Texas contractor licensing
How to Get a Contractor License in College Station, Texas
College Station requires a city of College Station contractor registration from the city for foundation repair, general contracting, roofing, landscape irrigation, and demolition. It costs $80 per registration.
City contractor registration in College Station
| Registration | City of College Station contractor registration |
|---|---|
| Covers | Foundation repair, general contracting, roofing, landscape irrigation, and demolition |
| Fee | $80 per registration |
How to register
- Complete the contractor registration form.
- Email it with the required documents to the Planning and Development Services address listed in the eTRAKiT guide.
- Pay the registration fee ($80 on the FY2026 schedule).
- Apply for permits in eTRAKiT.
A homeowner may permit work on their own homestead without registering, but licensed contractors must obtain all electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits. Right-of-way work uses a separate registration that asked for $5,000,000 in combined general liability and umbrella coverage on the 2016 form.
What each trade needs in College Station
| Foundation repair | Easy · 2 | City of College Station contractor registration | $80 |
|---|---|---|---|
| General contracting | Easy · 2 | City of College Station contractor registration | $80 |
| Roofing | Easy · 2 | City of College Station contractor registration | $80 |
| Plumbing | Hard or harder · 62+ | Plumbing contractor registration | |
| Electrical | Hard or harder · 58+ | Electrical contractor registration | |
| HVAC | Hard or harder · 52+ | Mechanical contractor registration | |
| Irrigation | Moderate · 29 | Irrigation contractor registration | $80 |
| Concrete flatwork | Not rated | Right-of-way registration for work in City right of way | |
| Drainage and detention | Not rated | No grading contractor registration found. Development permits cover public infrastructure | |
| Demolition | Easy · 2 | City of College Station contractor registration | $80 |
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.
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 College Station contractor registration. |
|---|
College Station requires contractors to register before getting a building permit; general contractors submit the form and fee. The FY2026 schedule (updated Jan. 1, 2026) lists $80; fees change every Oct. 1, so check the FY2027 schedule.
Foundation repairs need a building permit by a registered contractor, with a dimensioned plan showing the repair and the location of added piers or piles, and an inspection before concrete is poured.
- Email it with the required documents to the Planning and Development Services address listed in the eTRAKiT guide.
- Pay the registration fee ($80 on the FY2026 schedule).
- Prepare a dimensioned plan showing how the structure will be repaired and where piers or piles go.
- Apply in eTRAKiT and pay the permit fee after approval.
Checked October 18, 2026 against City of College Station, Foundation; City of College Station, Building Permits; City of College Station, FY2026 PDS fees (updated Jan. 1, 2026).
General contracting (residential remodels, additions and home improvement)
| Local rule | City of College Station contractor registration. |
|---|
Residential remodels and additions are $0.46 per sq. ft. with a $127 minimum.
- Email it with the required documents to the Planning and Development Services address listed in the eTRAKiT guide.
- Pay the registration fee ($80 on the FY2026 schedule).
Checked October 18, 2026 against City of College Station, Building Permits; City of College Station, FY2026 PDS fees (updated Jan. 1, 2026).
Roofing
| Local rule | City of College Station contractor registration. |
|---|
A residential reroof permit is $190 on the FY2026 schedule.
- Email it with the required documents to the Planning and Development Services address listed in the eTRAKiT guide.
- Pay the registration fee ($80 on the FY2026 schedule).
Checked October 18, 2026 against City of College Station, Building Permits; City of College Station, FY2026 PDS fees (updated Jan. 1, 2026).
Plumbing
| Local rule | Plumbing contractor registration. |
|---|---|
| Insurance | General liability insurance. |
Provide the state plumbing license. The eTRAKiT guide lists no registration fee for this trade.
Plumbing permits are obtained only by a licensed plumber registered with the City.
Email it with the required documents to the Planning and Development Services address listed in the eTRAKiT guide.
