Garland landlord startup checklist: $65 permit, 69¢ tax rate, $1,641 rents

Q: Who runs the voucher program in Garland?

The Garland Housing Agency, a department of the city ( Garland Housing Agency ).

Garland’s September 2026 facts for a first rental: a single-family rental cannot be let without a $65 city permit; the city’s property tax rate is 68.97¢ per $100 for fiscal year 2025-26, with 67.99¢ proposed for 2026-27, “approximately one cent lower”; the Census Bureau’s 2020–2024 estimate gives a median gross rent of $1,641 and a 61.6% owner-occupied share; voucher standards for the Dallas HUD Metro area are ZIP-level; and the Garland Housing Agency, a city department, runs the local voucher program. The steps below give the source for each.

Step 1 — The DCAD record and the electricity question

The Dallas Central Appraisal District record gives the owner of record, the appraised value and the taxing units. In the same sitting, run the address through the city’s electric provider lookup: a GP&L address means the tenant has no provider to choose and the lease says so; a non-GP&L address means retail choice.

Step 2 — The $65 permit

“The City of Garland requires all single family rental properties to be permitted by Code Compliance.” The yearly fee is $65 unless the property is certified and granted a permit extension, and a full inspection follows each change of tenancy unless the property is certified (Single Family / Short Term Rental Program). Apply before the first tenant, calendar the renewal, and build the change-of-tenancy inspection into the turnover checklist. A short-term rental is a separate $500 permit. See the Garland registration guide.

Step 3 — Budget the tax rate and the utility bill

For fiscal year 2025-26 “the tax rate remains unchanged at 68.97 cents per $100 of valuation” (City Council approves 2026 budget); the proposed 2026-27 budget “is based on a property tax rate of 67.99 cents per $100 of taxable value, which is approximately one cent lower than the current rate” (Proposed FY 2026-27 budget) — confirm the adopted figure on the city’s tax rates page after the September vote. Dallas County, Garland ISD (or Richardson ISD, by address), Dallas College and Parkland Hospital add their rates. Budget the utility bill too if the lease has the landlord paying any of it: the city’s Fitch report puts the fiscal-2025 residential water and sewer bill at $114.69 a month with about 5% annual increases through 2029 (Fitch report).

Step 4 — Price with two public numbers

Census 2020–2024 for the city of Garland: median gross rent $1,641, owner-occupied rate 61.6%, median owner-occupied home value $270,800, population 249,625 on July 1, 2025 (Census QuickFacts, Garland city). HUD’s FY2026 page states that all Housing Choice Voucher programs in the Dallas HUD Metro FMR Area use Small Area Fair Market Rents by ZIP code (HUD FY2026 FMR).

GARLAND STARTUP FACTS (SEPTEMBER 2026)
Item	Value	Source
Single-family rental permit	$65 per year; inspection at each change of tenancy unless certified	Code Compliance
City tax rate, FY2025-26	68.97¢ per $100 (67.99¢ proposed for FY2026-27)	City of Garland · proposed budget
Median gross rent	$1,641 (ACS 2020–2024)	Census
Residential water and sewer bill	$114.69 per month, fiscal 2025 (7,500 gal water, 6,000 gal sewer)	Fitch report
Voucher rent standard	Small Area FMR by ZIP code	HUD FY2026

Step 5 — Vouchers: a city agency that pays landlords directly

The Garland Housing Agency is a city department that administers the Housing Choice Voucher program with HUD funding. Its landlord pages say that “landlords are guaranteed to receive a part of the monthly rent (often substantial) directly from the Garland Housing Agency” (Advantages for landlords), and its FAQ answers the question “Must a landlord rent to a Housing Choice Voucher holder?” (FAQ). Under Local Government Code §250.007 the decision is the landlord’s apart from veteran protections; write the policy down and apply it identically.

What changes in Garland

A $65 single-family rental permit is a precondition, not an option.
City tax rate of 68.97¢ per $100, with a one-cent cut proposed for FY2026-27.
Median gross rent of $1,641 and a 61.6% owner-occupancy rate.
The Garland Housing Agency, a city department, runs the voucher program and pays landlords directly.
The electricity clause depends on the address: GP&L or retail choice.

Frequently asked questions

What is the City of Garland property tax rate?

68.97 cents per $100 for FY2025-26, unchanged from the prior year; the proposed FY2026-27 rate is 67.99 cents (City of Garland). Confirm the adopted figure after the September vote.

How much is Garland’s rental permit?

$65 per year for a single-family rental, with a full inspection at each change of tenancy unless the property is certified; $500 per year for a short-term rental (City of Garland).

Who runs the voucher program in Garland?

The Garland Housing Agency, a department of the city (Garland Housing Agency).

What does a voucher pay in Garland?

It depends on the ZIP code: all HCV programs in the Dallas HUD Metro FMR Area use Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD FY2026).

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.