Texas County occupies the center of the Oklahoma Panhandle — a long, narrow strip of High Plains stretching west between Kansas and Texas that was once called “No Man’s Land” before Oklahoma statehood. Named for its proximity to Texas and Texas-based cattle trade routes that shaped the region’s early history, the county is the largest in Oklahoma by area and home to Guymon (~12,000), the Panhandle’s commercial and governmental hub. The Oklahoma Panhandle’s economy is dominated by agriculture and food processing: Seaboard Foods operates one of the nation’s largest pork processing plants in Guymon, making it one of the top pork-producing facilities in the United States and the county’s dominant private employer. Natural gas production from the Hugoton Gas Field — one of North America’s largest natural gas reservoirs — and dryland wheat farming round out the economic base. The county is not subject to McGirt v. Oklahoma.
With a 2020 census population of approximately 21,384, Texas County has a notably diverse workforce drawn to Seaboard Foods employment from across the United States and internationally. This creates an unusual rental market for such a rural county — demand for workforce housing near the Seaboard plant is consistent, driven by a large stable employer. Panhandle State University in Goodwell (Cimarron County, just west) adds some student and faculty demand. Rents in Guymon range from $600–$900 per month.
Seaboard Foods (major pork processing), natural gas (Hugoton Field), dryland wheat, county/school district
Court
1st Judicial District (5 Panhandle counties)
Typical Rent
~$600–$900/mo (Guymon)
Courthouse Hours
Mon–Fri 8:00 AM–5:00 PM
McGirt Status
No McGirt issues — standard OK state court
⚡ Eviction At-a-Glance
Nonpayment Notice
5-Day Pay or Quit
Lease Violation
15-Day Notice to Cure or Quit
Month-to-Month Term.
30-Day Written Notice
Security Deposit Cap
No statutory cap
Deposit Return
45 days after termination + possession + written demand
Late Fees
Must be in lease; cannot be included in 5-day notice
Entry Notice
24 hours (non-emergency)
Statute
Okla. Stat. tit. 41 (ORLTA)
Texas County Ordinances & Local Rules
Topic
Rule / Notes
Rental Licensing
No county rental licensing required. Oklahoma has no statewide landlord licensing statute.
Rent Control
None. Oklahoma has no rent control statute and no local rent stabilization ordinances exist in Texas County.
Security Deposit
No statutory cap. Deposit must be held in an Oklahoma FDIC-insured financial institution (Okla. Stat. tit. 41 § 115). Must be returned within 45 days after all three triggers: termination of tenancy, delivery of possession, and written demand by tenant.
1st Judicial District Court
Evictions (FEDs) filed at Texas County District Court: 319 N. Main St., Ste. 301, Guymon, OK 73942. Phone: (580) 338-3003. Hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM–5:00 PM. The 1st Judicial District serves all five Oklahoma Panhandle counties: Beaver, Cimarron, Harper, Texas, and Woodward.
Habitability
ORLTA habitability standards apply (tit. 41 § 118). The Oklahoma Panhandle has one of the most extreme climates in the state: very hot summers, bitterly cold winters with blizzard risk, persistent and powerful winds (among the highest average wind speeds in the nation), severe tornado exposure, and periodic drought. Heating system reliability is critical in winter; functioning HVAC is essential year-round. Dust storms remain a periodic hazard.
Seaboard Foods / Workforce Housing
Seaboard Foods operates one of the nation’s largest pork processing plants in Guymon, employing thousands of workers and making it far and away the county’s largest private employer. Seaboard employment creates consistent demand for workforce housing near the plant. Seaboard employees represent a diverse, multilingual workforce. Fair Housing Act compliance applies in full — language, national origin, and similar characteristics are protected classes. All lease documents should be available in relevant languages when possible; Seaboard itself has multilingual HR and onboarding resources that landlords can reference.
Tribal Jurisdiction
No tribal jurisdiction issues. Texas County is not subject to McGirt-type reservation analysis. Standard Oklahoma state court FED proceedings apply in full.
Self-Help Eviction
Prohibited statewide. All tenant removals require a court FED process. Lockouts and utility shutoffs without a court order are illegal under Oklahoma law.
15 (10 to cure; general violations); Immediate (criminal/imminent harm)
Days Notice (Violation)
12-35
Avg Total Days
$$85
Filing Fee (Approx)
💰 Nonpayment of Rent
Notice Type5-Day Notice to Pay Rent or Quit
Notice Period5 days
Tenant Can Cure?Yes - tenant can pay all rent within 5 days to stop eviction
Days to Hearing5-10 (hearing scheduled after filing; summons served at least 3 days before hearing) days
Days to Writ48 hours after judgment (writ of execution served) days
Total Estimated Timeline12-35 days
Total Estimated Cost$150-400
⚠️ Watch Out
5-day notice for nonpayment - rent is late the moment due date passes (no statutory grace period unless lease provides one). Notice must state unpaid amount and termination date (not less than 5 days). Tenant paying in full within 5 days stops eviction. After judgment: tenant gets 48 hours via writ of execution served by sheriff ($50 or actual expenses). CRITICAL: If tenant didn't receive proper notice and default judgment entered, tenant can reverse by paying all rent + costs + attorney fees within 72 hours (12 O.S. § 1148.10B). Abandoned property: 30 days to claim (§ 41-130). Landlord-friendly state with fast process.
