New Texas Law Lets San Antonio Homeowners Remove Squatters Today — Without Going to Court

If you own property in San Antonio — whether it's your primary home in Stone Oak, a rental house in Converse, or a vacant lot you're holding in far Northeast Bexar County — today is a day worth knowing about. A new Texas law that took effect this morning changes how you can respond if someone is living on your property without your permission.

Senate Bill 1333, effective September 1, 2025, created Chapter 24B of the Texas Property Code. For the first time, Texas property owners have a legal path to remove unauthorized occupants — commonly called squatters — by working directly with the county sheriff or constable, bypassing the traditional eviction court process entirely.

Here is how it works. If you discover someone is living on your property without any legal right to be there, you can file a sworn complaint with the Bexar County Sheriff's Office or your local constable's office. Once that complaint is filed, the sheriff or constable has the authority to physically remove that person from your property. You do not have to file a lawsuit, hire an attorney to open an eviction case, or wait weeks or months for a court date.

For San Antonio homeowners, that change is significant. The standard eviction process, even when a property owner is clearly in the right, has historically taken time, required court filings, and cost money in legal fees. During that wait, an unauthorized occupant stays on the property. Squatting situations can cause real damage — to the structure itself, to the owner's ability to sell or rent the home, and to neighboring properties and communities. Areas with higher rates of vacant or transitional homes, including parts of the South Side, the East Side near Kirby, and stretches of the 78207 and 78221 ZIP codes, have seen these situations arise more frequently over the years.

If you are getting ready to list a home for sale in neighborhoods like Helotes, Leon Valley, or Universal City, and you discover an unauthorized occupant has moved in during the listing process, you now have a much more direct remedy. The same applies if you are a landlord with a vacant rental between tenants in areas served by the Northside ISD or Southwest ISD attendance zones. A property sitting empty while you make repairs or wait for a new tenant is exactly the kind of situation bad actors have historically taken advantage of.

For buyers, this law matters too. If you are purchasing a property — especially a fixer-upper, a foreclosure, or an estate sale home in communities like Elmendorf, Lytle, or anywhere along the U.S. 90 or Loop 1604 corridors — you should know that as soon as the deed is in your name, you have this new tool available if there is an unauthorized occupant inside.

The law does come with a serious responsibility on the owner's side. Because this process skips the courtroom, the sworn complaint you file carries real legal weight. If you falsely swear that someone is an unauthorized occupant when they actually have a legal right to be on the property — for example, if they are a tenant with a valid lease, a family member with a documented agreement, or someone with any other recognized claim — you can face perjury charges and be held liable for wrongful removal. This is not a tool to use against a tenant you simply want out, or to sidestep the normal eviction process when a tenancy exists. If any rental agreement, verbal or written, is involved, consult an attorney before filing anything.

For renters in San Antonio, the honest reality is that this law should not affect you if you have a legitimate lease and are paying rent. Your tenancy is a legal right, and this process is not designed for — and legally cannot be used for — removing someone who has a valid claim to occupy the property. If you are ever in doubt about your status or feel your landlord is misusing this law, contact a housing attorney or a local tenant's rights organization immediately.

For homeowners and investors, the practical takeaway is straightforward. You now have a faster, court-free option when facing a genuine squatting situation. Use it carefully, use it honestly, and when the situation is complicated or the occupant's status is unclear, get legal advice before you file that sworn complaint.

San Antonio's real estate market continues to see strong activity across Bexar County and its surrounding communities. Protecting your property — whether you are buying, selling, renting, or simply owning — just got a meaningful new tool. Make sure you understand how to use it correctly.