Collin County Texas Landlord-Tenant Law: Plano, McKinney, Frisco, and the North DFW Boom
Collin County has been one of the most consistently high-growth counties in the United States for the better part of two decades. The combination of exceptional public school districts, proximity to the major employment corridors running north out of Dallas along the Dallas North Tollway and US 75, a business-friendly regulatory environment, and housing prices that remain below comparable suburban markets in coastal states has driven a sustained migration of families, corporations, and capital into the county. For landlords, Collin County represents some of the most financially attractive residential rental territory in Texas — and some of the most competitive, as new apartment construction has outpaced even the robust demand.
Four Courts, One Key Local Rule
Like Bexar County, Collin County keeps its court structure simple: 4 JP courts, one per precinct. Precinct 1 (Judge Paul Raleeh) handles McKinney and the northern portion of the county. Precinct 2 (Judge Skinner) covers the northeast including Lavon, Wylie, Farmersville, and the more rural eastern sections. Precinct 3 (Judge Michael Missildine, PhD) handles Plano and the south-central corridor. Precinct 4 covers Frisco, Allen, and the southwest portion of the county, with its court located in Frisco.
The rule that most large-complex landlords in Collin County need to know before anything else: apartment complexes with more than 50 units are required by Collin County local rules to electronically file eviction petitions. This is not a preference or a recommendation — it is a mandatory local rule. If you manage a 100-unit complex in Plano and try to walk your eviction petition into the court, it will not be accepted. File through efiletexas.gov. The Guide and File self-help tool at efiletexas.gov walks you through the filing step by step and is free. For smaller landlords with fewer than 50 units, e-filing is strongly preferred and accepted, but in-person filing remains an option. What is not an option at any Collin County JP court: filing by email. All four precincts explicitly state that filings will not be accepted by email.
Precinct 1 and the Apartment Volume Problem
Judge Paul Raleeh’s Precinct 1 court in McKinney has been publicly candid about the growth of its caseload. The precinct currently includes approximately 22,000 apartment units — an enormous inventory for a single JP court — and eviction filings have increased across every major category as that inventory has grown. For landlords with properties in McKinney, Craig Ranch, Stonebridge Ranch, or the other communities that fall within Precinct 1, it is worth understanding that you are filing in a high-volume court. Come prepared, have your documentation organized, and do not expect the kind of informal walk-in flexibility that might exist at a smaller county court.
The Plano Market: Corporate Anchors and Professional Tenants
Plano is the economic anchor of Collin County and home to an extraordinary concentration of corporate headquarters. Toyota’s North America headquarters moved to Plano’s Legacy West development in 2017, joining JPMorgan Chase, Liberty Mutual, Ericsson, Capital One, and dozens of other major employers. This corporate density creates a tenant pool unlike almost anywhere else in North Texas: predominantly dual-income professional households, many of them corporate relocatees who arrive with relocation packages that cover first-month rent and move-in costs, strong income verification, and clear lease terms negotiated in advance. One-bedroom rents in Plano average approximately $1,677–$1,680 with the premium Legacy West area commanding significantly more.
The flip side of the corporate relocatee market is churn. Corporate-driven tenants often sign 12-month leases tied to an initial relocation and then purchase a home in the area, relocate again for their next assignment, or move to a larger unit as they settle into the market. Vacancy planning and unit turnover management are more important here than in a more settled residential market. Budget for painting, carpet, and unit prep costs annually rather than biannually.
Frisco: Premium Rents, Mass Supply
Frisco has been a consistent fixture on “fastest-growing city” lists for years, and the apartment development community has responded aggressively. Between 2024 and 2026, Frisco, Allen, and McKinney are expected to absorb approximately 18,800 new apartment units. That is an enormous amount of new supply for a county of 1.2 million people, and it has had the predictable effect of moderating rent growth and increasing concessions in the new-construction segment.
For landlords in Frisco specifically, this supply wave means that pricing strategy matters more than it did three years ago. New Class A product near The Star entertainment district (home of the Dallas Cowboys practice facility) and the PGA of America headquarters at Fields West is competing aggressively for the same professional tenant pool that fills existing inventory. If your property is older and not recently renovated, you may face pressure to offer concessions or accept lower rents at renewal to avoid vacancy. Frisco’s underlying demand fundamentals — Frisco ISD’s top-ranked school district, the employment draw of corporate campuses, and continued population growth — remain strong. This is a temporary supply-driven adjustment, not a market decline.
The Northern Frontier: Prosper, Celina, Anna, Princeton
The growth wave that moved through Plano in the 1990s and 2000s, and through McKinney and Frisco in the 2010s, has now reached the northern tier of Collin County. Prosper, Celina, Anna, and Princeton are all experiencing rapid single-family home construction, and the SFH rental market in these communities has expanded significantly as investors have followed the homebuilders. Rents in the northern tier are generally below those in Plano and Frisco — typically $1,400–$1,900 for a single-family home — reflecting the trade-off of longer commutes to major employment centers.
Tenants in these exurban communities tend to be families who specifically chose the area for school district quality and new home stock at lower price points than the more established suburbs. The income profile is solid — these are not distressed renters — but the employment base can be further afield. Verify that income comes from stable employment rather than contract or gig sources, as the distance to major employers amplifies the risk of income disruption during economic downturns.
Security Deposits and the 30-Day Clock
Texas imposes no cap on security deposit amounts, and at Collin County’s premium rent levels, many landlords charge 1.5 to 2 months’ rent as a deposit — which is reasonable given the higher replacement cost of damages to newer, high-finish units. The statutory return deadline is 30 days from surrender of possession, not the end of the lease term. Send the itemized accounting by certified mail with a return receipt — this gives you documented proof of delivery if the tenant ever claims they did not receive it. Normal wear and tear is never deductible, which in practice means minor scuffs on walls, small nail holes, and normal carpet pile compression cannot be charged back to the tenant.
This page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Texas landlord-tenant law changed significantly on January 1, 2026. Collin County local rules require apartment complexes with more than 50 units to e-file eviction petitions — confirm all current procedures with your JP court precinct before filing. Consult a licensed Texas attorney for specific guidance. Last updated: March 2026.
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