Last updated 2026-10-19 · Sources at the bottom
The rules in one table (federal and Texas)
| Rule | What it says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Housing at no cost | H-2A employers provide housing to workers who are not reasonably able to return home each day, at no cost to the worker | 20 CFR 655.122(d) |
| Federal ETA standards | At least 50 sq ft per person in sleeping rooms (40 with double bunks); 60 sq ft combined where cooking, eating, and sleeping share space | 20 CFR 654.407 |
| OSHA temporary labor camps | Applies to camps built under OSHA rules | 29 CFR 1910.142 |
| Texas standards | 100 sq ft per person combined, at least 50 sq ft sleeping; smoke detector per unit; CO detector where fuel is burned; fire extinguisher within 100 ft; sleeping separated by sex in dorms | 10 TAC §90.4 (amended eff. Feb 25, 2026) |
| TDHCA license | Required to house 2+ families or 3+ workers for more than 3 days; fee $75 with a recent TWC or DOL inspection, $250 without | TDHCA application |
Which unit fits which crew
| Unit | Nominal sq ft | Rooms / baths | Kitchen | Ceiling under Texas 100 sq ft rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16×76 5-Bed, 5-Bath Crew Unit (Shared Kitchen) | 1,216 | 5 / 5 | One shared full kitchen, center of the unit | 12 people |
| 16×76 HUD-Code 5-Bed, 5-Bath Unit (Shared Kitchen) | 1,216 | 5 / 5 | One shared full kitchen | 12 people |
| 16×76 4-Suite Unit (Four Full Kitchens) | 1,216 | 4 / 4 | Four full kitchens, one per suite | 12 people |
| 16×60 4-Suite Kitchenette Unit | 960 | 4 / 4 | Four kitchenettes (cooktop, microwave, small refrigerator) | 9 people |
| 16×76 5-Room Sleeper (No Kitchen) | 1,216 | 5 / 5 | None (pair with a dining hall or catering) | 12 people |
| 7-Room High-Density Sleeper | 1,216 | 7 / 7 | None | 12 people |
Ceiling = nominal floor area ÷ 100 sq ft, rounded down. Real capacity is lower: inspectors measure interior living, cooking, and sleeping space, each person needs at least 50 sq ft of sleeping space in Texas, and toilets, showers, and sinks must match the head count. The inspector makes the final call.
Timeline back from your date of need
- Count workers and pick units using the table above.
- Order units. Ask us for current stock and build-slot lead times; start early.
- Prepare the site: pads, water, wastewater, power.
- Deliver and set units and connect utilities.
- Pre-occupancy inspection through the state workforce agency (TWC in Texas). Verify the current process with TWC.
- TDHCA license for the facility, if you house 3+ workers for more than 3 days.
- Workers arrive on the date of need.
Pre-occupancy inspection checklist
Use the full H-2A housing checklist. The short version inspectors look at: safe water supply; toilets, showers, and sinks matched to head count; laundry; cooking and food storage; screens on windows and doors; lighting; first aid; fire safety (detectors and extinguishers); clean, sound beds and sleeping space per person.
Buying vs. renting housing for H-2A
Growers who bring crews every season own an asset they reuse each year instead of renting motels at peak prices. Off-season, the same units can house domestic workers or be moved between farms. Compare the math in the calculator.
Funding and financing
USDA Rural Development’s Farm Labor Housing program (Section 514 loans and Section 516 grants) is worth looking into. Eligibility depends on the program’s rules; we cannot tell you whether you qualify. Start at the USDA program page.
Related: H-2A housing requirements in Texas · does H-2A housing have to be inspected? · buyer’s guide · Rio Grande Valley · Panhandle
Who buys
Growers, dairies, feedlots, nurseries, custom harvesters, farm labor contractors, and H-2A agents in the Rio Grande Valley, Panhandle, and across Texas.
The housing problem
- Housing must be inspected and approved before the date of need, or workers can’t arrive.
- Texas adds its own rules on top of federal standards.
- Rental housing in farm towns is scarce and often fails inspection.
Typical unit mix
- 16 workers: two 4-bed/4-bath units or one HUD-code 5-bed home plus one 4-bed
- 40 workers: 8–10 units with kitchens and laundry
Recommended units: 16×76 HUD-Code 5-Bed, 5-Bath Unit (Shared Kitchen)HUD-Code 4-Bed, 4-Bath Home16×76 5-Bed, 5-Bath Crew Unit (Shared Kitchen)4-Bed, 4-Bath Shared Living Unit All models
Timeline
Work backward from the date of need: inspection and licensing come last, so units and utilities must be done before them.
Rules and compliance
Federal rules (20 CFR 655.122 with OSHA 1910.142 or ETA standards) plus Texas rules in 10 TAC Chapter 90, including smoke and CO detectors, fire protection, locks, 100 sq ft per person where living, cooking, and sleeping are combined, and separation by sex or family. Texas migrant labor housing facilities are licensed by TDHCA. Confirm the rules for your setup with your H-2A agent. See H-2A housing requirements in Texas.
Photos
Where in Texas
Rio Grande ValleyTexas PanhandleCentral Texas
Common questions
What are the H-2A housing requirements in Texas?
Housing at no cost to the worker that passes inspection before the date of need. Texas requires at least 100 sq ft per person combined, at least 50 sq ft sleeping, smoke detectors, CO detectors where fuel is burned, and extinguishers within 100 ft (10 TAC §90.4).
How many square feet per H-2A worker?
Federal ETA standards: 50 sq ft per person in sleeping rooms (40 with double bunks), 60 sq ft combined. Texas: 100 sq ft per person combined, with at least 50 sq ft sleeping.
Does H-2A housing have to be inspected before workers arrive?
Yes. It must be inspected and approved before the date of need. In Texas the pre-occupancy inspection runs through the state workforce agency (TWC); confirm the current process with TWC.
Can I use a mobile or manufactured home for H-2A housing?
Yes, if it meets the applicable standards and passes inspection. Final approval is the inspector’s.
Can I charge H-2A workers for housing?
No. H-2A housing must be provided at no cost to the worker (20 CFR 655.122).
Do I need a TDHCA license?
Yes, if you house 2 or more families or 3 or more workers for more than 3 days. The fee is $75 with a recent TWC or DOL inspection, $250 without.
Related answers
Sources
- 20 CFR 655.122(d): H-2A housing provided at no cost to workers (checked Oct 2026)
- DOL ETA housing standards, 20 CFR 654.407 (50 sq ft per person sleeping; 40 with double bunks; 60 combined) (checked Oct 2026)
- OSHA 29 CFR 1910.142, temporary labor camps (checked Oct 2026)
- 10 TAC §90.4, Texas migrant labor housing standards (amended effective Feb 25, 2026) (eff. Feb 25, 2026)
- TDHCA Migrant Labor Housing Facility license application (2+ families or 3+ workers for more than 3 days; $75 fee with a recent TWC/DOL inspection, $250 without) (checked Oct 2026)
- USDA Rural Development, Farm Labor Housing Direct Loans and Grants (Sections 514/516) (checked Oct 2026)
Last updated 2026-10-19. Figures are as published by each source on the date shown; re-check before you budget.
New to buying crew housing? Read the Texas workforce housing buyer’s guide.
Price housing for your h-2a & farmworker housing project
Tell us how many workers, where, and when. We come back with unit options, delivery timing, and pricing from the factory.
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