Amarillo landlord startup checklist: 43.07¢ city rate, $1,092 rents, two appraisal counties

Q: Which appraisal district covers Amarillo?

The Potter-Randall Appraisal District, for both counties ( PRAD ).

The numbers an Amarillo landlord needs before the first listing, as read in September 2026: the City Council approved a 2025 tax rate of $0.43070 per $100 with the fiscal year 2025/26 budget (City of Amarillo); the Census Bureau’s 2020–2024 estimate puts the city’s median gross rent at $1,092 and owner-occupancy at 59.7% (Census QuickFacts); HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for the Amarillo MSA run from $813 for an efficiency to $1,848 for four bedrooms (HUD FY2026); and the Amarillo Housing Authority, housed in the city’s Community Development department, enrols landlords through a “Housing vendor code” (Housing / HUD HCV). The steps below put them in order.

Step 1 — One appraisal district, two counties

The Potter-Randall Appraisal District appraises both counties, so a single record tells you the owner of record, the value and — decisively — which county the property is in. The county fixes the justice court for any eviction and the county tax line on the bill. Print the record to the file; the Amarillo lease guide explains the two-court map.

Step 2 — Budget the 43.07¢ city rate and the rest

“A tax rate of $0.43070 per $100 valuation has been proposed for adoption by the City of Amarillo for the 2025 tax year,” the statutory notice stated (Notice of tax rate increase), and the council approved the budget and rate on September 18, 2025 (City news). The county — Potter or Randall — the school district (Amarillo ISD or Canyon ISD by address) and Amarillo College add their own rates; the appraisal district’s portal lists them, and a 2026 rate will replace the city figure after the autumn vote. A rental has no homestead exemption, so budget the full appraised value.

Step 3 — Two utility accounts, one of them unusual

Electricity is Southwestern Public Service (Xcel Energy) with no provider choice (SPS tariff.pdf)); water, sewer and the drainage charge are billed by the city. The drainage utility charges $4.94 per equivalent residential unit per month, tiered by impervious area, and the code states that the utility “does not imply or warrant that a benefitted property will be free from flooding” (Chapter 18-4). Decide before listing whose name goes on the water account, because the city’s leak rule follows the owner at turnover (§18-2-13).

Step 4 — Price with the Census and HUD

AMARILLO STARTUP FACTS (SEPTEMBER 2026)
Item	Value	Source
City tax rate, 2025 tax year	$0.43070 per $100	City of Amarillo
Median gross rent	$1,092 (ACS 2020–2024)	Census
Owner-occupied share	59.7%	Census
Median owner-occupied home value	$196,900	Census
HUD FY2026 FMR (0–4 bedrooms)	$813 / $952 / $1,158 / $1,592 / $1,848	HUD FY2026
Drainage utility charge	$4.94 per ERU per month	Code Ch. 18-4
Water minimum (⅝–¾″ meter, inside city)	$19.15 per month incl. 3,000 gallons, as codified	Code §18-2-57

A two-bedroom priced near the $1,158 FMR is within voucher reach; the Census median of $1,092 is a city-wide figure across all sizes and ages, so compare it with listings in the same part of town before setting rent. The Amarillo MSA uses metro-wide FMRs, not ZIP-level ones, which keeps the voucher arithmetic simple.

Step 5 — Vouchers: the vendor code

The Housing Choice Voucher program “pays rental subsidies to owners of existing rental property,” and a landlord who wants to enrol needs a Housing vendor code from the Housing Office at 806-378-3098 in the Simms Municipal Building, 808 S. Buchanan; the authority also holds an annual landlord education event (Housing / HUD HCV, HCV Administrative Plan 2025–2029). Under Local Government Code §250.007 accepting vouchers remains the landlord’s choice apart from veteran protections; whichever way you decide, write it in the criteria and apply it to every applicant.

Step 6 — Insurance before the first hailstorm

Amarillo’s National Weather Service office issues severe-weather and winter-weather products for the Panhandle (NWS Amarillo); hail and wind are the ordinary spring risk. Read the policy’s wind-and-hail deductible — often a percentage of the insured value — and the loss-of-rents cover before the first tenant, and ask a licensed agent what the declarations page does not say. The Amarillo weather plan covers the rest.

What changes in Amarillo

City tax rate of 43.07¢ per $100 for the 2025 tax year, with a 2026 rate to follow.
One appraisal district for two counties — the record decides the court.
Median gross rent of $1,092 and metro-wide (not ZIP-level) HUD fair market rents.
Electricity from Xcel Energy with no provider choice; water, sewer and drainage billed by the city.
Voucher enrolment through the city’s Housing Office and a vendor code.

Frequently asked questions

What is the City of Amarillo property tax rate?

$0.43070 per $100 for the 2025 tax year, approved with the FY2025/26 budget on September 18, 2025 (City of Amarillo). The 2026 rate follows the autumn vote.

What is the median rent in Amarillo?

$1,092 median gross rent for 2020–2024 according to the Census Bureau (QuickFacts); HUD’s FY2026 two-bedroom FMR is $1,158 (HUD).

Which appraisal district covers Amarillo?

The Potter-Randall Appraisal District, for both counties (PRAD).

How does a landlord join Amarillo’s voucher program?

By obtaining a Housing vendor code from the city’s Housing Office, 806-378-3098 (City of Amarillo).

Sources

Rules change and the right answer can depend on the home, the city, the lease and the timing. These are the official pages this guide relies on; check them before signing, charging a fee, sending a notice or making a legal decision.

General information for U.S. landlords, with a Texas focus. This guide is not legal, tax or accounting advice. Consult a qualified professional for your situation. Written by the rentalfreelease.com Editorial Team; last reviewed September 19, 2026.