Killeen, Texas residential lease guide: the military clause, Oncor, a $90 water deposit

One sentence decides more in a Killeen lease than any other. Under Property Code §92.017 a tenant who is a servicemember or a dependent may terminate the lease and vacate on receiving permanent-change-of-station orders or deployment orders of 90 days or more — and if the lease “does not contain language substantially equivalent to” the statute’s notice, the tenant “is released from all liability for any delinquent, unpaid rent owed to the landlord.” The Army’s own site places the post “between Killeen and Copperas Cove” and runs a Housing Services Office that briefs arriving soldiers on “local leasing practices, rental application fees, utility waivers, pet restrictions and more” (Fort Hood — Newcomers). The rest of the Killeen lease is Central Texas: Oncor delivers electricity for a provider the tenant chooses, the city sells water it buys from Bell County WCID No. 1 (Water and Sewer), and Bell County’s Precinct 4 justice courts sit at 301 Priest Drive in Killeen (JP 4-1, JP 4-2). Each fact was read in September 2026.

The military clause: the sentence and the mechanics

The statute gives the landlord one thing to do and four to expect. The one: include, in the lease, words substantially equivalent to “Tenants may have special statutory rights to terminate the lease early in certain situations involving family violence or a military deployment or transfer.” The four: a tenant who qualifies delivers written notice and a copy of the orders; termination takes effect on the 30th day after the next rent due date following the notice; the landlord refunds, within 30 days of that date, rent and other sums paid in advance for any later period; and a landlord who violates the section owes actual damages, a civil penalty of one month’s rent plus $500, and attorney’s fees (§92.017). With the sentence in the lease, the tenant still owes any rent that was delinquent before termination; without it, that rent is gone. The Killeen startup checklist adds the screening points the Housing Services Office briefs soldiers on.

Electricity: Oncor delivers, the tenant chooses

The city tells residents that “electric power lines in Killeen are maintained by ONCOR” and that outages are reported “directly to ONCOR at oncor.com/outage-weather or call 888-313-4747” (City of Killeen). Killeen is in the competitive area under Utilities Code §39.102: the lease says the tenant opens a retail electric account with any provider serving the address from the start date, and that outages go to Oncor, not the provider. Natural gas is Atmos Energy.

Water: Lake Belton, a $90 deposit, a lease at the counter

“The City of Killeen purchases treated water from Bell County Water Control and Improvement District 1. The District draws the water from Lake Belton” (Water and Sewer). A new residential account needs the application, “Lease or proof of ownership,” photo identification and proof of a Social Security number for each person on the account, and a $90 standard deposit — waived after twelve months of service without a late payment (Utility Collections). Write the deposit and the document list into the welcome sheet; a soldier arriving on a Friday with orders and no lease copy will have no water until Monday. As read in September 2026 the city was “in Stage 1 of the Water Conservation Plan (as of April 23, 2024)”; the yard clause should follow the current stage. In a master-metered building, Water Code §13.5031 requires the allocation method in the rental agreement.

Eviction venue: Precinct 4, Priest Drive

Bell County’s Justice of the Peace Precinct 4 has two places, both at the Bell County Killeen Annex, 301 Priest Drive (Place 1, Place 2). Property Code §24.0041 sends the suit to the precinct where the property lies, and §24.005 now requires a notice to pay rent or vacate for a tenant who was not late before the month of the notice. A tenant on active duty is also protected by the federal Servicemembers Civil Relief Act in any default proceeding — the JP forms include a military-status affidavit for that reason.

WHAT TO WRITE IN A KILLEEN LEASE
Clause	What changes for a Killeen address	Source
Statutory rights notice	The §92.017 sentence on family violence and military deployment or transfer — verbatim	Property Code §92.017
Early termination	Written notice plus orders; effective the 30th day after the next rent due date; refund within 30 days	Property Code §92.017
Electricity	Tenant opens a retail electric account; Oncor delivers and takes outage calls	City of Killeen · Utilities Code §39.102
Water	City of Killeen account; $90 deposit; lease copy and ID required	Utility Collections
Subletting	No stays under 30 days unless the owner holds the STR permit	City of Killeen
Eviction venue	Bell County JP Precinct 4, Place 1 or 2, 301 Priest Drive	Bell County
Flood disclosure	§92.0135 answers from the FEMA map; city adopts the 2008 Bell County study	Code Ch. 12 · FEMA

Short stays: a permit since 2024

Killeen registers short-term rentals — “any property … rented for less than 30 days” — under Sec. 31-953, with a $200 first-year permit that includes an inspection and a $500,000 liability policy (Short-term rentals, FAQ). A long-term lease should prohibit stays under 30 days unless the owner holds the permit; the Killeen registration guide has the detail.

What changes in Killeen

A missing §92.017 sentence releases a departing servicemember from delinquent rent.
Oncor delivers the power; the tenant chooses a provider; Atmos supplies gas.
City water from Lake Belton via Bell County WCID No. 1, with a $90 deposit and a lease copy at the counter.
Two Precinct 4 justice courts on Priest Drive hear Killeen evictions.
Short stays need a $200 permit with an inspection and $500,000 of liability cover.

Frequently asked questions

Can a soldier break a Killeen lease?

Yes, under Property Code §92.017, on entering service after signing or on receiving PCS or 90-day-plus deployment orders — with written notice and a copy of the orders; termination takes effect 30 days after the next rent due date (Property Code §92.017).

What sentence must a Killeen lease contain?

Words substantially equivalent to “Tenants may have special statutory rights to terminate the lease early in certain situations involving family violence or a military deployment or transfer”; without it, a terminating servicemember is released from delinquent rent (Property Code §92.017).

Who supplies electricity and water in Killeen?

Oncor delivers electricity for the provider the tenant chooses; the city sells water it buys from Bell County WCID No. 1, with a $90 standard deposit (City of Killeen, Utility Collections).

Which court hears a Killeen eviction?

Bell County Justice of the Peace Precinct 4, Place 1 or Place 2, at 301 Priest Drive in Killeen (Bell County).

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.