roles. The facility uses advanced 3nm and 4nm process nodes for leading-edge logic chips, comparable to TSMC’s Arizona fab. Round Rock is well-positioned to capture Samsung employee residential demand: it sits between the primary Austin tech employment core and Taylor, offers established infrastructure (shopping, healthcare, top-rated RRISD schools), and provides I-35/TX-79 corridor access. Semiconductor equipment service engineers from ASML, Applied Materials, Lam Research, and KLA who support the Samsung fab are also creating housing demand in the Round Rock–Taylor corridor. The full market impact of the Taylor fab on Round Rock rents is expected to compound through 2027–2028 as direct employment peaks.
St. David’s Round Rock Medical Center & Healthcare
St. David’s Round Rock Medical Center (2400 Round Rock Ave; Level II Trauma; approximately 2,000 employees; part of HCA Healthcare / St. David’s HealthCare) is the city’s primary hospital and a significant employer. Combined with Baylor Scott & White Round Rock (specialty services) and numerous medical office complexes along University Blvd, healthcare employs approximately 5,000–7,000 in Round Rock. Nurses, therapists, and medical staff earning $60,000–$120,000+ create demand for the $1,400–$2,200 1BR and 2BR segment. Round Rock ISD (~55,000 students; ~7,500 employees) fills out the large-employer picture for teachers, administrators, and support staff earning $45,000–$90,000.
2026 Rent Ranges by Submarket
| Submarket | 1BR | 2BR | 3BR SFH |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dell Campus corridor (One Dell Way) | $1,600–$2,100 | $2,000–$2,800 | $2,600–$3,500 |
| Old Town / Downtown Round Rock | $1,300–$1,800 | $1,700–$2,300 | $2,000–$2,900 |
| La Frontera / Kalahari area | $1,400–$1,900 | $1,800–$2,500 | $2,200–$3,000 |
| Forest Creek / Avery Ranch (RRISD) | $1,500–$2,000 | $1,900–$2,600 | $2,200–$3,200 |
| Pflugerville (south Williamson Co.) | $1,200–$1,700 | $1,600–$2,200 | $2,000–$2,800 |
| Hutto / Taylor (outer corridor) | $1,100–$1,500 | $1,400–$1,900 | $1,800–$2,600 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much can a Round Rock TX landlord raise rent in 2026?
There is no limit. Round Rock has no rent control and Texas has no statewide rent cap. Texas Government Code §214.902 prohibits municipal rent control except during a declared state disaster. Landlords may raise rent to any amount with 30 days’ written notice for month-to-month tenancies. For fixed-term leases, rent increases apply only at renewal.
What is the security deposit cap in Round Rock TX?
Texas has no statutory security deposit cap. Tex. Prop. Code §92.102 allows landlords to require any agreed-upon deposit amount. Most Round Rock landlords charge 1–2 months’ rent. The deposit must be returned within 30 days of surrender, and wrongful withholding triggers $100 + 3× the withheld amount + attorney fees under §92.109.
Where do Round Rock TX evictions get filed?
Round Rock evictions are filed at the Williamson County Justice of the Peace Court for the unit’s precinct (typically Precinct 2 at 100 Plaza Blvd, Cedar Park, or Precinct 3 at 1801 Post Rd, Pflugerville, depending on address). A 3-Day Notice to Vacate must first be served. Uncontested cases typically conclude in 3–5 weeks.
Is Round Rock TX part of Austin’s tech job market?
Yes. Round Rock is integral to the Austin tech corridor. Dell Technologies HQ (~10,000 employees), Apple Austin campus (~10,000 employees on the Austin/Round Rock border), and the Samsung Taylor fab (~2,000+ employees, 25 miles northeast via TX-79) make Williamson County one of the densest technology employment zones in the US outside Silicon Valley and Seattle.
Related Resources
- Austin TX rent increase 2026 — statewide rules, Travis County court
- Dallas TX rent increase 2026 — no rent control, Dallas County JP courts
- Plano TX rent increase 2026 — Toyota NA HQ, Collin County
- Frisco TX rent increase 2026 — fastest-growing DFW suburb
- Denton TX rent increase 2026 — UNT, TWU, no rent control
- Texas landlord-tenant law 2026 complete guide
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