Gregg County Landlord-Tenant Law

Texas landlord guide — county ordinances, courthouse info & local rules

Gregg County Rental Market Overview

Gregg County is the commercial and industrial heart of East Texas, anchored by Longview — a city that grew from railroad surveyors’ camps in 1870 into one of the most economically diverse non-metro cities in the state. The East Texas oil field discovery in the 1930s transformed both Longview and neighboring Kilgore, and while the petroleum economy has matured, it gave rise to an industrial and chemical manufacturing sector that persists today. Eastman Chemical, one of the world’s largest chemical manufacturers, operates its major Longview facility with approximately 1,500 employees. CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Health System is the county’s single largest employer at 2,529 employees, followed by Longview Regional Medical Center at 1,032. Longview ISD, Trinity Rail, Komatsu Mining, LeTourneau University, and Kilgore College round out a diverse employment base that insulates the rental market from single-sector volatility.

For landlords, Gregg County offers genuine affordability — average one-bedroom rents in Longview run approximately $926–$977/month, roughly 41% below the national average, with modest 1.8% year-over-year rent growth. The county operates four JP courts across four precincts. The most important local quirk: Precinct 3 operates out of two separate locations — one in Kilgore and one in Gladewater — so landlords with properties in that precinct must confirm which location handles their case.

Gregg County Ordinances & Local Rules

Last verified: March 2026 · Source: greggcounty.texas.gov

Texas State Law Framework

⚡ Quick Overview

3

Days Notice (Nonpayment)

3

Days Notice (Violation)

25-45

Avg Total Days

$54-149

Filing Fee (Approx)

💰 Nonpayment of Rent

Notice Type 3-Day Notice to Vacate

Notice Period 3 days

Tenant Can Cure? No - notice to vacate, not to pay. Tenant can pay during period but landlord not required to accept.

Days to Hearing 10-21 days

Days to Writ 5 days

Total Estimated Timeline 25-45 days

Total Estimated Cost $150-$500

⚠️ Watch Out

Texas notice is to vacate, not to pay. Landlord is not required to accept rent during notice period. Lease can shorten notice to 1 day or extend it. If tenant paid rent on time the prior month, landlord must give "Notice to Pay Rent or Vacate" instead. SB 38 (2025) streamlines squatter removal process.

📜 Eviction Laws Main 📊 Compare This State

Underground Landlord

📝 Texas Eviction Process (Overview)

1. Serve the required notice based on the eviction reason (nonpayment or lease violation).
2. Wait for the notice period to expire. If tenant cures the issue (where allowed), the process stops.
3. File an eviction case with the Justice of the Peace Court (Forcible Detainer). Pay the filing fee (~$54-149).
4. Tenant is served with a summons and has the opportunity to respond.
5. Attend the court hearing and present your case.
6. If you prevail, obtain a writ of possession from the court.
7. Law enforcement executes the writ and removes the tenant if necessary.

⚠️ Disclaimer: This page provides general information about Texas eviction laws and does not constitute legal advice. Eviction procedures can vary by county and may change over time. Local jurisdictions may have additional requirements or tenant protections. For specific legal guidance, consult a qualified Texas attorney or local legal aid organization.

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Underground Landlord

🔍 Reduce Your Risk Before Signing a Lease: Texas landlords who screen tenants carefully before signing a lease significantly reduce their risk of ending up in eviction court. Understanding tenant screening in Texas — including background checks, credit history, income verification, and rental references — is one of the most cost-effective steps you can take to protect your rental property. Before you ever need Texas's eviction process, proper tenant screening can help you identify red flags early and avoid problem tenancies altogether.

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Gregg County Texas Landlord-Tenant Law: Longview, Kilgore, and the Precinct 3 Two-Location Rule

Gregg County doesn’t have the explosive growth story of DFW’s outer suburbs or the boom-town character of a semiconductor boomtown. What it has is a genuinely diverse, mature economy that has been building and rebuilding itself for over a century — from the railroad expansion of the 1870s to the East Texas oil discovery of the 1930s to the chemical and manufacturing complex that defines it today. Longview is the region’s commercial capital, and together with Kilgore just to the south, forms an economic duo that draws workers, students, and retirees from across East Texas. For landlords, this translates into a stable, affordable market where eviction rates tend to be lower than in transient metros, rents are genuinely affordable at $926–$977/month for a one-bedroom, and the procedural rules require attention to a local nuance that affects Precinct 3 in particular.

