Texas contractor licensing
How to Get a Contractor License in Abilene, Texas
Abilene requires a city of Abilene contractor registration from the city for foundation repair, general contracting, roofing, and demolition. It is free. You also need a $75,000 bond.
City contractor registration in Abilene
| Registration | City of Abilene contractor registration (Building, Roofing, Demolition or Building Mover contractor) |
|---|---|
| Covers | Foundation repair, general contracting, roofing, and demolition |
| Fee | Free |
| Bond | $75,000. Source |
| Renewal | Renew registration, insurance and bonds as they expire. |
How to register
- Register with Abilene Building Inspection (no fee).
- Provide a copy of your driver's license.
- File a $75,000 surety bond.
- Renew the registration and bond as they expire.
Abilene's $75,000 building contractor bond is the largest general contractor bond among the Texas cities we checked. Swimming pool contractors need an Abilene pool contractor's license, a $10,000 bond and $300,000 insurance.
What each trade needs in Abilene
| Foundation repair | Not rated | City of Abilene contractor registration | Free |
|---|---|---|---|
| General contracting | Easy · 8 | City of Abilene contractor registration | Free |
| Roofing | Easy · 8 | City of Abilene contractor registration | Free |
| Plumbing | Hard · 62 | Plumbing contractor registration | Free |
| Electrical | Hard · 58 | Electrical contractor registration | Free |
| HVAC | Hard · 52 | Mechanical contractor registration | Free |
| Irrigation | Moderate · 36 | Irrigation contractor registration | Free |
| Concrete flatwork | Not rated | Not published | |
| Drainage and detention | Not rated | Not published | |
| Demolition | Easy · 8 | City of Abilene contractor registration | Free |
Tap a column to sort. Each trade opens its Texas comparison by city, and fees link to the official fee page, checked October 18, 2026. Plumbing, electrical, HVAC and irrigation also need a Texas state license, which no city registration replaces.
Foundation repair, concrete flatwork, and drainage and detention work are not rated because their rules are not fully published.
How the difficulty score works
Details for each trade
Foundation repair
| Local rule | City of Abilene contractor registration (Building, Roofing, Demolition or Building Mover contractor). |
|---|---|
| Bond | $75,000. Source |
Abilene requires contractors to be registered, with no registration fee. Building, roofing, demolition and building mover contractors file a $75,000 bond and a driver's license copy, and must renew registration, insurance and bonds as they expire.
Foundation work is done by a registered, bonded building contractor under a building permit; we did not find Abilene's engineering rule for repairs.
Checked October 18, 2026 against City of Abilene, contractor requirements.
General contracting (residential remodels, additions and home improvement)
| Local rule | City of Abilene contractor registration (Building, Roofing, Demolition or Building Mover contractor). |
|---|---|
| Bond | $75,000. Source |
Building work needs a permit pulled by a registered building contractor with a $75,000 bond.
Checked October 18, 2026 against City of Abilene, contractor requirements.
Roofing
| Local rule | City of Abilene contractor registration (Building, Roofing, Demolition or Building Mover contractor). |
|---|---|
| Bond | $75,000. Source |
Roofing contractors register with the same $75,000 bond; we did not confirm the reroof permit fee.
Checked October 18, 2026 against City of Abilene, contractor requirements.
Plumbing
| Local rule | Plumbing contractor registration. |
|---|---|
| Fee | Free |
| Insurance | $300,000 general liability. |
Provide the State of Texas plumbing license and driver's license.
Plumbing permits are pulled by a registered, state-licensed plumber with $300,000 liability insurance.
Register with license, insurance and driver's license (no fee).
Checked October 18, 2026 against City of Abilene, contractor requirements.
Electrical
| Local rule | Electrical contractor registration. |
|---|---|
| Fee | Free |
| Insurance | $300,000 general liability. |
Provide the state Master Electrician license, state contractor license and driver's license.
Electrical permits are pulled by a registered TDLR electrical contractor with $300,000 liability insurance.
Register with licenses, insurance and driver's license (no fee).
Checked October 18, 2026 against City of Abilene, contractor requirements.
HVAC
| Local rule | Mechanical contractor registration. |
|---|---|
| Fee | Free |
| Insurance | General liability as required by TDLR. |
Provide the State of Texas A/C and refrigeration license and driver's license.
Mechanical permits are pulled by a registered TDLR ACR contractor.
Register with license, insurance and driver's license (no fee).
Checked October 18, 2026 against City of Abilene, contractor requirements.
Irrigation
| Local rule | Irrigation contractor registration. |
|---|---|
| Fee | Free |
| Insurance | $300,000 general liability, or a $5,000 bond instead. |
| Bond | $5,000. Source |
Provide the State of Texas irrigator license and driver's license.
Irrigation work is done by a registered, state-licensed irrigator with a $5,000 bond or $300,000 insurance.
Register with license, driver's license and the bond or insurance (no fee).
Checked October 18, 2026 against City of Abilene, contractor requirements.
Demolition
| Local rule | City of Abilene contractor registration (Building, Roofing, Demolition or Building Mover contractor). |
|---|---|
| Bond | $75,000. Source |
Demolition contractors register with the $75,000 bond and need a demolition permit.
Checked October 18, 2026 against City of Abilene, contractor requirements.
Abilene does not publish a local license or registration rule for concrete flatwork and drainage and detention work. Ask the city's permit office before you bid that work.
Permit fees and local rules in Abilene
- Every building permit in Abilene has a $75 minimum fee.
- A single family addition or alteration permit starts at $250 for up to 60 square feet, then 30 cents a square foot up to 1,000 square feet.
- A residential reroof of five squares or more is $100, a smaller one is free, and a residential demolition permit is $100.
- A reinspection costs $75 and a same-day inspection $100. Work started without a required permit pays double the permit fee, and releasing a stop work order costs $200.
- Driveway approaches, sidewalks and curbs in the public right-of-way need a Public Works permit and a $1,000 street contractor bond that expires December 31, and the forms are inspected before concrete is placed.
Checked October 18, 2026 against Abilene fee schedule; Abilene engineering FAQ.
Official sources and contacts
Rules and fees change, and this is not legal advice. Confirm with the city's permit office before you apply or bid.