Texas contractor licensing
Do You Need a License for Landscape Irrigation in Texas?
Yes. Texas requires a Landscape Irrigator (LI) license from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for landscape irrigation, and that state license comes first. 32 of the 37 Texas cities and counties here require a local license or registration for it, and 2 do not. Local fees run from free in Abilene to $197.65 in Corpus Christi. El Paso rates hardest at 37 of 100, while 10 places tie as easiest at 27, among them Cedar Park, Dallas, and Georgetown.
The Texas state layer for landscape irrigation
| License | Landscape Irrigator (LI) license |
|---|---|
| Board | Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) |
| Fee | $111 (application, license valid 3 years (renewal $111)) |
| Exam | TCEQ Landscape Irrigator exam. Given by Computer-based testing center (contact the center; six-hour exam). |
| Experience | None required. |
| Background check | Required |
| Continuing education | 24 hours per 3-year renewal. |
| Processing time | About 3 to 4 weeks. |
Selling, designing, installing, repairing or consulting on a landscape irrigation system requires a TCEQ license. A Landscape Irrigator needs the Basic Irrigator Licensing Course, a criminal history attestation and a passing exam (70 percent on each section). No education or work experience is required. Processing takes about 3 to 4 weeks. Licenses are valid three years and renewal needs 24 hours of continuing education. The exam is taken at a computer-based testing center; TCEQ does not publish the testing center fee.
Cities commonly require licensed irrigators to register locally and pull an irrigation permit with backflow testing.
Checked October 18, 2026 against TCEQ Landscape Irrigator, Irrigation Technician and Irrigation Inspector licenses.
Exams for landscape irrigation in Texas
| TCEQ Landscape Irrigator | TCEQ-approved computer-based testing centers | $111 TCEQ application fee, plus the testing center's own fee (set by each center) | Testing center fee again; some centers offer one retest the same day | Closed book | 6 hours | 70% on each section |
|---|
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.
Checked October 18, 2026 against TCEQ Landscape Irrigator license page; TCEQ occupational licensing exams; TCEQ computer-based testing.
Irrigation 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 | Moderate · 36 | Irrigation contractor registration | Free |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amarillo | Moderate or harder · 35+ | City Landscape Irrigator or Irrigator Tech license | |
| Austin | Moderate · 29 | Irrigation registration with the City | $67.39 |
| Brownsville | Moderate · 32 | Irrigation contractor registration | Free |
| Cedar Park | Moderate or harder · 27+ | Contractor registration | Free |
| College Station | Moderate · 29 | Irrigation contractor registration | $80 |
| Converse | Moderate or harder · 32+ | Contractor Registration | |
| Corpus Christi | Moderate · 31 | Lawn Irrigator registration | $197.65 |
| Dallas | Moderate or harder · 27+ | Irrigation contractor registration | |
| Denton | Moderate · 29 | Irrigator contractor registration | $66 |
| El Paso | Moderate · 37 | Irrigation contractor registration | $100 |
| Fort Worth | Moderate · 31 | Plumbing Irrigator registration | $168.75 |
| Garland | Moderate · 30 | State Irrigation Contractor registration | $125 |
| Georgetown | Moderate · 27 | Contractor registration in My Government Online, under the Licensed Irrigator category | Free |
| Grand Prairie | Moderate · 29 | Irrigation Contractor Registration | $75 |
| Houston | Moderate or harder · 28+ | Landscape Irrigator registration with the City of Houston | $61.67 |
| Killeen | Moderate · 29 | City of Killeen general construction registration | $80 |
| Kyle | Moderate · 34 | Contractor registration with the Building Inspection Department | $100 |
| Laredo | Moderate or harder · 32+ | Irrigation Contractor registration | |
| Leander | Moderate · 32 | Contractor registration form on file with Building Permits and Inspections | Free |
| Leon Valley | Moderate · 27 | Contractor registration | Free |
| McKinney | Moderate or harder · 27+ | Irrigation Contractor Registration through CSS | |
| New Braunfels | Moderate or harder · 32+ | Subcontractor registration | |
| Pflugerville | Moderate · 29 | Irrigation permit by a TCEQ Licensed Irrigator | $70 |
| Plano | Moderate · 29 | Irrigation contractor registration | $100 |
| Round Rock | Moderate · 27 | Building Inspection contractor registration | Free |
| San Antonio | Moderate · 34 | State Irrigation License Registration | $97.75 |
| San Marcos | Moderate · 28 | Contractor's License / Registration, Irrigation category | $62 |
| Schertz | Moderate · 27 | Irrigator registration | Free |
| Seguin | Moderate · 32 | Irrigator registration | Free |
| Unincorporated Bexar County | Moderate or harder · 27+ | Not required | |
| Unincorporated Comal County | Moderate or harder · 27+ | Not required | |
| Universal City | Moderate or harder · 32+ | Contractor registration | |
| Waco | Moderate or harder · 27+ | Proof of state irrigator license in the portal |
Tap a column to sort. Blank cells mean the city does not publish that fact. Checked October 18, 2026.
