Texas contractor licensing
Do You Need a License for Foundation Repair in Texas?
Not from the state. Texas has no state license for foundation repair, so any license or registration comes from the city where the job is. 31 of the 37 Texas cities and counties here require a local license or registration for it, and 4 do not. San Antonio requires an exam or certification for it. Local fees run from free in Abilene to $250 in Brownsville. Corpus Christi, Denton, Fort Worth, Garland, Georgetown, Houston, Kyle, McKinney, Plano, Round Rock, and San Antonio also want a Texas professional engineer's letter or plans with the repair permit. San Antonio rates hardest at 30 of 100, while 6 places tie as easiest at 0, among them Georgetown, Houston, and McKinney.
If you are hiring a company rather than getting licensed, our guide to checking a company you are hiring shows how to confirm a foundation repair contractor's registration in San Antonio.
The Texas state layer for foundation repair
Texas has no state license for this work. 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. Some cities require a Texas professional engineer (TBPELS) to design or oversee 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.
Checked October 18, 2026 against TDLR list of regulated programs; Texas Sunset Advisory Commission, Texas Residential Construction Commission (abolished 2009).
Exams for foundation repair in Texas
| ICC Residential Building Contractor (C) | International Code Council, tested through Pearson VUE | $120 (Pearson VUE) | Fee paid again; wait 10 days | Open book | 80 | 4 hours | 70% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ICC National Standard Residential Building Contractor (C) | International Code Council, tested through Pearson VUE | $120 (Pearson VUE) | Fee paid again; wait 10 days | Open book | 80 | 4 hours | 70% |
| ICC National Standard General Building Contractor (A) | International Code Council, tested through Pearson VUE | $120 (Pearson VUE) | Fee paid again; wait 10 days | Open book | 90 | 4 hours | 70% |
| ICC Residential Building Inspector | International Code Council, PRONTO in person or online | $320 (PRONTO) | Exam fee paid at every attempt; up to six attempts in six months | Open book | 60 | 2 hours | Scaled score of 75 |
| ICC Residential Plans Examiner | International Code Council, PRONTO in person or online | $320 (PRONTO) | Exam fee paid at every attempt; up to six attempts in six months | Open book | 60 | 2 hours | Scaled score of 75 |
| ICC Residential Mechanical, Electrical or Plumbing Inspector | International Code Council, PRONTO in person or online | $320 each (PRONTO) | Exam fee paid at every attempt; up to six attempts in six months | Open book | 60 each | 2 hours each | Scaled score of 75 |
Tap a column to sort. Each exam name opens the provider's bulletin or exam page. A blank cell is a fact not confirmed from the provider, and the linked bulletin has the full rules.
- Study references for ICC Residential Building Contractor (C) are the 2018 International Residential Code.
- Study references for ICC National Standard Residential Building Contractor (C) are the 2015 International Residential Code. ICC retires this exam on December 1, 2026.
- Study references for ICC National Standard General Building Contractor (A) are the 2015 International Building Code and the listed concrete and safety references. ICC retires this exam on December 1, 2026.
- Study references for ICC Residential Building Inspector are the 2021 or 2024 International Residential Code (ICC offers both editions; digital copy provided).
- Study references for ICC Residential Plans Examiner are the 2021 or 2024 International Residential Code (ICC offers both editions; digital copy provided).
- Study references for ICC Residential Mechanical, Electrical or Plumbing Inspector are the 2021 or 2024 International Residential Code (ICC offers both editions; digital copy provided).
Checked October 18, 2026 against ICC exam catalog, G13-N; ICC National Contractor/Trades Examination Information Bulletin, June 30, 2026; ICC support, how often can I test; ICC support, passing scores.
