Texas contractor licensing
Contractor Licensing in Unincorporated Hays County, Texas
Unincorporated Hays County does not publish a general contractor registration.
What each trade needs in Unincorporated Hays County
| Foundation repair | Not rated | Hays County development permit | |
|---|---|---|---|
| General contracting | Easy · 2 | Hays County development permit | $100 |
| Roofing | Not rated | Not published | |
| Plumbing | Not rated | Not published | |
| Electrical | Not rated | Not published | |
| HVAC | Not rated | Not published | |
| Irrigation | Not rated | Not published | |
| Concrete flatwork | Easy · 4 | Hays County driveway permit | $200 |
| Drainage and detention | Easy · 2 | Hays County development permit | $100 |
| Demolition | Not rated | Not published |
Tap a column to sort. Each trade opens its Texas comparison by city, and fees link to the official fee page, checked October 25, 2026. Plumbing, electrical, HVAC and irrigation also need a Texas state license, which no county registration replaces.
Foundation repair, roofing, plumbing, electrical work, HVAC work, landscape irrigation, 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 | Hays County development permit (Development Services). |
|---|
So the county can stay in the National Flood Insurance Program, Hays County requires a development permit for any development in unincorporated areas: houses, pools, sheds, outbuildings, slabs and foundations, grading, fill, creek crossings and stormwater facilities. Interior renovation of a single-family house outside the floodplain needs no development permit; inside the floodplain it may. Permits are good for 1 year to start and 2 years to finish. No county contractor registration was found. The FAQ lists pouring a slab or foundation as development; whether repairing an existing foundation needs a development permit is not stated. Ask Development Services, especially if the home is in a floodplain.
No county contractor registration applies; ask Development Services whether a foundation repair counts as development (always ask if the home is in a floodplain).
- Confirm the property is outside city limits and ETJ building rules.
- Ask Development Services (512-393-2150) whether the repair needs a development permit.
Checked October 25, 2026 against Hays County 2026 fee list, Development Services. Checked October 18, 2026 against Hays County development permits FAQ; Hays County FAQs on development.
General contracting (residential remodels, additions and home improvement)
| Local rule | Hays County development permit (Development Services). |
|---|---|
| Fee | $100 (development permit outside the floodplain ($300 inside it)). Hays County Development Services fee schedule, effective January 1, 2026. |
So the county can stay in the National Flood Insurance Program, Hays County requires a development permit for any development in unincorporated areas: houses, pools, sheds, outbuildings, slabs and foundations, grading, fill, creek crossings and stormwater facilities. Interior renovation of a single-family house outside the floodplain needs no development permit; inside the floodplain it may. Permits are good for 1 year to start and 2 years to finish. No county contractor registration was found.
Additions and new structures need a county development permit; interior renovations outside the floodplain do not.
- Apply for the development permit (and OSSF design if on septic).
- Start within 1 year and finish within 2 years.
Checked October 25, 2026 against Hays County 2026 fee list, Development Services. Checked October 18, 2026 against Hays County development permits FAQ; Hays County FAQs on development.
Concrete flatwork (driveways, sidewalks and work in the public right-of-way)
| Local rule | Hays County driveway permit (Transportation Department) for driveways in county right-of-way; other paved areas need a development permit. |
|---|---|
| Fee | $200 (residential driveway permit, including the $50 review fee ($300 commercial)) |
Driveways built in county easements and right-of-way need a Transportation Department permit, applied for in MyGovernmentOnline, and building one without a permit carries a $50 fine. Other paved areas are development that needs a county development permit. No county contractor registration was found.
A driveway onto a county road needs a $200 residential driveway permit from the Transportation Department; other paved areas need a county development permit.
Build to the county driveway specifications and pass the county inspection.
Checked October 25, 2026 against Hays County 2026 fee list, Transportation Department; Hays County road inspections and driveway permits. Checked October 18, 2026 against Hays County development permits FAQ.
Drainage and detention (grading, drainage, stormwater and detention ponds)
| Local rule | Hays County development permit (Development Services). |
|---|---|
| Fee | $100 (development permit outside the floodplain ($300 inside it)). Hays County Development Services fee schedule, effective January 1, 2026. |
Grading, fill, creek crossings and stormwater management facilities all need a county development permit.
Have the grading or detention design prepared by a Texas PE.
Checked October 25, 2026 against Hays County 2026 fee list, Development Services. Checked October 18, 2026 against Hays County development permits FAQ.
Unincorporated Hays County does not publish a local license or registration rule for foundation repair, roofing, plumbing, electrical work, HVAC work, landscape irrigation, and demolition. Ask Hays County Development Services before you bid that work.
Permit fees and local rules in Unincorporated Hays County
- Building without a development permit inside the floodplain carries a $600 penalty fee.
- Development applications are filed only online through MGO Connect; paper applications are not accepted.
- A septic (OSSF) permit for a single-family home is $610 plus a $10 state fee, and a base flood elevation request is $30.
- A utility road cut or trench across a county road is $450 a road, and a bore or overhead crossing $350.
Checked October 25, 2026 against Hays County 2026 fee list, Development Services; Hays County 2026 fee list, Transportation Department.
Official sources and contacts
Hays County Development Services, 512-393-2150.
- Development Permits FAQ
- All Development Services FAQs
- Texas Local Government Code Chapter 233
- Development Services fee schedule (January 1, 2026)
- Transportation Department fee schedule (January 2026)
- Road inspections and driveway permits
Rules and fees change, and this is not legal advice. Confirm with Hays County Development Services before you apply or bid.