Texas contractor licensing
How to Get a Contractor License in Corpus Christi, Texas
Corpus Christi requires a city of Corpus Christi Contractor Registration, General Contractor from the city for foundation repair, general contracting, roofing, concrete flatwork, and demolition. It is free. You also need proof of liability insurance and a background check.
City contractor registration in Corpus Christi
| Registration | City of Corpus Christi Contractor Registration, General Contractor (Form DSD-1011) |
|---|---|
| Covers | Foundation repair, general contracting, roofing, concrete flatwork, and demolition |
| Fee | Free |
| Insurance | General liability insurance is one of the minimum registration requirements under the STAR program bulletin. No amount is stated. Source |
| Background check | An approved criminal background check is a minimum registration requirement (IB016). Source |
| Processing time | Within 3 business days for email submissions. |
How to register
- Fill out Contractor Registration form DSD-1011 and attach a copy of your driver's license.
- Send the STAR application, Code of Ethics acknowledgement, proof of general liability insurance and background check information to dsoutreach@cctexas.com or the permit counter.
- Email submissions are reviewed within 3 business days.
- Apply for permits through the City's online portal.
Corpus Christi registers general contractors at no fee. The Building Official can move or suspend a contractor's category under section 14-206.1.6 of the Municipal Code, and a suspended contractor cannot pull permits. Gold STAR is the only level that involves an ICC certification, and it is optional.
What each trade needs in Corpus Christi
| Foundation repair | Easy · 9 | City of Corpus Christi Contractor Registration, General Contractor | Free |
|---|---|---|---|
| General contracting | Easy · 9 | City of Corpus Christi Contractor Registration, General Contractor | Free |
| Roofing | Easy · 9 | City of Corpus Christi Contractor Registration, General Contractor | Free |
| Plumbing | Hard · 62 | Plumbing Contractor registration | Free |
| Electrical | Hard · 58 | Electrical Contractor registration | Free |
| HVAC | Hard or harder · 52+ | Mechanical Contractor registration | |
| Irrigation | Moderate · 31 | Lawn Irrigator registration | $197.65 |
| Concrete flatwork | Not rated | City of Corpus Christi Contractor Registration, General Contractor | Free |
| Drainage and detention | Not rated | No grading contractor registration found. Excavation and fill permits are issued by the Ci | |
| Demolition | Not rated | City of Corpus Christi Contractor Registration, General Contractor | 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.
Concrete flatwork, drainage and detention work, and demolition 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 Corpus Christi Contractor Registration, General Contractor (Form DSD-1011). |
|---|---|
| Engineer letter | Yes. The city's residential remodels page says foundation repair requires an engineered, sealed foundation plan. |
The registration form lists General Contractor as no fee. Bulletin IB016 (Nov. 11, 2024) says the minimum requirements for registration are the application, Code of Ethics acknowledgement, general liability insurance and an approved background check (Bronze STAR). Silver and Gold STAR levels are voluntary and add training, a clean record, five years of registration and an ICC certification.
Foundation repair needs a residential building permit with an engineered, sealed foundation plan.
- Fill out Contractor Registration form DSD-1011 and attach a copy of your driver's license.
- Send the STAR application, Code of Ethics acknowledgement, proof of general liability insurance and background check information to dsoutreach@cctexas.com or the permit counter.
- Have a Texas Professional Engineer prepare a sealed foundation repair plan.
- Apply with Form 1003, floor plan, scope of work and an elevation certificate if in a floodplain.
Checked October 18, 2026 against City of Corpus Christi, residential remodels and repairs; City of Corpus Christi, Contractor Registration form; City of Corpus Christi, IB016.
General contracting (residential remodels, additions and home improvement)
| Local rule | City of Corpus Christi Contractor Registration, General Contractor (Form DSD-1011). |
|---|
Remodels and additions need a residential building permit with a floor plan and scope of work.
- Fill out Contractor Registration form DSD-1011 and attach a copy of your driver's license.
- Send the STAR application, Code of Ethics acknowledgement, proof of general liability insurance and background check information to dsoutreach@cctexas.com or the permit counter.
Checked October 18, 2026 against City of Corpus Christi, Contractor Registration form; City of Corpus Christi, IB016; City of Corpus Christi, residential remodels and repairs.
Roofing
| Local rule | City of Corpus Christi Contractor Registration, General Contractor (Form DSD-1011). |
|---|
The registration form lists General Contractor as no fee. Bulletin IB016 (Nov. 11, 2024) says the minimum requirements for registration are the application, Code of Ethics acknowledgement, general liability insurance and an approved background check (Bronze STAR). Silver and Gold STAR levels are voluntary and add training, a clean record, five years of registration and an ICC certification. Roofing and siding permits require a Texas Department of Insurance WPI-1 form from the windstorm engineer or inspector. The FY2026 residential roofing and siding fee is $33.10 per permit with $100 per requested inspection.
