How to Get a Contractor License in Lubbock, Texas

Lubbock requires a city of Lubbock building/general contractor registration from the city for foundation repair, general contracting, roofing, concrete flatwork, and demolition. It costs $65 per year. You also need proof of liability insurance and a $20,000 bond.

City contractor registration in Lubbock

How to register

1. Fill out the General Contractors Registration Form.
2. Attach proof of $100,000 general liability insurance or a $20,000 compliance bond.
3. Pay the $65 annual fee.
4. Renew each year; the registration period runs January 1 to December 31.

Lubbock lets a contractor choose between $100,000 of general liability insurance and a $20,000 compliance bond. Mechanical, electrical and plumbing contractors must register but pay no fee, which the fee schedule says is required by Occupations Code sections 1301.551, 1302.304 and 1305.201.

Official registration page

What each trade needs in Lubbock

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.

Foundation repair, landscape irrigation, and drainage and detention work are not rated because their rules are not fully published.

How the difficulty score works

Details for each trade

Foundation repair

Any building or general contractor working in Lubbock must register. The 2025-2026 fee schedule sets $65 a year for all contractors other than mechanical, electrical and plumbing, and lists the $20,000 compliance bond or $100,000 liability insurance option.

Foundation work needs a foundation permit ($75).

1. Attach proof of $100,000 general liability insurance or a $20,000 compliance bond.
2. Renew each year; the registration period runs January 1 to December 31.
3. Apply for the foundation permit through the Citizen Self Service portal.

Checked October 18, 2026 against City of Lubbock, Building Safety fee schedule 2025-2026; City of Lubbock Building Safety, FAQs.

General contracting (residential remodels, additions and home improvement)

Remodels and additions need a residential permit; alterations cost $0.15 per square foot of the work area.

1. Attach proof of $100,000 general liability insurance or a $20,000 compliance bond.
2. Renew each year; the registration period runs January 1 to December 31.

Checked October 18, 2026 against City of Lubbock Building Safety, FAQs; City of Lubbock, Building Safety fee schedule 2025-2026.

Roofing

A replacement roof needs a $75 permit and a residential roof replacement affidavit signed by the contractor and owner before final inspection.

1. Attach proof of $100,000 general liability insurance or a $20,000 compliance bond.
2. Renew each year; the registration period runs January 1 to December 31.
3. Upload the completed roof replacement affidavit when scheduling the final inspection.

Checked October 18, 2026 against City of Lubbock, Building Safety fee schedule 2025-2026; City of Lubbock Building Safety, FAQs; City of Lubbock, forms and fee schedule.

Plumbing

Mechanical, electrical and plumbing contractors are required to register but fees are waived by state law.

Checked October 18, 2026 against City of Lubbock, Building Safety fee schedule 2025-2026.

Electrical

Checked October 18, 2026 against City of Lubbock, Building Safety fee schedule 2025-2026.

HVAC

Checked October 18, 2026 against City of Lubbock, Building Safety fee schedule 2025-2026.

Concrete flatwork (driveways, sidewalks and work in the public right-of-way)

Flatwork needs a permit ($75 residential, $100 per approach commercial).

1. Attach proof of $100,000 general liability insurance or a $20,000 compliance bond.
2. Renew each year; the registration period runs January 1 to December 31.

Checked October 18, 2026 against City of Lubbock, Building Safety fee schedule 2025-2026.

Demolition

Demolition needs a $75 demolition permit.

1. Attach proof of $100,000 general liability insurance or a $20,000 compliance bond.
2. Renew each year; the registration period runs January 1 to December 31.

Checked October 18, 2026 against City of Lubbock, Building Safety fee schedule 2025-2026; City of Lubbock Building Safety, FAQs.

Lubbock does not publish a local license or registration rule for landscape irrigation and drainage and detention work. Ask the city's permit office before you bid that work.

Permit fees and local rules in Lubbock

• Lubbock charges $75 for a foundation, replacement roof, demolition or residential flatwork permit, which is also the minimum for any permit.
• Residential alterations that add no floor area cost 15 cents a square foot of the work area.
• Reinspections climb from $50 to $100, $150 and then $200 each.
• Work started without a permit costs 200 percent of the permit fee, and more when several sites are involved. Renewing an expired permit costs half the original fee.
• Changing the contractor on a permit with no change in scope costs $250 or the original fee, whichever is lower.

Checked October 18, 2026 against Lubbock Building Safety fee schedule, October 1, 2025 to September 30, 2026.

Official sources and contacts

• City of Lubbock Building Safety, FAQs
• City of Lubbock Building Safety, forms and fee schedule
• City of Lubbock, Building Safety 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.