League City, TX · GALVESTON COUNTY (MAJORITY) / HARRIS COUNTY (EASTERN STRIP) SPLIT · No Rent Control · Texas Gov. Code §214.902 · NASA Johnson Space Center 13,000+ Workers 10–15 Min · UTMB Health League City ~2,000 Staff · Boeing Leidos Jacobs SAIC Aerospace Contractors · Clear Creek ISD 42,000 Students · South Shore Harbour Waterfront · Tuscan Lakes · Ellington Field SCRA · Galveston County JP Court · No Deposit Cap · 30-Day Return · Treble Damages
League City TX rent increase 2026 Texas has no rent control — Gov. Code §214.902 (HB 2902, eff. Sept 1, 2023) bars all Texas municipalities and counties from enacting rent caps. League City spans TWO counties: Galveston County (majority) and Harris County (northeastern strip near Clear Lake) — landlords must file evictions at the correct county’s JP Court. NASA Johnson Space Center (~3,000 civil servants + 10,000+ Boeing/Leidos/Jacobs/SAIC contractors; 10–15 min via Bay Area Blvd) drives the dominant rental demand. UTMB Health League City Campus (~2,000+ staff). Clear Creek ISD (42,000 students; 5,000+ employees). Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base SCRA. Texas Property Code Chapter 92: no deposit cap; 30-day return (§92.103); treble damages (§92.109).
League City, Texas — Galveston County’s largest city, one of the fastest-growing cities in Texas, and the bedroom community for NASA Johnson Space Center’s 13,000+ civil servants and contractors — has no rent control of any kind.
Texas Government Code §214.902 bars League City, Galveston County, and Harris County from enacting any rent control ordinance. League City’s most critical jurisdictional issue for landlords: the city straddles Galveston County and Harris County, requiring evictions to be filed at the JP Court for the specific county where the rental property sits.
Filing in the wrong county’s JP Court causes automatic dismissal and weeks of delay. Combined with the SCRA obligations created by the large NASA/aerospace contractor population and Ellington Field personnel nearby, League City has two critical landlord compliance requirements that do not exist in most Texas suburbs.
League City TX 2026 rent control status: quick reference
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Rent control in League City? | None. Texas Gov. Code §214.902 prohibits all local rent control. |
| Annual increase cap? | No cap. Any amount at lease expiration with proper notice. |
| MTM notice to raise rent? | 1 month written notice minimum (§91.001); lease may require more. |
| Security deposit cap? | No statutory cap. Parties agree to any amount (§92.102). |
| Deposit return deadline? | 30 days after surrender + itemized deductions list (§92.103). |
| Bad-faith withholding penalty? | $100 + 3× amount + attorney fees (§92.109). |
| Non-payment eviction notice? | 3-day written notice to vacate (§24.005) — vacate only, no cure option. |
| Eviction court — Galveston County portion? | Galveston County JP Court (League City/JP Precinct 1 or 5; 600 59th St, Galveston TX). |
| Eviction court — Harris County portion? | Harris County JP Precinct 8 (Bay Area / Clear Lake area). |
| SCRA applies? | Yes — NASA JSC contractors/reservists; Ellington Field (~20–25 miles). Honor unconditionally. |
| Flood disclosure? | Yes — SB 339 (2022): disclose if flooded more than once in last 5 years. |
| Controlling law | Texas Gov. Code §214.902; Texas Property Code Chapters 91, 92, 24 |
CRITICAL: League City TX two-county jurisdiction split
League City incorporated area spans two counties: Galveston County (the majority of the city, including South Shore Harbour, Tuscan Lakes, and most established residential neighborhoods) and Harris County (a northeastern strip near the Clear Lake City area, along Bay Area Blvd and NASA Pkwy).
The practical consequence for landlords is straightforward but critical:
- Properties in the Galveston County portion must file eviction at the Galveston County JP Court. League City falls primarily in JP Precinct 1 or Precinct 5. The Galveston County Justice Center is at 600 59th St, Galveston TX 77551. Call Galveston County to verify which JP precinct serves your property address.
