Williamson County Texas Landlord-Tenant Law: Round Rock, Georgetown, Cedar Park, and Austin’s Northern Tier
Williamson County’s story over the past two decades is the story of Austin’s northward expansion written in subdivisions, school districts, and semiconductor fab announcements. The county that had fewer than 250,000 residents in 2000 now approaches 750,000, driven by the overflow of Austin’s tech boom into more affordable suburban territory, the deliberate corporate campus strategy of companies like Dell, Apple, and Amazon, and one of the most sustained and well-executed suburban development programs in Texas. For landlords, Williamson County has offered a generation of strong returns anchored by steady population growth. Now, in 2026, it enters a more nuanced phase where careful market analysis is more important than ever: rents have corrected from their 2022 peaks, supply has increased, and the market rewards landlords who understand their specific submarket.
Four Courts, a 2022 Map, and a $54 Filing Fee
Williamson County operates 4 JP courts, one per precinct. The four judges as of early 2026 are: KT Musselman (Pct. 1, Round Rock), Angela Williams (Pct. 2, Cedar Park), Evelyn McLean (Pct. 3, Georgetown), and Rhonda Redden (Pct. 4, Taylor). Evictions must be filed in the precinct where the rental property is located.
The critical filing note: a new county precinct map took effect January 1, 2022. Every JP court in Williamson County posted notices about this change, specifically warning landlords to verify their precinct before filing. If you have not filed an eviction in Williamson County since before 2022, your property may now be in a different precinct than your prior filings. Use the Williamson County address search at wilcotx.gov to confirm. The Precinct 1 civil filing fee is $54 plus applicable service fees, effective January 1, 2022 — confirm current fees at your specific precinct as of the date you file, particularly given the January 1, 2026 Texas eviction law changes.
E-filing is accepted and encouraged at all four Williamson County JP courts via efiletexas.gov. In-person filing remains available. New civil case filings cut off at 4:00 PM (or 4:30 PM depending on precinct) — arrive or submit before that deadline or you will wait until the next business day.
Round Rock: The Tech Backbone
Round Rock is the anchor city of Precinct 1, home to Dell Technologies’ global headquarters and a dense concentration of tech and logistics employers. The Round Rock rental market saw some of the most dramatic rent appreciation in the Austin metro during 2020–2022, and then some of the sharpest correction: one-bedroom rents declined approximately 6–8% year-over-year into early 2026, now averaging $1,239–$1,412/month. This is still a strong market with solid fundamentals — Round Rock ISD consistently earns high TEA ratings and remains one of the primary demand drivers for family rentals in the area — but landlords setting renewals in 2025–2026 need to price to market rather than to peak-2022 comps.
The tenant base in Round Rock skews toward tech workers, logistics employees, and professional families. Dell’s ongoing presence, combined with Apple’s campus in nearby Austin and Amazon’s distribution facilities in the area, keeps the employment base diverse enough to withstand single-employer shocks. Screen tenants with tech industry employment carefully for longevity — a new hire at a tech company in their first year carries more layoff risk than a 5-year employee, and verify employment start dates.
Cedar Park: Leander ISD and the Western Corridor
Cedar Park anchors Precinct 2 and has carved out a distinct identity as one of the more desirable family rental markets in the Austin metro. Leander ISD — which serves Cedar Park, Leander, and parts of Liberty Hill — scored highly in recent TEA evaluations, making the district a genuine pull factor for families with school-age children. Average one-bedroom rents in Cedar Park run approximately $1,466/month, down from the 2022 peak but holding better than some other Williamson County markets due to continued population demand from families pricing out of Travis County.
The H-E-B Center arena (home of the AHL Texas Stars and NBA G-League Austin Spurs) and the Brushy Creek trail system give Cedar Park a distinct amenity profile that attracts a younger professional cohort alongside the family base. Turnover is moderate — longer than pure apartment markets but shorter than the highest-end Georgetown communities.
Georgetown: Historic Square, Sun City, and Explosive Growth
Georgetown is simultaneously one of the most charming historic county seats in Texas and one of the fastest-growing cities in America. The city grew approximately 67% between 2020 and 2026, absorbing a tidal wave of new residents drawn by the historic downtown square, the Victorian courthouse, Southwestern University’s campus, and land prices dramatically lower than anywhere closer to Austin. Sun City Texas — Del Webb’s massive 55+ active adult community on the western edge of Georgetown — is one of the largest communities of its type in the country and drives a specific rental segment: older adults who have downsized from their owned homes and want to rent within the Sun City community. If you own property in or adjacent to Sun City, be aware that the community has its own rules governing who may reside there and what rental activity is permitted.
Georgetown ISD, despite the city’s explosive growth, has had its school ratings pressured by the pace of enrollment expansion. Parents tracking school quality should note this context when marketing properties to families. Southwestern University attracts a small but consistent student rental market near campus in the older central Georgetown neighborhoods.
Taylor and East County: The Samsung Effect
Precinct 4’s territory — Taylor, Hutto, Thrall, and the broader east Williamson County corridor — has been transformed by Samsung’s decision to locate a $17 billion semiconductor manufacturing facility in Taylor. The fab, when fully operational, will employ thousands of highly skilled workers and generate significant ancillary employment in construction, services, and support industries. This is a long-term demand driver for residential rentals in Taylor and the surrounding east county that is structurally different from the speculative suburban growth that characterized the I-35 corridor in the 2010s.
The Precinct 4 court serves this territory from its Taylor courthouse at 211 W. 6th Street. Judge Rhonda Redden brings a background in law enforcement and legal studies to the bench and has developed a reputation for organized, efficient proceedings. For landlords with properties in the east county corridor, this is your court for eviction filings.
The Rent Correction and What It Means for 2026
Williamson County participated fully in the Austin metro’s rent boom and has participated equally in its correction. Round Rock rents are down 6–8% year-over-year as of early 2026, reflecting the same dynamics that affected Austin proper: a wave of new apartment construction delivered into a market where employment growth has moderated and remote workers who relocated during the pandemic have partly redistributed. The correction is not a collapse — the county’s population growth and employment base are both genuinely strong — but it is a recalibration that requires landlords to price renewals based on current market conditions rather than 2022 peak comps.
Retaining a good tenant at a modest renewal discount is almost always financially superior to losing that tenant, facing vacancy, paying for turnover, and re-leasing at whatever the current market offers. Run the math before sending a renewal offer that does not reflect current conditions.
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. A new Williamson County precinct map took effect January 1, 2022 — verify your precinct at wilcotx.gov before filing any eviction. Consult a licensed Texas attorney for specific guidance. Last updated: March 2026.
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