This section gives a prevailing landlord a writ of possession, and sets timing and execution rules for serving the writ, notifying the tenant, and removing property.
Sec. 24.0061. WRIT OF POSSESSION. (a) A landlord who prevails in an eviction suit is entitled to a judgment for possession of the premises and a writ of possession. In this chapter, "premises" means: (1) a unit that is occupied or rented; and (2) any outside area or facility: (A) that a tenant is entitled to use under a written lease or oral rental agreement; (B) that is held out for the use of tenants generally; and (C) that is occupied by or in the possession of the person against whom the eviction suit is filed. (b) A writ of possession may not be issued before the sixth day after the date on which the judgment for possession is rendered unless a possession bond has been filed and approved under the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure. (b-1) The issuance of a writ of possession is a ministerial act not subject to review or delay. A sheriff or constable, including a deputy sheriff or deputy constable, shall serve the writ of possession not later than the fifth business day after the date the writ is issued. If the writ of possession is not served on or before the fifth business day after the date the writ is issued, the landlord may, but is not obligated to, have the writ served by any other law enforcement officer, including an off-duty officer with appropriate identification, who has received training as described by Section 24.0051(f). (c) The court shall notify a tenant in writing of a default judgment for possession or a judgment for possession under Section 24.005106 by sending a copy of the judgment to the premises by first class mail not later than 48 hours after the entry of the judgment. (d) The writ of possession shall order the officer executing the writ to: (1) post a written warning of at least 8-1/2 by 11 inches on the exterior of the front door of the rental unit notifying the tenant that the writ has been issued and that the writ will be executed on or after a specific date and time stated in the warning not sooner than 24 hours after the warning is posted; and (2) when the writ is executed: (A) deliver possession of the premises to the landlord; (B) instruct the tenant and all persons claiming under the tenant to leave the premises immediately, and, if the persons fail to comply, physically remove them; (C) instruct the tenant to remove or to allow the landlord, the landlord's representatives, or other persons acting under the officer's supervision to remove all personal property from the rental unit other than personal property claimed to be owned by the landlord; and (D) place, or have an authorized person place, the removed personal property outside the rental unit at a nearby location, but not blocking a public sidewalk, passageway, or street and not while it is raining, sleeting, or snowing, except as provided by Subsection (d-1). (d-1) A municipality may provide, without charge to the landlord or to the owner of personal property removed from a rental unit under Subsection (d), a portable, closed container into which the removed personal property shall be placed by the officer executing the writ or by the authorized person. The municipality may remove the container from the location near the rental unit and dispose of the contents by any lawful means if the owner of the removed personal property does not recover the property from the container within a reasonable time after the time the property is placed in the container. (e) The writ of possession shall authorize the officer, at the officer's discretion, to engage the services of a bonded or insured warehouseman to remove and store, subject to applicable law, part or all of the property at no cost to the landlord or the officer executing the writ. (f) The officer may not require the landlord to store the property. (g) The writ of possession shall contain notice to the officer that under Section 7.003, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, the officer is not liable for damages resulting from the execution of the writ if the officer executes the writ in good faith and with reasonable diligence. (h) An officer may use reasonable force in executing a writ under this section. (i) A landlord is not liable for damages to the tenant resulting from the enforcement of a judgment in favor of the landlord under this chapter, including the execution of a writ of possession by an officer under this section. Added by Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 319, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1985. Amended by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 314, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987; Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 745, Sec. 6, eff. June 20, 1987; Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 1089, Sec. 1, eff. Aug. 31, 1987; Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 2, Sec. 13.01, eff. Aug. 28, 1989; Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 688, Sec. 5, eff. Sept. 1, 1989; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1205, Sec. 4, eff. Sept. 1, 1997. Amended by: Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 355 (H.B. 1853), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2015. Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 641 (H.B. 900), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2021. Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 960 (S.B. 38), Sec. 13, eff. January 1, 2026.