Mexico
Last verified August 7, 2026
Written for U.S. passport holders
Deposit Rules
- Mexico has no federal residential tenancy law — rental rules are set by each state's civil code, so specifics vary by where you're renting (Mexico City/CDMX, Jalisco, and Nuevo León each have their own particularities).
- There is generally no legal cap on the security deposit in most states; one to two months' rent is the common market practice, not a legal requirement.
- The deposit must be returned at the end of the lease, minus provable damage or unpaid rent.
Eviction (Desalojo)
- Eviction ('lanzamiento') legally requires a judicial order — a landlord cannot lock you out or remove your belongings without going through the courts, regardless of the reason.
- Falling two or more months behind on rent gives the landlord grounds to seek contract rescission and file an eviction lawsuit, but it still has to go through that judicial process.
The Gotcha
There's no national 'Mexican tenant law' — what actually applies to you depends on which state's civil code governs your lease, so advice calibrated to Mexico City won't necessarily hold in Jalisco or elsewhere. Always confirm the specific rules for your state rather than assuming a blanket national standard.
Sources
This page was drafted from the primary sources below. Rules change — check the linked page directly before relying on any of this.
- Ley de Vivienda para la Ciudad de México — Congreso de la Ciudad de México