Precinct 3 and the Two-Location Rule

The most distinctive local filing fact in Gregg County is that JP Precinct 3, under Judge Bruce Dalme, operates from two separate physical locations: 622 Kay Street in Kilgore and 1098 E. Commerce Street in Gladewater. The county’s official traffic ticket information page lists both addresses for Precinct 3. Landlords with properties in Kilgore, Gladewater, or the surrounding east and south portions of the county that fall in Precinct 3 should call the court at (903) 986-8441 before visiting or filing to confirm which location is handling civil and eviction cases on their planned date. Arriving at the wrong location is a wasted trip. Arriving after confirming is how you actually get your petition filed.

The standard wrong-precinct dismissal rule applies in full. Filing an eviction for a Kilgore property at the Longview courthouse (Precinct 1) is a mandatory dismissal. Filing a Longview property’s eviction at the Kilgore court is equally invalid. Confirm your precinct using the Gregg County government website at greggcounty.texas.gov before every filing.

The Four JP Courts of Gregg County

JP Precinct 1, under Judge B.H. Jameson, sits on the fifth floor of the Gregg County Courthouse at 101 E. Methvin, Suite 512, in downtown Longview (phone 903-236-8470). This is the primary court for most Longview-area evictions. Hours are Monday through Thursday 8:30 AM to 5 PM with a noon lunch closure, and Friday 8:30 AM to 4 PM. JP Precinct 2, with Judge Tim Bryan, operates from the Greggton Community Building at 3211 W. Marshall in Longview (phone 903-237-2636), keeping the same Monday–Thursday and Friday schedule as Precinct 1. Precinct 2 handles the Greggton area and west Longview. JP Precinct 3 covers Kilgore and Gladewater as described above. JP Precinct 4, under Judge Robby R. Cox, is located at 2131 S. Eastman Road in south Longview (phone 903-758-6342), with hours of 8 AM to 4:30 PM Monday through Thursday and 8 AM to 4 PM on Friday — note that Precinct 4 opens at 8 AM, not 8:30 AM, unlike Precincts 1 and 2.

The Longview Economy and Its Tenant Base

CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Health System is Gregg County’s largest employer at 2,529 employees, making healthcare the dominant employment sector and the foundation of the county’s most stable tenant segment. Healthcare professionals — nurses, technicians, administrators, and support staff — tend to be reliable long-term renters with verifiable, steady incomes. Longview Regional Medical Center adds another 1,000+ healthcare employees to this pool. Together these two institutions make healthcare the single most important employer category for Gregg County landlords to understand and target.

Eastman Chemical’s Longview facility is the county’s largest industrial employer at approximately 1,500 workers, producing a population of chemical engineers, plant operators, and technical staff who need housing near the facility. This segment tends to have above-average incomes relative to the local market and provides excellent tenant profiles for single-family rentals and upscale apartment units. Trinity Rail Group, Komatsu Mining, and other industrial manufacturers add to the blue-collar and skilled-trades tenant pool. LeTourneau University contributes graduate students and faculty; Kilgore College generates student demand in the Kilgore submarket.

The Kilgore Market: Oil Heritage Meets College Town

Kilgore, located about 10 miles south of Longview, sits at the epicenter of the East Texas oil field — arguably the most significant petroleum discovery in American history when it was found in 1930. While active oil production has matured significantly, the energy sector remains embedded in Kilgore’s economy through oil field services, equipment, and related industries. Kilgore College, a two-year institution serving students from Longview, Hallsville, Pine Tree, and Spring Hill school districts, adds a consistent student rental demand to the local market. Properties near the Kilgore College campus are well-positioned for student rentals but require co-signer arrangements for traditional-age undergraduates whose personal income is insufficient to qualify independently.

Texas Eviction Law and Security Deposits in Gregg County

Texas Property Code § 92.103 requires the return of the security deposit within 30 days of the tenant surrendering the property, with an itemized written accounting of any deductions. The bad-faith penalty — $100 plus three times the wrongfully withheld amount plus the tenant’s attorney’s fees — applies in Gregg County as it does throughout Texas. At a Longview average rent of $950/month, a typical security deposit creates potential bad-faith exposure of approximately $2,950 before legal fees. Photograph the property at move-in and move-out, have tenants sign a move-in checklist, and mail the accounting by certified mail within the deadline. Texas eviction law was significantly updated on January 1, 2026 — verify current notice language and forms with your Gregg County JP court before filing any eviction after that date.

This page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Verify current eviction procedures with the appropriate Gregg County JP court before filing. Precinct 3 operates from two locations (Kilgore and Gladewater) — call (903) 986-8441 before filing to confirm the active location. Evictions filed in the wrong precinct will be dismissed. Major changes to Texas eviction law took effect January 1, 2026. Consult a licensed Texas attorney for specific guidance. Last updated: March 2026.