A reroof needs a roofing and siding permit with a TDI windstorm WPI-1 form from the windstorm engineer or inspector.
- Fill out Contractor Registration form DSD-1011 and attach a copy of your driver's license.
- Send the STAR application, Code of Ethics acknowledgement, proof of general liability insurance and background check information to dsoutreach@cctexas.com or the permit counter.
- Line up a TDI windstorm engineer or inspector and get the WPI-1 form.
- Apply with Form 1003 and a scope of work naming the roofing method and materials.
Checked October 18, 2026 against City of Corpus Christi, residential remodels and repairs; City of Corpus Christi, FY2026 fee schedule.
Plumbing
| Local rule | Plumbing Contractor registration (no fee). |
|---|---|
| Fee | Free |
Register with a copy of your driver's license and state plumbing license.
Register on form DSD-1011 with your ID and license.
Checked October 18, 2026 against City of Corpus Christi, Contractor Registration form.
Electrical
| Local rule | Electrical Contractor registration (no fee). |
|---|---|
| Fee | Free |
| Insurance | Certificate of liability insurance naming the City of Corpus Christi as certificate holder. |
Register with copies of the state Master Electrician license, state contractor license and driver's license.
Register on form DSD-1011 with both licenses, ID and insurance certificate.
Checked October 18, 2026 against City of Corpus Christi, Contractor Registration form.
HVAC
| Local rule | Mechanical Contractor registration. |
|---|---|
| Fee | Form DSD-1011 lists $135 a year for a Mechanical registration. State law bars a city registration fee for state-licensed air conditioning contractors (Occupations Code 1302.304), so ask the city whether it charges one. Fee schedule |
| Insurance | Certificate of liability insurance naming the City of Corpus Christi as certificate holder. |
The registration form (rev. 5/09/2018) lists an annual registration fee of $135.00. Since September 1, 2021, Occupations Code section 1302.304 bars cities from charging a registration fee to a licensed ACR contractor, and the FY2026 fee schedule lists no mechanical registration fee, so confirm with Development Services.
Register on form DSD-1011 with ID, state license and insurance certificate.
Checked October 18, 2026 against City of Corpus Christi, Contractor Registration form.
Irrigation
| Local rule | Lawn Irrigator registration. |
|---|---|
| Fee | $197.65 per year |
The FY2026 fee schedule lists Lawn Irrigator registration at $197.65 plus the 4.5 percent surcharge. The older registration form shows $135.00, so the fee schedule is the current figure.
Irrigation permits are pulled by a TCEQ-licensed irrigator registered with the City.
Checked October 18, 2026 against City of Corpus Christi, FY2026 fee schedule; City of Corpus Christi, Contractor Registration form.
Concrete flatwork (driveways, sidewalks and work in the public right-of-way)
| Local rule | City of Corpus Christi Contractor Registration, General Contractor (Form DSD-1011). |
|---|
Driveways and sidewalks need a residential building permit with a site plan when the work is in the right of way.
- Fill out Contractor Registration form DSD-1011 and attach a copy of your driver's license.
- Send the STAR application, Code of Ethics acknowledgement, proof of general liability insurance and background check information to dsoutreach@cctexas.com or the permit counter.
- Apply with Form 1003 and an existing and proposed site plan if the work is in the right of way.
Checked October 18, 2026 against City of Corpus Christi, residential remodels and repairs.
Drainage and detention (grading, drainage, stormwater and detention ponds)
| Local rule | No grading contractor registration found. Excavation and fill permits are issued by the City. |
|---|
The FY2026 fee schedule lists excavation and fill permit fees. Drainage and detention design must be sealed by a Texas Professional Engineer. We did not pull the City's drainage criteria.
Excavation and fill work needs an excavation and fill permit, with engineered drainage design.
Have a Texas Professional Engineer prepare the drainage design.
Checked October 18, 2026 against City of Corpus Christi, FY2026 fee schedule.
Demolition
| Local rule | City of Corpus Christi Contractor Registration, General Contractor (Form DSD-1011). |
|---|
Demolition needs a demolition permit; the FY2026 fee is $266.20 for residential and $532.40 for commercial, plus the surcharge.
- Fill out Contractor Registration form DSD-1011 and attach a copy of your driver's license.
- Send the STAR application, Code of Ethics acknowledgement, proof of general liability insurance and background check information to dsoutreach@cctexas.com or the permit counter.
- Apply for the demolition permit and pay $266.20 (residential).
Checked October 18, 2026 against City of Corpus Christi, FY2026 fee schedule.
Corpus Christi 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 Corpus Christi, Contractor Registration form DSD-1011
- City of Corpus Christi, Information Bulletin IB016, STAR contractor program
- City of Corpus Christi, residential remodels and repairs
- City of Corpus Christi, FY2026 development fee schedule (Oct. 1, 2025 to Sept. 30, 2026)
Rules and fees change, and this is not legal advice. Confirm with the city's permit office before you apply or bid.