Checked October 18, 2026 against City of College Station, Building Permits; City of College Station, FY2026 PDS fees (updated Jan. 1, 2026); City of College Station, eTRAKiT requirements.
Electrical
| Local rule | Electrical contractor registration. |
|---|---|
| Insurance | General liability insurance of $300,000 or more. |
Provide the Master State Electrical License and Electrical Contractor License. The eTRAKiT guide lists no registration fee for this trade.
Electrical permits are obtained only by a licensed electrical contractor registered with the City.
Email it with the required documents to the Planning and Development Services address listed in the eTRAKiT guide.
Checked October 18, 2026 against City of College Station, Building Permits; City of College Station, FY2026 PDS fees (updated Jan. 1, 2026); City of College Station, eTRAKiT requirements.
HVAC
| Local rule | Mechanical contractor registration. |
|---|---|
| Insurance | General liability insurance of $300,000 or more. |
Provide the state mechanical license. The eTRAKiT guide lists no registration fee for this trade.
Mechanical permits are obtained only by a licensed ACR contractor registered with the City.
Email it with the required documents to the Planning and Development Services address listed in the eTRAKiT guide.
Checked October 18, 2026 against City of College Station, Building Permits; City of College Station, FY2026 PDS fees (updated Jan. 1, 2026); City of College Station, eTRAKiT requirements.
Irrigation
| Local rule | Irrigation contractor registration. |
|---|
Provide the state license. The eTRAKiT guide lists the registration fee ($78 at the time; $80 on the FY2026 schedule). An irrigation permit is $40.
An irrigation system needs a $40 permit from a registered, licensed irrigator.
- Email it with the required documents to the Planning and Development Services address listed in the eTRAKiT guide.
- Pay the registration fee ($80 on the FY2026 schedule).
Checked October 18, 2026 against City of College Station, Building Permits; City of College Station, FY2026 PDS fees (updated Jan. 1, 2026); City of College Station, eTRAKiT requirements.
Concrete flatwork (driveways, sidewalks and work in the public right-of-way)
| Local rule | Right-of-way registration for work in City right of way. |
|---|---|
| Insurance | The 2016 form asked for $5,000,000 combined commercial general liability and umbrella coverage plus workers' compensation. |
A driveway permit is $67 on the FY2026 schedule. The right-of-way registration form is from 2016; confirm current terms.
A driveway needs a $67 permit; work in the right of way also needs the City right-of-way registration.
Checked October 18, 2026 against City of College Station, Building Permits; City of College Station, FY2026 PDS fees (updated Jan. 1, 2026); City of College Station, right-of-way registration (2016).
Drainage and detention (grading, drainage, stormwater and detention ponds)
| Local rule | No grading contractor registration found. Development permits cover public infrastructure and drainage. |
|---|
A development permit and public infrastructure review starts at $790.12. Drainage and detention design must be sealed by a Texas PE.
Site development with drainage or detention needs a development permit with engineering review.
Have a Texas Professional Engineer prepare the drainage report and plans.
Checked October 18, 2026 against City of College Station, Building Permits; City of College Station, FY2026 PDS fees (updated Jan. 1, 2026).
Demolition
| Local rule | City of College Station contractor registration. |
|---|
Demolition needs a $67 permit.
- Email it with the required documents to the Planning and Development Services address listed in the eTRAKiT guide.
- Pay the registration fee ($80 on the FY2026 schedule).
Checked October 18, 2026 against City of College Station, Building Permits; City of College Station, FY2026 PDS fees (updated Jan. 1, 2026).
College Station does not publish a local license or registration rule for drainage and detention work. Ask the city's permit office before you bid that work.
Official sources and contacts
- City of College Station, Building Permits
- City of College Station, FY2026 PDS fee schedule
- City of College Station, eTRAKiT requirements for new registered users
- City of College Station, Foundation
Rules and fees change, and this is not legal advice. Confirm with the city's permit office before you apply or bid.