Serve the required notice based on the eviction reason (nonpayment or lease violation).
Wait for the notice period to expire. If tenant cures the issue (where allowed), the process stops.
File an eviction case with the District Court - Small Claims Division - Forcible Entry and Detainer (Title 12 §§ 1148.1-1148.16). Pay the filing fee (~$$85).
Tenant is served with a summons and has the opportunity to respond.
Attend the court hearing and present your case.
If you prevail, obtain a writ of possession from the court.
Law enforcement executes the writ and removes the tenant if necessary.
⚠️ Disclaimer: This page provides general information about Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma attorney or local legal aid organization.
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tenant screening in Oklahoma —
including background checks, credit history, income verification, and rental references — is one of the most
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eviction process, proper tenant screening can help
you identify red flags early and avoid problem tenancies altogether.
Ready to File?
Generate Oklahoma-Compliant Legal Documents
AI-generated, state-specific eviction notices, pay-or-quit letters, lease termination documents, and more — pre-filled with your tenant's information and built to Oklahoma requirements.
Select your state, eviction reason, and the date you plan to serve notice. We'll calculate your earliest filing date and key milestones.
⚠️ Disclaimer: These calculations are estimates based on state statutes and typical court timelines. Actual results vary by county, court backlog, and case specifics. Always verify current requirements with your local courthouse. This is not legal advice.
Underground Landlord
🏘️ Communities & Screening Tips
Seaboard Foods employees — workforce housing market: Seaboard Foods is by far the county’s largest private employer, operating one of the nation’s largest pork processing plants in Guymon. The plant employs thousands and draws workers from across the US and internationally. This creates consistent workforce housing demand. Seaboard employment is stable and well-documented; HR documentation is standard. Fair Housing compliance is especially important with a diverse, multilingual workforce — national origin, language, and related characteristics are protected. Apply objective, written criteria uniformly to all applicants.
Natural gas & agricultural workers: Hugoton Gas Field production and dryland wheat farming provide some private sector employment alongside Seaboard. Gas production employment can be subject to commodity price cycles; farm income is seasonal and weather-dependent. Request multi-year documentation for agricultural operators.
Government & school employees: County, city, and school district employment provides stable year-round income. Standard 3x monthly rent verification applies and is easily met at Guymon’s rent levels for government employees.
Background checks, eviction history, credit reports — get the full picture before handing over the keys.
Texas County Oklahoma Landlord-Tenant Law: Complete Guide for Guymon & Oklahoma Panhandle Rental Property Owners
Texas County occupies the heart of the Oklahoma Panhandle — a narrow, elongated strip of High Plains real estate that was once literally called “No Man’s Land,” an unorganized territory claimed by no state or territory between 1850 and 1890, attracting cattlemen, outlaws, and homesteaders in roughly equal measure. Today Texas County is the largest county in Oklahoma by land area and home to Guymon (~12,000), the Panhandle’s commercial hub and county seat. The county is named for its proximity to Texas and the Texas cattle drives that passed through the region, and shares its eastern border with Kansas and its southern border with Texas itself — giving it a genuinely three-state character in daily commerce and culture.
The county’s dominant employer — Seaboard Foods — operates what is consistently ranked among the nation’s largest pork processing plants in Guymon, transforming the local economy and demographic landscape over the past three decades. Seaboard’s massive plant creates consistent demand for workforce housing in a county that would otherwise have limited rental market activity. The Hugoton Gas Field, one of North America’s largest natural gas reservoirs, underlies much of the Panhandle and provides additional employment. With a 2020 census population of approximately 21,384, Texas County has a more active rental market than its rural location might suggest, driven by Seaboard’s large workforce.
The ORLTA in Texas County
All residential rental relationships in Texas County are governed by the Oklahoma Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (ORLTA), codified at Oklahoma Statutes Title 41. No local ordinances modify the ORLTA in Texas County. There is no rental licensing requirement and no rent control. For nonpayment, a five-day pay-or-quit notice (rent only — no late fees) is required before filing a FED. For other lease violations, a fifteen-day notice to cure or quit is required. Month-to-month tenancies require thirty days’ written notice. Non-emergency entry requires twenty-four hours’ advance notice. Security deposits have no cap but must be held in an FDIC-insured Oklahoma institution. Self-help eviction is prohibited statewide.
Eviction Procedure at the 1st Judicial District Court
FED actions in Texas County are filed at the Texas County District Court, 319 N. Main St., Ste. 301, Guymon, OK 73942, phone (580) 338-3003, open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Texas County is part of Oklahoma’s 1st Judicial District — one of the state’s largest by geography, serving all five Panhandle counties: Beaver, Cimarron, Harper, Texas, and Woodward. No tribal jurisdiction issues apply; standard Oklahoma state court proceedings govern all FEDs.
This guide is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult a licensed Oklahoma attorney or contact the Texas County District Court at (580) 338-3003 for guidance specific to your situation. Last updated: April 2026.
⚠️ Legal Disclaimer: This page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Fair Housing Act compliance is especially important in Texas County’s diverse workforce community. Consult a licensed Oklahoma attorney or contact the Texas County District Court at (580) 338-3003 for specific guidance. Last updated: April 2026.
