Tex. Codes » Property Code · TITLE 4. ACTIONS AND REMEDIES · CHAPTER 21. EMINENT DOMAIN
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Tex. Prop. Code § 21.012 (2026)

Condemnation Petition

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Sec. 21.012. CONDEMNATION PETITION. (a) If an entity with eminent domain authority wants to acquire real property for public use but is unable to agree with the owner of the property on the amount of damages, the entity may begin a condemnation proceeding by filing a petition in the proper court.

(b) The petition must:

(1) describe the property to be condemned;

(2) state with specificity the public use for which the entity intends to acquire the property;

(3) state the name of the owner of the property if the owner is known;

(4) state that the entity and the property owner are unable to agree on the damages;

(5) if applicable, state that the entity provided the property owner with the landowner's bill of rights statement in accordance with Section 21.0112; and

(6) state that the entity made a bona fide offer to acquire the property from the property owner voluntarily as provided by Section 21.0113.

(c) An entity that files a petition under this section must concurrently provide a copy of the petition to the property owner by certified mail, return receipt requested, and first class mail. If the entity has received written notice that the property owner is represented by counsel, the entity must also concurrently provide a copy of the petition to the property owner's attorney by first class mail, commercial delivery service, fax, or e-mail.

Acts 1983, 68th Leg., p. 3498, ch. 576, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1984.

Amended by:

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1201 (H.B. 1495), Sec. 4, eff. February 1, 2008.

Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 81 (S.B. 18), Sec. 9, eff. September 1, 2011.

Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 826 (H.B. 2730), Sec. 8, eff. January 1, 2022.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 134 cases (11 in the last 5 years), 1989–2026 · leading case: Hubenak v. San Jacinto Gas Transmission Co., 141 S.W.3d 172 (Tex. 2004).
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Hubenak v. San Jacinto Gas Transmission Co., 141 S.W.3d 172 (Tex. 2004). · cites it 16× “In these nine consolidated condemnation cases, we must determine whether (1) provisions in Texas Property Code section 21.012 permitting a condemning authority to begin condemnation proceedings if it is "unable to agree with the owner of the property on the amount of damages"…”
City of Carrollton v. Singer, 232 S.W.3d 790 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2007). · cites it 10× “TEX. PROP.CODE ANN. § 21.012; see Duncan, 28 S.”
FKM P'ship, Ltd. v. Bd. of Regents, 255 S.W.3d 619 (Tex. 2008). · cites it 6× “" See TEX. PROP.CODE § 21.012. [2] Pursuant to section 21.”
Pitts v. Sabine River Auth. of Texas, 107 S.W.3d 811 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2003). · cites it 10× “See Tex. Prop.Code Ann. § 21.012 (Vernon 1984).”
State v. Bristol Hotel Asset Co., 65 S.W.3d 638 (Tex. 2002). · cites it 4× “TEX. PROP.CODE § 21.012. A condemnation action is divided into two distinct stages.”
Malcomson Road Util. Dist. v. Newsom, 171 S.W.3d 257 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2005). · cites it 4× “See TEX. PROP.CODE ANN. §§ 21.012, 21.013 (Vernon 2004).”
City of Seabrook v. Port of Houston Auth., 199 S.W.3d 403 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2006). · cites it 6× “; see TEX. PROP.CODE ANN. §§ 21.012, 21.014 (Vernon 2004).”
State v. PR Investments & Specialty Retailers, Inc., 180 S.W.3d 654 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2005). · cites it 4× “See TEX. PROP.CODE ANN. § 21.012 (Vernon 1984).”
MidTexas Pipeline Co. v. Dernehl, 71 S.W.3d 852 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2002). · cites it 6× “After negotiations yielded no agreement, MidTexas filed a condemnation action pursuant to Tex. Prop.Code Ann. § 21.012 (Vernon 1984).”
Reid Road Mun. Util. Dist. No. 2 v. Speedy Stop Food Stores, Ltd., 337 S.W.3d 846 (Tex. 2011). · cites it 2× “See TEX. PROP.CODE § 21.012(a). At the special commissioners' hearing the District introduced testimony of, and a written appraisal by, David Ambrose.”
Bd. of Regents of the Univ. of Houston Sys. v. FKM P'ship, Ltd., 178 S.W.3d 1 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2005). · cites it 5× “TEX. PROP.CODE § 21.012. The judge of the court must then appoint three disinterested freeholders who reside in the county as special commissioners to assess the damages of the property owner.”
Schriver v. Texas Dep't of Transp., 293 S.W.3d 846 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2009). · cites it 4× “See Tex. Prop. Code Ann. § 21.012 (a), (b)(4) (Vernon Supp.”
Show all 134 citing cases →
Tex. Prop. Code § 21.012(a): 39 cases
City of Carrollton v. Singer, 232 S.W.3d 790 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2007). “TEX. PROP.CODE ANN. § 21.012; see Duncan, 28 S.”
Hubenak v. San Jacinto Gas Transmission Co., 141 S.W.3d 172 (Tex. 2004). “In these nine consolidated condemnation cases, we must determine whether (1) provisions in Texas Property Code section 21.012 permitting a condemning authority to begin condemnation proceedings if it is "unable to agree with the owner of the property on the amount of damages"…”
Reid Road Mun. Util. Dist. No. 2 v. Speedy Stop Food Stores, Ltd., 337 S.W.3d 846 (Tex. 2011). “See TEX. PROP.CODE § 21.012(a). At the special commissioners' hearing the District introduced testimony of, and a written appraisal by, David Ambrose.”
State v. Bristol Hotel Asset Co., 65 S.W.3d 638 (Tex. 2002). “TEX. PROP.CODE § 21.012. A condemnation action is divided into two distinct stages.”
City of Seabrook v. Port of Houston Auth., 199 S.W.3d 403 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2006). “; see TEX. PROP.CODE ANN. §§ 21.012, 21.014 (Vernon 2004).”
Tex. Prop. Code § 21.012(b): 11 cases
City of Austin v. Harry M. Whittington, 384 S.W.3d 766 (Tex. 2012).
Pitts v. Sabine River Auth. of Texas, 107 S.W.3d 811 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2003). “See Tex. Prop.Code Ann. § 21.012 (Vernon 1984).”
MidTexas Pipeline Co. v. Dernehl, 71 S.W.3d 852 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2002). “After negotiations yielded no agreement, MidTexas filed a condemnation action pursuant to Tex. Prop.Code Ann. § 21.012 (Vernon 1984).”
Whittington v. City of Austin, 174 S.W.3d 889 (Tex. App.—Austin 2005).
Zboyan v. Far Hills Util. Dist., 221 S.W.3d 924 (Tex. App.—Beaumont 2007).
Tex. Prop. Code § 21.012(b)(1): 5 cases
Katherine Elizabeth Williams v. State, 406 S.W.3d 273 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2013).
State v. First Interstate Bank of Texas, N.A., 880 S.W.2d 427 (Tex. App.—Austin 1994).
State v. Rogers, 772 S.W.2d 559 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 1989).
Lyndon Mayberry v. Kinder Morgan Crude & Condensate, LLC, No. 14-16-00523-CV (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] Jan. 18, 2018).
In re Elec. Transmission Texas, LLC, No. 13-15-00423-CV (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi Nov. 2, 2015).
Tex. Prop. Code § 21.012(b)(2): 3 cases
Pr Investments & Specialty Retailers, Inc. v. State of Texas, 251 S.W.3d 472 (Tex. 2008).
Bd. of Regents of the Univ. of Houston Sys. v. FKM P'ship, Ltd., 178 S.W.3d 1 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2005). “TEX. PROP.CODE § 21.012. The judge of the court must then appoint three disinterested freeholders who reside in the county as special commissioners to assess the damages of the property owner.”
City of Corsicana v. Herod, 768 S.W.2d 805 (Tex. App.—Waco 1989).
Tex. Prop. Code § 21.012(b)(3): 2 cases
State v. First Interstate Bank of Texas, N.A., 880 S.W.2d 427 (Tex. App.—Austin 1994).
Sunbelt Props. v. State, No. 08-02-00322-CV, 2003 WL 756718 (Tex. App.—El Paso Mar. 6, 2003).
Tex. Prop. Code § 21.012(b)(4): 7 cases
FKM P'ship, Ltd. v. Bd. of Regents, 255 S.W.3d 619 (Tex. 2008). “" See TEX. PROP.CODE § 21.012. [2] Pursuant to section 21.”
Schriver v. Texas Dep't of Transp., 293 S.W.3d 846 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2009). “See Tex. Prop. Code Ann. § 21.012 (a), (b)(4) (Vernon Supp.”
Bd. of Regents of the Univ. of Houston Sys. v. FKM P'ship, Ltd., 178 S.W.3d 1 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2005). “TEX. PROP.CODE § 21.012. The judge of the court must then appoint three disinterested freeholders who reside in the county as special commissioners to assess the damages of the property owner.”
State v. Pr Investments, 132 S.W.3d 55 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2004).
Laird Hill Salt Water Disposal, Ltd. v. East Texas Salt Water Disposal, Inc., 351 S.W.3d 81 (Tex. App.—Tyler 2011).
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