Lockhart, Lubbock, and Odessa publish no rule for landscape irrigation. 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 landscape irrigation job needs in each city
Licensing is half of it. This is how each city handles the permit for landscape irrigation, from its own pages.
- Abilene. Irrigation work is done by a registered, state-licensed irrigator with a $5,000 bond or $300,000 insurance.
- Amarillo. An irrigation system needs a $111 irrigation permit, valid 60 days.
- Austin. A new landscape irrigation system needs a plumbing permit pulled by a city-registered TCEQ irrigator, and it must pass Austin's local design rules at inspection.
- Brownsville. Landscape irrigation permits are applied for online in Accela under the City's landscape irrigation ordinance (2018-1100.59).
- Cedar Park. Irrigation systems need a permit from the city (see the Irrigation Permits page).
- College Station. An irrigation system needs a $40 permit from a registered, licensed irrigator.
- Converse. New lawn sprinkler systems need an irrigation permit, an approved backflow valve and a separate water meter.
- Corpus Christi. Irrigation permits are pulled by a TCEQ-licensed irrigator registered with the City.
- Dallas. A new irrigation system needs a sealed irrigation plan, plan review and a certificate of completion.
- Denton. New irrigation or alterations need a permit obtained by a licensed irrigator, with a backflow inspection and an irrigation verification form before final.
- El Paso. Irrigation installations are permitted to a registered contractor holding a TCEQ irrigator license.
- Fort Worth. Irrigation systems are permitted under the plumbing code and installed by a TCEQ-licensed irrigator registered with the City.
- Garland. A lawn sprinkler system needs a $150 irrigation permit.
- Georgetown. A new lawn irrigation system connected to city water needs an irrigation permit with an irrigator-sealed plan and a backflow test filed on Envirotrax; repairs to existing piping need no permit unless the backflow device is replaced.
- Grand Prairie. An irrigation system needs a $100 permit.
- Houston. A lawn irrigation system needs a plumbing permit bought by a registered irrigator or master plumber, with plan review and inspection.
- Killeen. A lawn irrigation system needs a $75 permit.
- Kyle. A new irrigation system needs a permit ($75) by a registered irrigator, an approved backflow assembly, and a test by a licensed backflow tester registered with the city before use.
- Laredo. Irrigation permits require an active registration and are filed by email with an irrigation plan.
- Leander. Irrigation systems need a permit by a registered contractor.
- Leon Valley. Irrigation work needs a trade permit by a registered irrigator.
- McKinney. Irrigation systems need an irrigation permit and inspection through CSS, plus an irrigation sign-off for certificates of occupancy.
- New Braunfels. A landscape irrigation system needs a stand-alone irrigation permit filed by a city-registered irrigator.
- Pflugerville. A new irrigation system needs a $70 permit with a plan sealed by a TCEQ Licensed Irrigator and a backflow test report.
- Plano. A lawn sprinkler system needs a lawn irrigation permit ($165 residential, per backflow device) pulled by a registered irrigator.
- Round Rock. A new irrigation system needs a $50 standalone irrigation permit and an uploaded TCEQ-20700 backflow test report.
- San Antonio. A new or altered landscape irrigation system needs a city irrigation permit pulled by a city-registered licensed irrigator or a licensed plumber.
- San Marcos. A landscape irrigation system needs an Irrigation System permit ($105) by a city-registered irrigator.
- Schertz. An irrigation system needs a $60 permit plus $1 per head and $3 per backflow device, by a registered irrigator.
- Seguin. Irrigation work needs a permit by a city-registered irrigator.
- Unincorporated Bexar County. No county irrigation permit was found; the TCEQ license applies and the water utility may have backflow rules.
- Unincorporated Comal County. No county irrigation permit is listed; TCEQ licensing applies. Landscaping work inside the public right-of-way needs a PIPROW permit.
- Universal City. Lawn irrigation needs a permit by a registered irrigation contractor.
- Waco. Lawn sprinkler systems are permitted under the plumbing and lawn sprinkler fee schedule by a licensed irrigator or plumber.
How to get licensed for landscape irrigation in Texas
- Hold a TCEQ Landscape Irrigator license (technicians work under a licensed irrigator).
- Check the city or county where the work is for local registration and permit rules.
Rules and fees change, and this is not legal advice. Confirm with the city where the work is before you apply or bid.