Corpus Christi, Texas residential lease guide: coast, windstorm, STR permit

Corpus Christi is the only city in this series on the open Gulf, and the coast shows up in the lease in ways a Dallas landlord never sees. Nueces County is one of the fourteen first-tier coastal counties in the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association’s designated area (TWIA — Coverage and eligibility); the city’s Flood Hazard Prevention Code defines coastal high-hazard areas and primary frontal dunes; and since 2022 any stay under 30 days requires a city permit renewed every January (Short Term Rentals). The everyday parts are more familiar: AEP Texas delivers electricity for whichever retail provider the tenant picks, Corpus Christi Water sells the water under published drought stages, and evictions go to one of nine Nueces County justice courts. Each point is sourced below as read in September 2026.

Electricity: AEP Texas delivers, the tenant chooses

“AEP Texas provides regulated energy delivery service to consumers, regardless of which Retail Electric Provider (REP) they choose. The region headquarters is in Corpus Christi,” the utility explains, adding that it “delivers electricity on behalf of the REPs … restores service following outages and uses advanced meters to record electric use” (About AEP Texas). Corpus Christi is therefore a retail-choice city under Utilities Code §39.102: the lease says the tenant opens a retail electric account in the tenant’s name from the start date with any provider serving the address, and that outages are reported to AEP Texas.

Water: a city utility with drought stages

Corpus Christi Water, a city department, was under “Stage 1 Drought Restrictions” when this page was written in September 2026, publishes a water supply dashboard with monthly availability data and restriction forecasts, and offers a usage portal showing daily consumption. A lease that assigns yard care to the tenant should say the tenant follows the current drought stage rather than fixed watering days. In a master-metered building, Water Code §13.5031 requires the rental agreement to describe the allocation method and state the average unit bill.

Short stays: the $250 permit and the subletting clause

The city’s STR ordinance, adopted June 28, 2022, “requires registration of any property that is rented for less than 30 consecutive days in all areas of Corpus Christi”; the permit fee is $250 for a calendar year, renewed every January, administered through MUNIRevs, with hotel occupancy tax, insurance and an annual fire-extinguisher inspection (Short Term Rentals). The ordinance allows STRs with restrictions in single-family districts citywide except inside the Padre/Mustang Island Area Development Plan area. A long-term lease should prohibit stays under 30 days unless the owner holds the permit; see the Corpus Christi registration guide.

Eviction venue: nine justice courts

Nueces County lists JP 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 2-1, 2-2, 3, 4, 5-1 and 5-2 (Justices of the Peace); JP 1-2, at the county courthouse at 901 Leopard Street, publishes its eviction-petition procedure and states that “an eviction must be filed in the Justice Court precinct where the property is located,” with a rent claim of up to $20,000 joinable (JP 1-2 procedures). Property Code §24.0041 fixes that venue since January 1, 2026, and §24.005 now requires a notice to pay rent or vacate for a tenant who was not previously late.

Security devices: the city points to Chapter 92

Corpus Christi’s property maintenance code amends the IPMC’s building-security section so that “the owners of residential rental units shall be deemed to have met this requirement by installing devices that are required under the Texas Property Code … Chapter 92, Residential Tenancies, Subchapter D, Security Devices” (Chapter 13, Article II, §304.18). In practice the state’s lock rules are the city’s lock rules; the lease should not promise less. Windstorm and flood are covered in the Corpus Christi hurricane plan.

WHAT TO WRITE IN A CORPUS CHRISTI LEASE
Clause	What changes for a Corpus Christi address	Source
Electricity	Tenant opens a retail electric account with any provider; AEP Texas delivers and handles outages	AEP Texas · Utilities Code §39.102
Water	Corpus Christi Water account holder named; yard watering follows the current drought stage	Corpus Christi Water
Subletting	No stays under 30 days unless the owner holds the city STR permit ($250, calendar year)	Short Term Rentals
Notices and venue	Nueces County JP precinct for the address (nine courts); pay-or-vacate notice for a first late payment	Nueces County JP · Property Code ch. 24
Security devices	Chapter 92, Subchapter D devices — the city’s standard by reference	Chapter 13, Art. II

What changes in Corpus Christi

Nueces County is a first-tier coastal county in TWIA’s designated area — windstorm cover is a separate question from the ordinary policy.
Short stays under 30 days need a $250 city permit renewed each January, anywhere in the city.
Corpus Christi Water publishes drought stages that govern yard watering.
Electricity is retail-choice through AEP Texas, headquartered in the city.
Nueces County has nine justice courts, filed by precinct.

Frequently asked questions

Can my tenant choose their electricity provider in Corpus Christi?

Yes. AEP Texas “provides regulated energy delivery service to consumers, regardless of which Retail Electric Provider (REP) they choose” (AEP Texas); the tenant picks the provider under Utilities Code §39.102.

Where is an eviction filed in Corpus Christi?

In the Nueces County justice court of the precinct where the property is located — the county has nine (Justices of the Peace), and JP 1-2 publishes the filing procedure.

Do I need a permit to rent my Corpus Christi house for a weekend?

Yes. Since 2022 any rental of under 30 consecutive days anywhere in the city requires a registration permit — $250 per calendar year — plus hotel occupancy tax (City of Corpus Christi).

Is Corpus Christi in TWIA’s windstorm area?

Yes. Nueces County is one of the fourteen first-tier coastal counties in the designated catastrophe area (TWIA); eligibility requires a denial by an authorized insurer and a windstorm certificate of compliance.

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.