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Brownsville, TX Rental Property Rules: Just Cause Eviction (2026)

Few Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified July 2026

Just cause eviction rules in Brownsville, TX, sometimes called tenant protection or "for cause" eviction ordinances, list the specific legal reasons a landlord can end a tenancy.

Key Facts

Local just-cause rule
None: state law controls
Default notice to vacate
3 days, written
Governing law
Tex. Prop. Code Ch. 24
Court
Cameron County justice of the peace
Appeal window
5 days after judgment

Summary

Brownsville has no just-cause eviction ordinance. Texas Property Code Chapter 24 controls: after a lease ends or rent goes unpaid, the landlord serves a written notice to vacate, three days unless the lease says otherwise, then files in justice court.

If the occupant is a tenant under a written lease or oral rental agreement, the landlord must give a tenant who defaults or holds over beyond the end of the rental term or renewal period at least three days' written notice to vacate the premises before the landlord files a forcible detainer suit

Source: Brownsville Code of Ordinances & Unified Development CodeView official code

Full Breakdown

Eviction in Brownsville runs entirely on state procedure. The landlord delivers a written notice to vacate under Property Code § 24.005, giving at least three days unless the written lease sets a different period. Only after that notice expires can a forcible detainer suit be filed in a Cameron County justice of the peace court. Self-help exclusion is restricted by Property Code § 92.0081, and a constable executes the writ of possession. Retaliation against a tenant who requests repairs in good faith is barred by Property Code § 92.331.

Violations & Fines

A landlord who files before the notice period runs risks dismissal. A tenant has five days after a justice court judgment to file an appeal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can my landlord evict me without giving a reason in Brownsville?
Yes, once the lease term ends or the tenant holds over. Texas has no just-cause requirement and Brownsville has not adopted one. The landlord still must serve written notice to vacate.
How long is the notice to vacate?
Three days under Property Code § 24.005 unless the written lease sets a longer or shorter period. The three days run from delivery of the notice, not from the court filing.
Can the landlord change the locks or cut the utilities?
Property Code § 92.0081 restricts lockouts and utility interruption used to force a tenant out. The landlord must obtain a judgment and a writ of possession executed by a constable.

Sources & Official References

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All Brownsville rules

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