McKinney, Texas residential lease guide: county seat, two utilities, STR registration

McKinney is where Collin County keeps its institutions — the appraisal district on Eldorado Parkway, the courthouse, the justice courts — which makes the paperwork side of a McKinney lease unusually local. The utilities side is split the same way as Frisco’s: the city’s outage FAQ names both Oncor and CoServ (My power is out), and only one serves a given address. Water comes from the North Texas Municipal Water District through the city. And the city registers every rental “for thirty days or less” annually, with a contact reachable 24 hours a day (Short-Term Rentals). Each point is sourced below as read in September 2026.

Electricity: Oncor or CoServ by address

“For electricity issues in McKinney, contact Oncor Electric at 1-888-313-6862 or 1-888-313-4747, or CoServ Electric at 1-800-274-4014,” the city’s FAQ says (City of McKinney). An Oncor address is in the retail-choice market under Utilities Code §39.102: the tenant opens an account with any retail provider and Oncor delivers. A CoServ address is served by an electric cooperative that “operates differently than most utilities, especially if you are used to the deregulated electric market (retail electric providers or REPs)” and whose customers are its members (CoServ); there is no provider to choose. The lease should say which applies — call both utilities with the address if the previous owner cannot tell you.

Water: NTMWD through the city

“The City of McKinney gets its treated water from the North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD),” and the city tests it to TCEQ and EPA requirements once it enters the McKinney system (Where does McKinney’s drinking water come from?). Accounts are opened and billed by the city (Water billing), and the city publishes current watering guidelines (Watering guidelines) that a yard clause should refer to rather than fixing 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: annual registration, 24-hour contact, 7% tax

“The City of McKinney requires annual registration for all short-term rentals located within the city’s corporate limits, with registration intended to identify the existence, location, ownership, management, and designated contacts for properties rented through platforms like Airbnb and VRBO for thirty days or less.” The registrant provides “contact information for a responsible person who can be contacted 24-hours a day,” and every STR pays the city’s 7% hotel occupancy tax (Short-Term Rentals, Hotel Occupancy Tax). Note the threshold: “thirty days or less,” not “less than thirty days” — a 30-day stay is registrable in McKinney. A long-term lease should prohibit stays of 30 days or less unless the owner holds the registration. See the McKinney registration guide.

Eviction venue: the county seat’s courts

Collin County’s four justice-of-the-peace precincts file evictions “in the Justice of the Peace precinct where the property is located,” with a precinct map by address and e-filing accepted everywhere (Collin County — Justices of the Peace). 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.

Maintenance: the city’s own IPMC checklist

McKinney’s Code Compliance publishes a Property Maintenance Self-Inspection Checklist drawn from the International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC checklist); the lease’s maintenance clause should name the repair route so that conditions reach the landlord before they reach the city. See the McKinney maintenance guide.

WHAT TO WRITE IN A McKINNEY LEASE
Clause	What changes for a McKinney address	Source
Electricity (Oncor address)	Tenant opens a retail electric account with any provider; Oncor delivers	Oncor · Utilities Code §39.102
Electricity (CoServ address)	Tenant opens a CoServ member account; no provider choice	CoServ · City FAQ
Water	City of McKinney account holder named; yard clause follows the city’s watering guidelines	Water billing · Watering guidelines
Subletting	No stays of 30 days or less unless the owner holds the annual STR registration and pays the 7% tax	Short-Term Rentals
Notices and venue	Collin County JP precinct from the county map; pay-or-vacate notice for a first late payment	Collin County JP · Property Code ch. 24

What changes in McKinney

Electricity is Oncor (retail choice) or CoServ (cooperative, no choice) depending on the address.
The STR threshold is “thirty days or less” — a 30-day stay is registrable; registration is annual with a 24-hour contact and a 7% city hotel tax.
Water is NTMWD through the city, with published watering guidelines.
The county seat’s appraisal district and justice courts are in town.

Frequently asked questions

Can my tenant choose their electricity provider in McKinney?

At an Oncor address, yes; at a CoServ address, no — CoServ is a cooperative outside the retail-provider market (CoServ). The city’s outage FAQ lists both utilities (City of McKinney).

Does a 30-day stay need registration in McKinney?

Yes. The city registers rentals “for thirty days or less,” which includes a 30-day stay (Short-Term Rentals).

Where is an eviction filed in McKinney?

In the Collin County justice court of the precinct where the property is located — the county has four and publishes a precinct map (Collin County JP), as Property Code §24.0041 requires.

Who supplies McKinney’s water?

The North Texas Municipal Water District supplies the treated water; the City of McKinney tests it, opens accounts and bills (City of McKinney FAQ).

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.