GUIDE
A Weapons Charge and a Texas Apartment Application
A weapons charge isn't the same as a weapons conviction. For apartment screening, check the case outcome and the property’s written definition before you read too much into the offense label.
What this guide covers
- Knowing where your case stands
- Keeping housing and gun law questions apart
- Questions for the rental application
Know where the case stands
Check if the case is pending, dismissed, deferred or a conviction. Sometimes a report shows the original charge but leaves out the final outcome. Get the disposition from the court clerk, and dispute the missing outcome with the company that made the report.
Keep two legal questions separate
Whether a property will rent to you is one question. Which gun laws apply to you is another. Under Texas and federal law, a felony conviction can make it illegal to have a gun, even at home (Texas Penal Code Section 46.04 and 18 U.S.C. 922(g)).
A leasing agent's answer isn't legal advice. Talk to a lawyer or legal aid before you bring a gun into any apartment.
Questions for the rental application
- Which offense category and disposition does the policy cover?
- What starts the lookback, if there is one?
- Can a reviewer look at a corrected disposition?
- How does review work, and when is the fee due?
Our weapons record locating page is about finding housing, not whether you can legally have a gun. Each property makes its own application decision under the law.
What to do next
- Get the disposition from the court clerk.
- Dispute any missing outcome with the company that made the report.
- Send us your search details. We check how each policy treats your case.
- Talk to a lawyer or legal aid about any gun questions.
Published by the Felon Friendly Apartment Team. This is general renter information. Each property makes its own decisions, and questions about your own case belong with a lawyer or legal aid.
RELATED SERVICE
Find Texas Apartments That Review Weapons Offenses
We help renters with weapons offenses look for apartments. We check each community's offense categories and dates against your record. We don't advise on gun rights.
See how our locating service works →Common Questions
Can I rent with a weapons charge in Texas?
At some properties, yes. The outcome, the dates and how the policy defines the offense all count. We check each one for you.
Does a weapons charge mean an automatic denial?
Not at every property. Some written rules decline it, and some allow review. A charge isn't the same as a conviction.
Can I keep a gun in my apartment?
That's a legal question, not a housing one. A felony conviction can make it illegal under Texas and federal law. Talk to a lawyer or legal aid.
Know Where You Stand Before You Pay to Apply
Tell us what you need in your next home. We check each community's screening criteria against your record for free, so you can pick where to spend application fees.