Texas contractor licensing
How to Get a Contractor License in Garland, Texas
Garland requires a city of Garland contractor registration, General Contractor from the city for foundation repair, general contracting, roofing, concrete flatwork, and demolition. It costs $125 per registration. You also need proof of liability insurance.
City contractor registration in Garland
| Registration | City of Garland contractor registration, General Contractor (includes fence, foundation repair, demolition, concrete and roofing contractors) |
|---|---|
| Covers | Foundation repair, general contracting, roofing, concrete flatwork, and demolition |
| Fee | $125 per registration |
| Insurance | All registrations require proof of insurance. Roofing contractors need a certificate of insurance with at least $300,000 general liability naming the City of Garland as certificate holder. Source |
How to register
- Fill out the Contractor Application for Registration.
- Attach a copy of the owner's or principal's driver's license and proof of insurance.
- Pay the $125 General Contractor registration fee at Building Inspection, 800 Main St.
Garland says all work must be done by State-licensed (mechanical, electrical, plumbing, irrigation) and City-registered (general, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, irrigators, signs, fences) contractors, with no exceptions. Electrical, HVAC and plumbing registrations are free because state law bars the fee, and those three may register by email at permits@garlandtx.gov.
What each trade needs in Garland
| Foundation repair | Easy · 7 | City of Garland contractor registration, General Contractor | $125 |
|---|---|---|---|
| General contracting | Easy · 7 | City of Garland contractor registration, General Contractor | $125 |
| Roofing | Easy · 7 | City of Garland contractor registration, General Contractor | $125 |
| Plumbing | Hard · 62 | State Plumbing Contractor registration | Free |
| Electrical | Hard · 58 | State Electrical Contractor registration | Free |
| HVAC | Hard · 52 | State HVAC Contractor registration | Free |
| Irrigation | Moderate · 30 | State Irrigation Contractor registration | $125 |
| Concrete flatwork | Easy · 13 | General Contractor registration | $400 |
| Drainage and detention | Not rated | No grading contractor registration found. Site and civil plans are approved by the Enginee | |
| Demolition | Easy · 7 | City of Garland contractor registration, General Contractor | $125 |
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.
Drainage and detention work is not rated because its rules are not fully published.
How the difficulty score works
Details for each trade
Foundation repair
| Local rule | City of Garland contractor registration, General Contractor (includes fence, foundation repair, demolition, concrete and roofing contractors). |
|---|---|
| Engineer letter | Yes, for repairs valued at $2,000 or more, which is when Garland requires the permit. An engineer's letter outlining the repairs goes with the application, along with a stamped pier diagram, and the engineer's final report is sent when the work is done. |
The application says General Contractor includes, but is not limited to, fence, foundation repair, demolition, concrete and roofing contractors. The registration form lists General Contractor at $125.
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.
- Attach a copy of the owner's or principal's driver's license and proof of insurance.
- Pay the $125 General Contractor registration fee at Building Inspection, 800 Main St.
- Get an engineer's letter outlining the repairs, a stamped pier diagram and a foundation and elevation assessment plan.
- After the work, email the engineer's final report to permitsgroup@garlandtx.gov.
Checked October 18, 2026 against City of Garland, Foundation Repair; City of Garland, Contractor Application.
General contracting (residential remodels, additions and home improvement)
| Local rule | City of Garland contractor registration, General Contractor (includes fence, foundation repair, demolition, concrete and roofing contractors). |
|---|
Remodels and additions need a building permit pulled by a registered contractor.
- Attach a copy of the owner's or principal's driver's license and proof of insurance.
- Pay the $125 General Contractor registration fee at Building Inspection, 800 Main St.
Checked October 18, 2026 against City of Garland, Building Permit; City of Garland, Contractor Application.
Roofing
| Local rule | City of Garland contractor registration, General Contractor (includes fence, foundation repair, demolition, concrete and roofing contractors). |
|---|
Roof repairs or replacement worth $2,000 or more need a $150 re-roofing permit with the executed contract or the insurance adjuster's scope. A 4.5 percent technology surcharge is added to every permit.
- Attach a copy of the owner's or principal's driver's license and proof of insurance.
