Texas contractor licensing
How to Get a Contractor License in McKinney, Texas
McKinney does not license or register general contractors. No local license or registration is needed for foundation repair, general contracting, and roofing.
What each trade needs in McKinney
| Foundation repair | Easy · 0 | None. McKinney does not require general contractor registration | Free |
|---|---|---|---|
| General contracting | Easy · 0 | None. McKinney does not require general contractor registration | Free |
| Roofing | Not rated | None. McKinney does not require general contractor registration | Free |
| Plumbing | Hard · 62 | Plumbing license registration | Free |
| Electrical | Hard · 58 | Electrical Contractor registration | Free |
| HVAC | Hard · 52 | Mechanical license registration | Free |
| Irrigation | Moderate or harder · 27+ | Irrigation Contractor Registration through CSS | |
| Concrete flatwork | Not rated | Not published | |
| Drainage and detention | Not rated | Not published | |
| 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 18, 2026. Plumbing, electrical, HVAC and irrigation also need a Texas state license, which no city registration replaces.
Roofing, concrete flatwork, drainage and detention work, 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 | None. McKinney does not require general contractor registration; the contractor opens a Citizen Self Service (CSS) account. |
|---|---|
| Engineer letter | Yes. McKinney's foundation repair requirements say to submit an engineer's letter and drawings. |
The City page says there is no fee or form and contractor registration is not required for general contractors. Each project needs a Signature Verification Form signed by every master license holder. Foundation repairs (leveling, replacing piers or footings, shimming, or replacing any part of the floor system) need a permit. Foundations, new or repaired, must be engineered by a licensed professional registered in Texas.
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.
- Hire a Texas-licensed engineer to write the letter and draw the affected areas.
- Note whether plumbing (water, sewer or gas) will need testing.
- Apply through the CSS portal with the engineer's letter and drawings.
- Upload the final engineer's report to CSS to close the permit.
Checked October 18, 2026 against City of McKinney, General Guidelines for Foundation Repair; City of McKinney, Contractor Registration.
General contracting (residential remodels, additions and home improvement)
| Local rule | None. McKinney does not require general contractor registration; the contractor opens a Citizen Self Service (CSS) account. |
|---|
The City page says there is no fee or form and contractor registration is not required for general contractors. Each project needs a Signature Verification Form signed by every master license holder.
Building permits are applied for in the CSS portal; no City contractor registration is needed.
- Create an account on the City's Citizen Self Service (CSS) portal.
- Have each master license holder sign the project's Signature Verification Form.
Checked October 18, 2026 against City of McKinney, Contractor Registration.
Roofing
| Local rule | None. McKinney does not require general contractor registration; the contractor opens a Citizen Self Service (CSS) account. |
|---|
Roofing contractors do not register; we did not confirm McKinney's reroof permit rules on an official page.
- Create an account on the City's Citizen Self Service (CSS) portal.
- Have each master license holder sign the project's Signature Verification Form.
Checked October 18, 2026 against City of McKinney, Contractor Registration.
Plumbing
| Local rule | Plumbing license registration. |
|---|---|
| Fee | Free |
Provide the Texas Responsible Master Plumber license and a state photo ID. No registration fee. Licenses renew on the state expiration date.
Plumbing permits are pulled by a registered RMP through CSS.
- Create a CSS account in the license holder's name and email.
- Email a copy of the license and ID for approval.
Checked October 18, 2026 against City of McKinney, Contractor Registration.
Electrical
| Local rule | Electrical Contractor registration. |
|---|---|
| Fee | Free |
Provide the Texas Electrical Contractor license and Master Electrician license and a state photo ID. No registration fee. Licenses renew on the state expiration date.
Electrical permits need both state licenses; a master-only electrician cannot pull permits.
Create a CSS account in the license holder's name and email.
Checked October 18, 2026 against City of McKinney, Contractor Registration.
HVAC
| Local rule | Mechanical license registration. |
|---|---|
| Fee | Free |
Provide the Texas mechanical (ACR) license and a state photo ID. No registration fee. Licenses renew on the state expiration date.
Mechanical permits are pulled by a registered ACR contractor through CSS.
Create a CSS account in the license holder's name and email.
Checked October 18, 2026 against City of McKinney, Contractor Registration.
Irrigation
| Local rule | Irrigation Contractor Registration through CSS (Public Works). |
|---|
Irrigation contractor registration, permits, inspections and payment all run through the CSS portal. We did not find a registration fee.
Irrigation systems need an irrigation permit and inspection through CSS, plus an irrigation sign-off for certificates of occupancy.
Submit the irrigation permit and request inspection in CSS.
Checked October 18, 2026 against City of McKinney, Irrigation.
McKinney does not publish a local license or registration rule for concrete flatwork, drainage and detention work, and demolition. Ask the city's permit office before you bid that work.
Official sources and contacts
- City of McKinney, Contractor Registration
- City of McKinney, General Guidelines for Foundation Repair
- City of McKinney, Irrigation
Rules and fees change, and this is not legal advice. Confirm with the city's permit office before you apply or bid.