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Court approves higher per-hour fee for constable eviction services after deputies report multi‑hour calls
Summary
Commissioners approved raising the post‑two‑hour per‑deputy fee for eviction services from $30 to $60 per hour, saying prolonged evictions create scheduling conflicts and extra manpower costs; the increased fee is charged to the eviction requester, not the county.
Nueces County commissioners on Sept. 24 approved an increase in the per‑hour fee charged for constable eviction services that extend beyond the contractual two‑hour standard. The court voted to raise the post‑two‑hour rate from $30 per hour to $60 per hour per deputy; sheriff and constable representatives said the fee is charged to the party requesting the eviction and is intended to discourage late starts, lack of preparedness and prolonged calls that can require multiple deputies and delay other scheduled writs.
Constable staff described operational impacts of prolonged writs: deputies sometimes remain at eviction locations for multiple hours; in several cases this forces other scheduled writs to be delayed or require replacement deputies. The increased fee, the constable explained, is intended to encourage requesters to assemble proper movers, vehicles and tools in advance and reduce time on site.
Why it matters: The change affects landlords, property managers and other parties who initiate evictions and could change how eviction logistics are handled. The court recorded the vote as unanimous among present members. Commissioners noted the fee applies equally to all constable offices in the county and does not affect county general fund revenues because the charge is billed to the eviction requester.
Next steps: The new rates will be reflected in the sheriff/constable fee schedule for fiscal year 2025–26 and applied to eviction actions that exceed the two‑hour allowance.