- Pay the $125 General Contractor registration fee at Building Inspection, 800 Main St.
- Name the City of Garland, 200 N 5th St, as certificate holder on a $300,000 liability certificate.
- Apply for the re-roofing permit with the contract or adjuster's scope and pay $150.
Checked October 18, 2026 against City of Garland, Re-Roofing; City of Garland, Contractor Application.
Plumbing
| Local rule | State Plumbing Contractor registration (no fee). |
|---|---|
| Fee | Free |
Supply a copy of the State Plumbing Master license, state insurance coverage and the master's driver's license. Can be emailed to permits@garlandtx.gov.
Email the registration with license, insurance and ID to permits@garlandtx.gov.
Checked October 18, 2026 against City of Garland, Contractor Application.
Electrical
| Local rule | State Electrical Contractor registration (no fee). |
|---|---|
| Fee | Free |
Supply copies of the state contractor license, Master Electrician license and the master's driver's license. Can be emailed.
Checked October 18, 2026 against City of Garland, Contractor Application.
HVAC
| Local rule | State HVAC Contractor registration (no fee). |
|---|---|
| Fee | Free |
Supply a copy of the state HVAC license and the license holder's driver's license. Can be emailed.
Checked October 18, 2026 against City of Garland, Contractor Application.
Irrigation
| Local rule | State Irrigation Contractor registration. |
|---|---|
| Fee | $125 per registration |
Supply a copy of the state irrigator license and the license holder's driver's license. The irrigation permit is $150 whether a homeowner or contractor pulls it. A 4.5 percent technology surcharge is added to every permit.
A lawn sprinkler system needs a $150 irrigation permit.
Checked October 18, 2026 against City of Garland, Irrigation Installation; City of Garland, Contractor Application.
Concrete flatwork (driveways, sidewalks and work in the public right-of-way)
| Local rule | General Contractor registration (concrete); ROW contractor registration for right-of-way work. |
|---|---|
| Fee | $400 per year |
| Insurance | Certificate of insurance listing the City of Garland as certificate holder. A general repair bond is not accepted in place of the certificate as of Jan. 1, 2025. |
Concrete contractors register as general contractors ($125). Work in the right of way needs the ROW contractor registration, $400 a year, paid in person or by mail. Approaches are reviewed by the Transportation Department and must meet the City Engineering Specifications.
Driveways need a permit; approaches and sidewalks in the right of way follow the City Engineering Specifications and are reviewed by Transportation.
For right-of-way work, register with ROW Management, provide the insurance certificate and pay $400.
Checked October 18, 2026 against City of Garland, ROW Contractor Registration; City of Garland, Driveway / Sidewalk; City of Garland, Contractor Application.
Drainage and detention (grading, drainage, stormwater and detention ponds)
| Local rule | No grading contractor registration found. Site and civil plans are approved by the Engineering Department. |
|---|
Commercial building plans cannot be approved until the civil plans are approved by Engineering. Drainage and detention design must be sealed by a Texas PE.
Grading and drainage are reviewed as civil plans by the Engineering Department before building plans are approved.
Have a Texas Professional Engineer prepare civil and drainage plans.
Checked October 18, 2026 against City of Garland, Building Permit.
Demolition
| Local rule | City of Garland contractor registration, General Contractor (includes fence, foundation repair, demolition, concrete and roofing contractors). |
|---|
Demolition needs a $250 flat-fee demolition permit; commercial demolition also needs an asbestos survey. A 4.5 percent technology surcharge is added to every permit.
- Attach a copy of the owner's or principal's driver's license and proof of insurance.
- Pay the $125 General Contractor registration fee at Building Inspection, 800 Main St.
- Get an asbestos survey and notify DSHS when the building is covered.
Checked October 18, 2026 against City of Garland, Demolition; City of Garland, Building Permit.
Garland 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 Garland, Contractor Application for Registration
- City of Garland, Contractor Application (fee list and insurance)
- City of Garland, Building Permit
- City of Garland, ROW Contractor Registration
Rules and fees change, and this is not legal advice. Confirm with the city's permit office before you apply or bid.