Sec. 214.135.  CONDEMNATION OF EASEMENTS AND INTERESTS;  ASSESSMENTS.  (a)  A municipality must follow the same procedure that it is authorized by law to use to open streets when the municipality:
(1)  institutes and conducts a condemnation proceeding to condemn an easement or interest necessary to establish a building line;  or
(2)  imposes and collects an assessment based on the benefits arising out of the establishment of a building line against the property owner and property abutting or in the vicinity of the building line.
(b)  If, in the condemnation of a tract, the ownership of the tract or the interests in the tract are in controversy or unknown, an award for the tract may be made in bulk and paid into court for the use of the parties owning or interested in the tract as their ownership or interest appears.
(c)  When the award and findings of the special commissioners, who are appointed under Chapter 21, Property Code, are filed with the court having jurisdiction over the condemnation proceedings, the award and findings are final and shall be made the judgment of the court.  Compensation is due and payable on rendition of the judgment by the court adopting the award.
Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.  Renumbered from Sec. 213.005 by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1420, Sec. 12.002(4), eff. Sept. 1, 2001.