- Properties in the Harris County portion (northeastern League City near Clear Lake City) must file at Harris County JP Precinct 8 (Bay Area/Clear Lake area). Contact Harris County for the specific Precinct 8 office address.
- To determine your property’s county: Look up the address at galvestoncad.org (Galveston County Appraisal District) or hcad.org (Harris County Appraisal District). The county that returns results is the correct filing jurisdiction.
An eviction filed in the wrong county will be dismissed. The landlord must then refile in the correct county, losing the filing fee and approximately 2–4 additional weeks. Always verify before filing.
Texas rent control preemption — Gov. Code §214.902
“A municipality or county may not adopt or enforce an ordinance, order, or other regulation that controls the price at which private residential rental property may be offered for rent or leased to a prospective tenant.”
Texas Government Code §214.902 (HB 2902, 88th Texas Legislature, effective September 1, 2023)
League City, Galveston County, and Harris County are all prohibited by §214.902 from enacting rent control. League City has never sought to establish a rent board or annual cap. The city’s explosive growth — from approximately 45,000 residents in 2000 to 115,000+ in 2026 — has occurred entirely within a market-rate rental environment, with the NASA JSC aerospace economy and Clear Creek ISD driving consistent upward pressure on rents without any regulatory constraint.
NASA Johnson Space Center — the dominant rental demand driver
NASA Johnson Space Center (2101 NASA Pkwy, Houston TX 77058; in Webster, TX, approximately 10–15 minutes from central League City via Bay Area Blvd) is the United States center for human spaceflight operations — responsible for International Space Station mission control, astronaut selection and training, Commercial Crew Program management, and Artemis lunar program operations.
JSC civil service workforce
JSC employs approximately 3,000 NASA civil servants including flight directors, astronauts, aerospace engineers, systems engineers, scientists, program managers, and administrative staff. Federal GS-scale compensation in the Houston locality pay area (2026): GS-12 step 1 approximately $83,000; GS-13 step 1 approximately $99,000; GS-14 step 1 approximately $117,000; GS-15 step 1 approximately $138,000. Senior executives and SES members earn $175,000+.
JSC contractor workforce
JSC’s major contractors collectively employ approximately 10,000+ workers in engineering, operations, IT, and program support roles. Key contractors include:
- Boeing Space: International Space Station systems integration and operations (600 Gemini Ave, Houston TX 77058); one of JSC’s largest contractors. Hundreds of aerospace engineers and operations specialists.
- Leidos / Perspecta: Major JSC technical and IT contractor. Significant League City/Clear Lake employment presence.
- Jacobs (JETS contract): Johnson Engineering and Technology Support — a multi-billion dollar contract covering engineering, science, and technical services at JSC. Hundreds of engineers in the Clear Lake area.
- SAIC: Science Applications International Corporation; JSC operations support. Multiple Clear Lake area employees.
- Barrios Technology: Houston-based JSC contractor specializing in human spaceflight operations support; headquartered adjacent to JSC in Webster.
Contractor salaries range from approximately $55,000 for early-career engineers to $160,000+ for senior systems engineers and program managers. The combined JSC civil servant + contractor workforce of 13,000+ is the dominant economic driver for the Clear Lake / League City / Webster rental market.
NASA/aerospace demand impact on League City rentals
Properties within 15 minutes of NASA JSC via Bay Area Blvd command a measurable “aerospace premium” of 10–25% over comparable properties in southern League City or Galveston County communities further from the campus. JSC employees and contractors frequently receive relocation packages that cover first month + security deposit, creating demand for furnished short-term rentals and 12-month leases with possible early-termination options.
Additional employers driving League City TX rental demand
UTMB Health League City Campus
University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) Health operates a hospital campus in League City (2240 Gulf Fwy S, League City TX 77573), part of the UTMB Health System that includes the flagship academic medical center in Galveston. The League City campus employs approximately 2,000+ healthcare professionals including physicians (many with UTMB academic appointments), nurses, advanced practice providers, and support staff. UTMB League City is one of the fastest-growing healthcare campuses in the Houston area, responding to the explosive residential growth of southern Harris County and northern Galveston County. UTMB employees represent a stable mid-to-premium rental demand cohort in the South Shore Harbour and Tuscan Lakes communities.