Foundation repair rules in each Texas city and county
Difficulty adds the Texas state layer to each local rule. The easiest and hardest cities page compares every trade.
| Abilene | Not rated | City of Abilene contractor registration | Free | None listed | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amarillo | Not rated | City of Amarillo contractor license, General or Residential Remodel category | None listed | ||
| Austin | Easy · 2 | General Contractor registration with Building and Trade Contractor Services | $82.56 | None listed | Not listed |
| Brownsville | Not rated | City of Brownsville contractor registration, General Contractors | $250 | None listed | |
| Cedar Park | Not rated | Contractor registration | Free | None listed | |
| College Station | Easy · 2 | City of College Station contractor registration | $80 | None listed | |
| Converse | Not rated | Contractor Registration | $100 | None listed | Not listed |
| Corpus Christi | Easy · 9 | City of Corpus Christi Contractor Registration, General Contractor | Free | None listed | Yes |
| Dallas | Not rated | City of Dallas Contractor Registration, General Contractor category | $120 | None listed | |
| Denton | Easy · 1 | City of Denton contractor registration, General Contractor | $66 | None listed | Yes |
| El Paso | Not rated | City of El Paso Contractor Registration, General Contractor | $100 | None listed | |
| Fort Worth | Easy · 3 | City of Fort Worth Contractor Registration, Building contractor type | $168.75 | None listed | Yes |
| Garland | Easy · 7 | City of Garland contractor registration, General Contractor | $125 | None listed | Yes |
| Georgetown | Easy · 0 | Contractor registration in My Government Online, with no category named | Free | None listed | Yes |
| Grand Prairie | Not rated | City of Grand Prairie General Contractor Registration | $75 | None listed | |
| Houston | Easy · 0 | No contractor registration. A foundation repair permit is required. | Yes | ||
| Killeen | Not rated | City of Killeen general construction registration | $80 | None listed | |
| Kyle | Easy · 7 | Contractor registration with the Building Inspection Department | $100 | None listed | Yes |
| Laredo | Not rated | City of Laredo General Contractor registration | $60 | None listed | |
| Leander | Not rated | Contractor registration form on file with Building Permits and Inspections | Free | None listed | Not listed |
| Leon Valley | Not rated | Contractor registration | Free | None listed | |
| Lockhart | Not rated | City of Lockhart Building Contractor License, Class A, B or C | $50 | None listed | |
| Lubbock | Not rated | City of Lubbock building/general contractor registration | $65 | None listed | |
| McKinney | Easy · 0 | None. McKinney does not require general contractor registration | Yes | ||
| New Braunfels | Not rated | General contractor-residential registration | $200 | None listed | Not listed |
| Odessa | Not rated | City of Odessa General Contractor registration | Free | None listed | |
| Plano | Easy · 2 | City of Plano contractor registration, General Contractor | $100 | None listed | Yes |
| Round Rock | Easy · 0 | Building Inspection contractor registration | Free | None listed | Yes |
| San Antonio | Moderate · 30 | Residential Building Contractor registration | $195.50 | ICC National Residential Building Contractor, exam ID G13 | Yes |
| San Marcos | Not rated | Contractor's License / Registration, Building category | $175 | None listed | Not listed |
| Schertz | Not rated | General Contractor registration | Free | None listed | |
| Seguin | Not rated | Contractor Registration | $100 | None listed | |
| Unincorporated Bexar County | Easy · 0 | Not required | |||
| Unincorporated Comal County | Easy · 0 | Not required | |||
| Universal City | Not rated | Home Improvement Contractor registration | None listed | ||
| Waco | Not rated | Company registration in the Citizen Self Service portal |
Tap a column to sort. Blank cells mean the city does not publish that fact. Checked October 18, 2026.
Pflugerville publishes no rule for foundation repair. Call the city before you bid there.
We also checked 25 more Texas cities and counties whose offices publish too little online for a full page yet.
What a foundation repair job needs in each city
Licensing is half of it. This is how each city handles the permit for foundation repair, from its own pages.
- Abilene. Foundation work is done by a registered, bonded building contractor under a building permit; we did not find Abilene's engineering rule for repairs.
- Amarillo. Foundation work needs a building permit; remodel permits cost $0.32 per square foot or $135 minimum, plus an $81 residential plan review fee and $13 technology fee.
- Austin. Most residential foundation repairs qualify for a Residential Express Permit pulled by a registered general contractor; repairs of 128 square feet or less are exempt.
- Brownsville. Foundation work is permitted to a registered general contractor; the residential checklist asks for structural plans with seals where law requires.
- Cedar Park. Foundation repair is not named on the city's permit list; confirm with Building Permits and Inspections whether your repair needs a building permit and engineering.
- College Station. 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.
- Converse. Foundation repair is not named on the city's permit list; changes to the building generally need a permit pulled by a registered contractor. Confirm with the Building Division.
