How Contractor Licensing Works in Texas

Texas licenses four of the ten trades we track at the state level. Those are plumbing (TSBPE), electrical work (TDLR), HVAC work (TDLR), and landscape irrigation (TCEQ). It has no state license for foundation repair, general contracting, roofing, concrete flatwork, drainage and detention work, or demolition, so those rules come from cities. Of the 35 Texas cities with a page here, 31 run their own contractor registration. San Antonio requires an exam or ICC certification for it, and Houston and McKinney say they do not register general contractors at all. Counties outside city limits regulate far less. Everything below was checked on October 18, 2026 against official sources.

State boards for each trade

Checked October 18, 2026. Each trade name opens the city comparison for that trade.

Plumbing work in Texas requires a TSBPE license. The RMP is responsible for plumbing work done under contracts secured under the license and must carry at least $300,000 commercial general liability insurance. A Master Plumber exam candidate must have held a Journeyman Plumber license for at least two years (one year with a DOL-approved apprenticeship); the Journeyman exam requires 8,000 hours of plumbing experience plus a 48-hour training program. Fingerprints are required once. Six hours of continuing professional education are required before each renewal. Cities may require plumbers to register locally, but a licensed RMP, plumbing contractor or other person who must get a plumbing permit cannot be charged a plumbing registration fee or administrative fee (Occupations Code 1301.551(g)); building permit fees are still allowed. See Texas plumbing by city.

An electrical contracting business needs a TDLR Electrical Contractor license and must employ a licensed Master Electrician of record. A Master Electrician must have held a Journeyman Electrician license for at least two years and show 12,000 hours of on-the-job training under a Texas Master Electrician. Licenses are valid one year. Four hours of continuing education are required each year. TDLR runs a criminal history check. A city may not collect a permit, registration, administrative or other fee from a TDLR-licensed electrician for work in the city, except a building permit fee (Occupations Code 1305.201(f)), and may not require a city exam of a state license holder working within the license. See Texas electrical work by city.

HVAC contracting requires a TDLR ACR Contractor license. Class B covers cooling systems of 25 tons and under and heating systems of 1.5 million BTU/hour and under; Class A covers any size. Experience is 48 months of supervised work in the past 72 months, or 36 months plus a technician certification held 12 months. Licenses are valid one year and need 8 hours of continuing education. TDLR runs a criminal history check. A city may not charge a registration fee to a TDLR-licensed ACR contractor for work in the city; building permit fees are allowed (Occupations Code 1302.304). See Texas HVAC work by city.

Selling, designing, installing, repairing or consulting on a landscape irrigation system requires a TCEQ license. A Landscape Irrigator needs the Basic Irrigator Licensing Course, a criminal history attestation and a passing exam (70 percent on each section). No education or work experience is required. Processing takes about 3 to 4 weeks. Licenses are valid three years and renewal needs 24 hours of continuing education. The exam is taken at a computer-based testing center; TCEQ does not publish the testing center fee. See Texas landscape irrigation by city.

What Texas does not license

Texas has no state license for foundation repair, general contracting, roofing, concrete flatwork, drainage and detention work, or demolition. The programs TDLR licenses do not include general contractors, roofers or foundation repair, and the state's residential builder registration (Texas Residential Construction Commission) was abolished in 2009. That does not mean the work is unregulated. Cities can require their own contractor registration and permits.

Texas has no state demolition contractor license. Asbestos rules apply instead. DSHS's decision tree says a single-family house or a building of 4 or fewer apartment or condo units is outside the state and federal asbestos demolition rules unless other homes, commercial or public buildings on the same site are also being demolished or renovated. Public and commercial buildings need an asbestos survey and a DSHS notification at least 10 working days before demolition. Asbestos abatement must be done by a DSHS-licensed abatement contractor.

No state license exists for grading or drainage contractors. Engineering design (drainage studies, detention pond design) is engineering practice and, where a city requires sealed plans, must be sealed by a Texas PE. A PE needs an engineering degree, the NCEES FE and PE exams, the Texas Ethics of Engineering exam and engineering experience (4 years with an accredited degree, 8 with a non-accredited one); the TBPELS application fee is $75.

How Texas cities add their own registration

Most of the rules a contractor meets in Texas are local. 31 of the cities we checked run a contractor registration. 1 of those want a passed exam or an ICC certification, 11 want proof of liability insurance, and 7 want a bond. Cities also decide which work needs a permit, and a few, Denton, Round Rock, and San Antonio among them, want a Texas professional engineer involved in foundation repairs.

Many Texas cities require a city contractor registration and a foundation repair permit, and several (San Antonio, Kyle, Round Rock, Georgetown) require a Texas PE's sealed letter or plans.

Texas cities and counties we cover

Each name opens the full page for that city or county. The easiest and hardest cities page explains the ranking and lists the easiest and hardest city for every trade.

Local rank 1 is the easiest city, from the average points its own rules add. Checked October 18, 2026.

We also checked Arlington, Bastrop, Beaumont, Boerne, Buda, Cibolo, Del Valle (unincorporated Travis County), Dripping Springs, Frisco, Helotes, Hutto, Irving, Lakeway, Live Oak, Manor, McAllen, Midland, Pearland, Sugar Land, Temple, Tyler, Unincorporated Dallas County, Unincorporated Harris County, Unincorporated Hays County, and Unincorporated Williamson County, but their offices publish too little online for a full page yet. Call the city before you bid there.

Contractors working across the state line can compare Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, and Oklahoma.

Rules and fees change, and this is not legal advice. Confirm with the city or county where the work is before you apply or bid.