Clear Creek Independent School District (CCISD)
CCISD serves approximately 42,000 students across League City, Webster, Friendswood, and adjacent communities, employing approximately 5,000+ teachers, administrators, and support staff. CCISD high school attendance zones (Clear Creek HS, Clear Springs HS, Clear Lake HS, Clear Falls HS) are actively researched by families when choosing rental homes. Properties in the Clear Springs and Clear Lake HS attendance zones command premiums of 15–25% over comparable properties in other CCISD zones.
Christus St. John Hospital (Nassau Bay)
Christus St. John Hospital (18300 St John Dr, Nassau Bay TX 77058), immediately adjacent to League City near the NASA/JSC corridor, employs several hundred healthcare professionals and creates additional stable rental demand for NASA-area properties.
League City TX rental market by submarket
| Submarket | 1BR | 2BR | 3BR SFR | County |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Shore Harbour (waterfront marina) | $1,200–$1,900 | $1,600–$2,500 | $2,000–$3,500 | Galveston |
| Clear Lake / NASA corridor (Bay Area Blvd) | $1,200–$2,000 | $1,600–$2,600 | $2,000–$3,600 | Harris / Galveston |
| Tuscan Lakes (master-planned; Grand Pkwy) | $1,300–$2,000 | $1,700–$2,600 | $2,100–$3,500 | Galveston |
| Brittany Lakes / Westover Park (SFR) | $1,200–$1,800 | $1,500–$2,400 | $1,900–$3,200 | Galveston |
| Bay Area Blvd / I-45 corridor (mid-market) | $900–$1,500 | $1,200–$1,900 | $1,600–$2,600 | Galveston / Harris |
| Calder Rd / older League City core | $850–$1,300 | $1,100–$1,700 | $1,500–$2,400 | Galveston |
Texas Property Code Chapter 92 — security deposit rules
- No statutory cap (§92.102): No Texas-imposed limit. South Shore Harbour SFR rentals with boat docks and marina access: $2,500–$6,000+ deposits common.
- 30-day return deadline (§92.103): Return deposit + itemized deductions within 30 days of surrender. Waterfront properties require immediate inspection of dock, bulkhead, and seawall.
- Treble damages (§92.109): Bad-faith withholding = $100 + 3× withheld + attorney fees. On a $4,000 deposit: potential $12,100 + attorney fees.
- Waterfront documentation: Document boat dock condition (decking, pilings, cleats), seawall/bulkhead integrity, boat lift (if present) including motor and switch box, and water frontage at move-in with photos and a written checklist. Repair costs for waterfront structures can be $5,000–$50,000+; undocumented pre-existing conditions create expensive disputes.
- Normal wear and tear not deductible: Standard weathering, normal dock wear, minor paint touch-ups, and carpet compression from ordinary use cannot be deducted.
Eviction process — League City TX (both counties)
- Determine the county: Galveston or Harris. Check galvestoncad.org or hcad.org by property address before proceeding.
- Serve 3-day written notice to vacate (non-payment; §24.005): No cure option under Texas law. Serve personally, post on front door, or certified mail to property address.
- File FED petition at the correct JP Court:
- Galveston County: JP Precinct 1 or 5 for League City addresses. Call Galveston County court administration to confirm precinct assignment. Galveston County Justice Center: 600 59th St, Galveston TX 77551.
- Harris County: JP Precinct 8 (Bay Area/Clear Lake area). Contact Harris County for specific Precinct 8 office location.
- JP hearing within 10–21 days. Bring lease, notice with proof of service, payment records, any relevant communications.
- Judgment + appeal window: Tenant has 5 days to appeal to county court. If no appeal: request Writ of Possession.
- Constable lockout: The relevant county’s Constable posts 24-hour door notice, then executes lockout. Self-help lockout without Writ violates §92.0081.
Total uncontested timeline: approximately 3–5 weeks.
Top 10 League City TX landlord compliance mistakes
- Filing eviction in the wrong county. The Galveston/Harris split is the primary jurisdictional trap. Verify via appraisal district before filing — every single time.