- Corpus Christi. Foundation repair needs a residential building permit with an engineered, sealed foundation plan.
- Dallas. A foundation repair needs a Residential Foundation Repair permit pulled by a registered contractor and a pier, beam and foundation inspection.
- Denton. All foundation repairs need a permit with a foundation repair letter and plan signed and sealed by a Texas registered engineer, and a final engineered seal report before the building final.
- El Paso. Foundation repair needs a building permit pulled by a registered general contractor and a foundation inspection.
- Fort Worth. Foundation repair needs a residential building permit with engineered foundation plans and an engineered structural letter.
- Garland. Foundation repairs worth $2,000 or more need a $150 permit with an engineer's letter, a stamped pier diagram and a foundation and elevation assessment plan, plus an engineer's final report afterward. A 4.5 percent technology surcharge is added to every permit.
- Georgetown. Foundation repair needs a permit applied for online with engineer-stamped foundation plans ($50 plus $10 technology fee); the engineer's inspection report must be on site at inspection.
- Grand Prairie. Foundation repair needs a $30 foundation repair permit.
- Houston. Foundation repair needs a City permit with engineered plans for slab-on-grade houses and pre-construction and final inspections.
- Killeen. Foundation work needs a building permit from a registered contractor; check the City's engineering flow chart for when a PE is required.
- Kyle. Foundation repair needs a permit applied for by a city-registered foundation company, with an engineered design at application and a sealed engineer's letter at inspection.
- Laredo. Foundation repair is filed as a residential building permit by a registered contractor; confirm engineering requirements with a plans examiner.
- Leander. Foundation repair is not named on the city's permit lists; confirm with Building Permits and Inspections whether your repair needs a permit and engineering.
- Leon Valley. Foundation contractors must register with the city; the fee schedule has no separate foundation repair permit, so ask whether the remodel permit applies and whether an engineer's letter is needed.
- Lockhart. Structural repair to a house needs a building permit pulled by a city-licensed building contractor (Class C or higher for single-family work).
- Lubbock. Foundation work needs a foundation permit ($75).
- McKinney. Any leveling, pier or footing replacement, shimming or floor-system replacement needs a permit with an engineer's letter and drawings first, and a final engineer's report to close it.
- New Braunfels. A residential foundation repair needs a Foundation permit through the online portal; when it is part of a remodel the city asks for an IRC Chapter 4 foundation plan, and when part of an addition, a sealed engineered plan.
- Odessa. Foundation repair is permitted to a registered contractor; we did not find Odessa's engineering requirement for repairs.
- Plano. Foundation repair needs a foundation permit ($100) with engineer-sealed pier plans, pier details and an engineer's letter.
- Round Rock. Foundation repair needs a $125 Foundation Repair permit with a sealed Engineer of Record letter and engineered plan, closed out with the engineer's final report.
- San Antonio. A residential foundation repair needs a Foundation Repair Permit applied for through the Accela (BuildSA) portal by the owner or a registered Residential Building Contractor, with a signed and sealed Assumption as Engineer of Record letter from a Texas PE.
- San Marcos. Foundation work needs a Foundation Permit ($0.16 per square foot) and the contractor's city license number on the application.
- Schertz. Residential foundation repair needs a Foundation Repair permit ($225 plus 50% plan review and $10 technology fee) pulled by a registered contractor.
- Seguin. Repairing a building needs a building permit submitted by a city-registered contractor; foundation-specific submittals are not published.
- Unincorporated Bexar County. No county building permit is required for single-family foundation repair outside city limits; a $50 Floodplain Development Permit applies near the 100-year floodplain.
- Unincorporated Comal County. No county building permit or contractor registration applies to foundation repair in unincorporated Comal County; floodplain rules apply if the home is in the regulatory floodplain.
- Universal City. Foundation repair on an existing home needs a building permit pulled by a registered Home Improvement or General Contractor.
- Waco. Foundation leveling on an existing house needs a $75 leveling permit plus the $15 technology fee.
How to get licensed for foundation repair in Texas
There is no state license to apply for, so you register with each city where you take foundation repair jobs, as the table above shows, and pull that city's permit.
Rules and fees change, and this is not legal advice. Confirm with the city where the work is before you apply or bid.