How long does an eviction take in Texas?
For unpaid rent, expect about 4 weeks from the first notice to the lockout, and anywhere from 3 to 8.5 weeks if the tenant fights it or the court is busy.
Not legal advice. Estimates from public sources, checked Oct 17, 2026. Laws vary by county and city; talk to a local attorney before you act.
What would a rental in Texas actually earn?
We'll prefill Texas's numbers and include the eviction cost from this page.
- Median rent $1,475/mo
- Property tax 1.31%–1.44%
- Insurance $1,226–$1,714/yr
- Vacancy 8%–8.5%
The Texas eviction timeline
Each step comes from Texas's rules, with the source linked. The typical case adds up to about 4 weeks; a contested hearing adds about 3 more. Timeline model.
- 1
Notice to pay or leave
3 days3 days' notice to vacate (or to pay or vacate for first-time late payers) unless the lease says otherwise (Tex. Prop. Code § 24.005)
- 2
File and get a judgment
10–21 days · typical 14No written answer usually required; hearing 10-21 days after filing
- 3
Judgment to lockout
7–14 daysWrit of possession no sooner than the 6th day after judgment; 24-hour warning before execution
- 4
If the tenant appeals
5-day window5 days to appeal; tenant must pay rent into the court registry to stay
Can the tenant pay and stay? First-time late payers get a pay-or-vacate notice; repeat late payers can get a plain notice to vacate. official source Source ↗
Evicting in Houston? City rules add to the state rules. Houston eviction timeline, fees and protections →
Evicting in Dallas? City rules add to the state rules. Dallas eviction timeline, fees and protections →
What an eviction costs in Texas
Court fees come from the fee schedules we found; most are set by county, so each one says where it applies. The calculator above adds them to your lost rent.
Court filing fee
Travis County JP example$54JP court filing fee, e.g. Travis County $54 (service extra); Dallas County bundles filing + service at $134
Serving the tenant
Travis County example$80–$90Constable service of citation, e.g. $90 Travis County
Sheriff or marshal lockout
Tarrant County JP3$180Writ of possession service $180 (Tarrant County JP3, 2026)
Lawyer, uncontested case
National estimate$500–$1,500Flat fees commonly charged when the tenant doesn't fight it. Not specific to this state; big-city rates run higher.
Lawyer, contested case
National estimate$2,000–$5,000+When the tenant contests the case. Not specific to this state.
Median gross rent
Census ACS 2024, 1-year$1,475/moTexas median gross rent, ±$8. The calculator starts here; change it to your rent.
Statewide rules that can slow things down
Statewide rent control: No
None statewide found in the sources we checked
Statewide just-cause rules: No
None statewide found in the sources we checked
Right to counsel for tenants: No
None statewide found in the sources we checked
Seasonal or weather limits: No
None statewide found in the sources we checked
Required mediation or pre-filing program: No
None statewide found in the sources we checked
Texas scores 89 out of 100
Faster timelines, fewer chances to pay-and-stay and fewer statewide tenant protections score higher.
Texas eviction FAQ
How long does an eviction take in Texas?
A nonpayment eviction in Texas typically takes about 4 weeks from notice to lockout, with a range of roughly 3 to 8.5 weeks. Contested cases, court backlogs and appeals can take longer. This is an LandlordCost estimate built from the state's notice period and court deadlines, last checked Oct 17, 2026.
How much notice does a landlord have to give for unpaid rent in Texas?
3 days' notice to vacate (or to pay or vacate for first-time late payers) unless the lease says otherwise (Tex. Prop. Code § 24.005).
Can a tenant stop an eviction in Texas by paying the rent?
First-time late payers get a pay-or-vacate notice; repeat late payers can get a plain notice to vacate.
How much does it cost to file an eviction in Texas?
The filing fee we found is $54 (Travis County JP example). That is a local example, not a statewide fee, and other courts charge different amounts. Service and lockout fees are extra. Lawyer fees commonly run about $500-$1,500 for an uncontested case (a national estimate).
How much does it cost to evict a tenant in Texas?
A typical uncontested nonpayment eviction in Texas costs a landlord roughly $2,200 to $3,200: about 4 weeks of lost rent at the median rent of $1,475/month (about $1,400), court and service fees of about $314-$324, and lawyer fees of about $500-$1,500 (a national estimate). A contested case running about 8.5 weeks can pass $5,200. These are LandlordCost estimates (Census ACS 2024 rent); they leave out rent owed before the notice, turnover and re-rent time.
Is Texas landlord-friendly for evictions?
Texas scores 89 out of 100 on the LandlordCost landlord-friendliness score (timeline 41.7/50, right to cure 17/20, statewide tenant protections 30/30). The formula is on our methodology page.
Sources and last-checked dates
Every field on this page has a source. Download the data: states.json · states.csv.
- Notice periodofficial sourcestatutes.capitol.texas.gov ↗
- Court deadlinesofficial sourceguides.sll.texas.gov ↗
- Judgment to lockoutofficial sourcesll.texas.gov ↗
- Appealofficial sourcetarrantcountytx.gov ↗
- Filing feeofficial sourcetraviscountytx.gov ↗
- Service feeofficial sourcetraviscountytx.gov ↗
- Lockout feeofficial sourcetarrantcountytx.gov ↗
- Right to cureofficial sourcestatutes.capitol.texas.gov ↗
- Median rentofficial sourcewww2.census.gov ↗
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