- No waterfront condition documentation. Boat docks, seawalls, and bulkheads are expensive. Document all waterfront elements at move-in with photos, video, and a signed checklist.
- Missing the 30-day deposit return deadline. Waterfront SFR inspections take time; start immediately after move-out.
- Ignoring SCRA for aerospace/NASA contractors. Many Boeing, Leidos, SAIC employees are reservists; Ellington Field ANGB adds additional SCRA population. Honor lease termination rights unconditionally.
- Deducting normal wear and tear. Cannot deduct standard dock weathering, carpet wear, or minor paint touch-ups.
- Self-help eviction. §92.0081 violation; use the JP Court + Constable process.
- No SB 339 flood disclosure. League City and Galveston County have significant flood history; check flood maps; disclose known flooding in writing before lease signing.
- Misrepresenting CCISD school zone. High school attendance zone is a key price driver; misrepresentation creates Fair Housing risk.
- Not negotiating early-termination buyout for aerospace tenants. JSC contractors relocate with program changes; a written early-termination buyout (1–2 months’ rent) in the lease is better than eviction proceedings.
- Failing §92.201 owner/manager disclosure. Required in lease or posted notice; affects attorney fee recovery in disputes.
Related Houston area rent increase pages
- Houston TX rent increase 2026
- Pearland TX rent increase 2026 (Brazoria County; immediately northwest)
- Pasadena TX rent increase 2026 (Harris County; Ship Channel industrial suburb)
- Katy TX rent increase 2026 (Harris/Waller/Fort Bend split)
- Sugar Land TX rent increase 2026 (Fort Bend County)
- The Woodlands TX rent increase 2026 (Montgomery County)
- Texas statewide rent increase laws 2026
League City TX rent increase FAQ
Does League City TX have rent control in 2026?
No. Texas Gov. Code §214.902 prohibits all local rent control. League City, Galveston County, and Harris County are all barred from enacting rent caps. No rent board, no annual cap, no filing requirements.
CRITICAL: Which JP Court handles evictions in League City TX?
Depends on the county. Galveston County portion (majority of League City): Galveston County JP Court (JP Precinct 1 or 5 for League City addresses; 600 59th St, Galveston TX 77551). Harris County portion (northeastern strip near Clear Lake City): Harris County JP Precinct 8 (Bay Area/Clear Lake). Verify county via galvestoncad.org or hcad.org before filing.
How does NASA Johnson Space Center affect League City TX rentals?
JSC (~3,000 civil servants GS-12–GS-15 at $80K–$175K; 10,000+ contractors at $55K–$160K) is 10–15 min from central League City via Bay Area Blvd. The aerospace workforce is the single dominant rental demand driver — particularly for 3BR SFR in CCISD school zones. Properties near NASA JSC command 10–25% aerospace premiums.
What are the major employers near League City TX?
NASA JSC (~13,000 civil service + contractors); UTMB Health League City (~2,000+); Boeing Space, Leidos, Jacobs, SAIC (JSC contractors); CCISD (5,000+ employees; 42,000 students); Christus St. John Hospital (Nassau Bay adjacent); Ellington Field ANGB (~700–1,500).
What are typical 2026 rent levels in League City TX?
South Shore Harbour waterfront: 1BR $1,200–$1,900; 3BR SFR $2,000–$3,500. Clear Lake/NASA corridor: 1BR $1,200–$2,000; 3BR $2,000–$3,600. Tuscan Lakes: 1BR $1,300–$2,000; 3BR $2,100–$3,500. Bay Area Blvd mid-market: 1BR $900–$1,500.
What are the security deposit rules for League City TX landlords?
No deposit cap (§92.102). Return within 30 days with itemized list (§92.103). Treble damages for bad-faith withholding (§92.109). Waterfront properties: document dock, seawall, bulkhead at move-in. South Shore Harbour SFR deposits of $2,500–$6,000 require careful handling.
What are the biggest landlord mistakes in League City TX?
Filing eviction in wrong county (Galveston vs. Harris); no waterfront condition documentation; missing 30-day deposit deadline; ignoring SCRA for NASA/aerospace reservists; no SB 339 flood disclosure; misrepresenting CCISD school zone; self-help eviction.