Bastrop County Texas Landlord-Tenant Law: SpaceX, Wildfire Risk, and the Austin Exurb Rental Market
Bastrop County is in the middle of the most consequential economic transformation in its history. For a county that spent most of the past two centuries as a quiet rural community along the Colorado River — defined by the Lost Pines forest, the historic town of Bastrop, and the small agricultural and service economy of Elgin and Smithville — the arrival of SpaceX, The Boring Company, and the planned relocation of X’s headquarters has rewritten the county’s economic identity overnight. Tesla’s 10-million-square-foot Gigafactory in neighboring east Travis County, a short drive away, adds thousands of additional potential tenants. For landlords, this is a once-in-a-generation demand shift. The legal framework for navigating it remains standard Texas law — but two locally specific disclosures matter enormously here: wildfire risk and the standard Texas floodplain notice.
The Four JP Courts of Bastrop County
Bastrop County operates four JP courts, one per precinct, with each serving a distinct geographic and economic submarket. JP Precinct 1, under Judge Cindy Allen, is located at the county courthouse at 804 Pecan Street in Bastrop (phone 512-581-4258). This is the primary court for Bastrop city evictions. JP Precinct 2, under Judge Raymah Davis, is at 1624 NE Loop 230 in Smithville (phone 512-581-7112), serving the eastern county including Smithville and surrounding rural areas. JP Precinct 3, under Judge Krystal Moncure Stabeno, is located at 5785 FM 535 in Cedar Creek (phone 512-332-7288). This court serves the central county corridor — including the FM 969/1209 area where SpaceX, The Boring Company, and X are all located. JP Precinct 4, under Judge Larry Dunne, serves northwest Bastrop County from 1125 Dildy Drive in Elgin (phone 512-581-7162).
The standard Texas wrong-precinct dismissal rule applies in full. File at the precinct where your property sits — not the precinct nearest to you or where you happen to be. The Bastrop County Elections website offers a precinct lookup by address at bastropvotes.org. Bastrop County JP Precinct 1 has posted an updated 2026 Eviction Petition form on its website, reflecting the major SB 38 law changes that took effect January 1, 2026. All landlords filing after that date should use current forms from the relevant court.
SpaceX, The Boring Company, and the New Tenant Profile
The Musk compound at FM 969 and 1209 in Bastrop County has brought an entirely new economic layer to this rural Texas county. SpaceX’s Starlink manufacturing facility received a $17.3 million state semiconductor grant and is expanding its footprint to over 700,000 square feet. The Boring Company operates an 80,000-square-foot warehouse on the same compound. X, the social media platform, is building its new headquarters on adjacent land. Together, Musk’s ventures directly employ approximately 1,200 mid- to high-skill workers in Bastrop County, with Tesla adding tens of thousands more in nearby east Travis County whose commuting radius easily reaches Bastrop.
For landlords, this creates a premium tenant segment — engineers, software developers, manufacturing technicians, and skilled tradespeople with above-average incomes who need housing within commuting range of the FM 969 area. Properties in the Cedar Creek corridor, along Hwy 71 east of Austin, and near the Bastrop city limits are all well-positioned. Average one-bedroom rents in Bastrop city run approximately $1,299–$1,387/month — slightly down from 2023 peaks as Austin metro oversupply has softened demand across the metro fringe, but well above what rural Bastrop County commanded before 2020. Single-family rentals in the $1,600–$2,500 range command a strong audience from tech workers who prioritize space and a non-urban environment.
Wildfire Risk: The Essential Bastrop County Disclosure
No Bastrop County landlord guide is complete without addressing wildfire risk. The 2011 Bastrop County Complex Fire remains the most destructive wildfire in Texas history, burning over 34,000 acres and causing an estimated $325 million in losses. The Lost Pines area — the westernmost stand of loblolly pine in Texas — that gives the county much of its character and scenic appeal is precisely the fuel source that makes wildfire risk persistent. Texas Property Code § 92.0135 requires landlords to disclose if a dwelling is in a 100-year floodplain; while there is not yet an equivalent statutory mandate for wildfire disclosure in Texas, landlords operating in known high-risk fire areas should proactively disclose that risk in their leases as part of good-faith habitability practice.
Practically, this means: carrying adequate property insurance that explicitly covers wildfire damage; requiring renters insurance as a lease condition with a note that it covers tenant’s personal property from fire; photographing all structures at move-in; and documenting evacuation plans or fire safety procedures in the lease. After a major wildfire event, the habitability provisions of Texas Property Code § 92.058 may apply if the premises become uninhabitable — which can trigger the tenant’s right to terminate the lease without penalty.
Security Deposits, Notices, and the January 2026 Law Changes
Texas Property Code § 92.103 requires the return of the security deposit within 30 days of the tenant surrendering the property, with an itemized written accounting of any deductions. The bad-faith penalty — $100 plus three times the wrongfully withheld amount plus attorney’s fees — applies throughout Bastrop County. At average rent levels of $1,350/month, a typical deposit creates bad-faith exposure of approximately $4,150 before legal fees. Use certified mail for the accounting, document deductions with photographs, and never commingle deposit funds with operating accounts. Major changes to Texas eviction law took effect January 1, 2026, under SB 38. Bastrop County JP Precinct 1 has already updated its eviction petition form for 2026. Confirm current forms and procedures with the relevant precinct court before initiating any eviction after that date.
This page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Verify current eviction procedures and forms with the appropriate Bastrop County JP court before filing; wrong-precinct filings will be dismissed. Wildfire risk is elevated in the Lost Pines area — disclose and insure accordingly. Floodplain disclosure is required for applicable properties under Tex. Prop. Code § 92.0135. Major changes to Texas eviction law took effect January 1, 2026. Consult a licensed Texas attorney for specific guidance. Last updated: March 2026.
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