Texas contractor licensing
How to Get a Contractor License in Plano, Texas
Plano requires a city of Plano contractor registration, General Contractor from the city for foundation repair, general contracting, roofing, concrete flatwork, and demolition. It costs $100 per year.
City contractor registration in Plano
| Registration | City of Plano contractor registration, General Contractor (includes concrete, demolition, fence, foundation, pool, roof and sign companies) |
|---|---|
| Covers | Foundation repair, general contracting, roofing, concrete flatwork, and demolition |
| Fee | $100 per year |
| Renewal | Every year, $100. |
How to register
- Register with the Building Inspections Department with a current driver's license.
- Pay the $100 annual General Contractor registration fee.
- Renew every year.
Plano's permit guide says contractors must be registered with the City before doing any work. The handout lists only a driver's license as a requirement for general contractors. No exam, bond or insurance minimum is listed.
What each trade needs in Plano
| Foundation repair | Easy · 2 | City of Plano contractor registration, General Contractor | $100 |
|---|---|---|---|
| General contracting | Easy · 2 | City of Plano contractor registration, General Contractor | $100 |
| Roofing | Easy · 2 | City of Plano contractor registration, General Contractor | $100 |
| Plumbing | Hard · 62 | Plumbing contractor registration | Free |
| Electrical | Hard or harder · 58+ | Electrical contractor registration listing a master electrician | |
| HVAC | Hard or harder · 52+ | Mechanical contractor registration | |
| Irrigation | Moderate · 29 | Irrigation contractor registration | $100 |
| Concrete flatwork | Easy · 2 | City of Plano contractor registration, General Contractor | $100 |
| Drainage and detention | Not rated | Not published | |
| Demolition | Easy · 2 | City of Plano contractor registration, General Contractor | $100 |
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 Plano contractor registration, General Contractor (includes concrete, demolition, fence, foundation, pool, roof and sign companies). |
|---|---|
| Engineer letter | Yes. Plano's handout asks for drawings sealed and signed by a State of Texas registered engineer, plus an engineer's letter. |
Plano's registration handout (rev. 01/16/20) puts general, concrete, demolition, fence, foundation, pool, roof and sign companies in the General Contractor registration. Fee Ordinance No. 2025-11-4 sets the annual General Contractor registration fee at $100. Contractors must be registered before doing any work.
Foundation repair needs a foundation permit ($100) with engineer-sealed pier plans, pier details and an engineer's letter.
- Register with the Building Inspections Department with a current driver's license.
- Have a Texas registered engineer seal the foundation plan showing pier locations, the pier details and an engineer's letter.
- Pay the $100 foundation permit fee and the plan review fee.
Checked October 18, 2026 against City of Plano, foundation repair permit requirements; City of Plano, fee Ordinance No. 2025-11-4; City of Plano, contractor registration handout.
General contracting (residential remodels, additions and home improvement)
| Local rule | City of Plano contractor registration, General Contractor (includes concrete, demolition, fence, foundation, pool, roof and sign companies). |
|---|
Additions and alterations need a residential building permit pulled by a registered contractor.
Register with the Building Inspections Department with a current driver's license.
Checked October 18, 2026 against City of Plano, contractor registration handout; City of Plano, fee Ordinance No. 2025-11-4.
Roofing
| Local rule | City of Plano contractor registration, General Contractor (includes concrete, demolition, fence, foundation, pool, roof and sign companies). |
|---|
Replacing a roof needs a residential re-roof permit ($75).
- Register with the Building Inspections Department with a current driver's license.
- Apply for the residential re-roof permit and pay $75.
Checked October 18, 2026 against City of Plano, when is a permit required; City of Plano, fee Ordinance No. 2025-11-4.
Plumbing
| Local rule | Plumbing contractor registration (no fee). |
|---|---|
| Fee | Free |
Plumbers must hold a current Texas plumbing license, a driver's license and carry the state license while working. The handout says no registration fee is assessed.
Plumbing permits are pulled by a TSBPE-licensed plumber registered with the City.
Register with the City with your license and driver's license.
Checked October 18, 2026 against City of Plano, contractor registration handout.
Electrical
| Local rule | Electrical contractor registration listing a master electrician. |
|---|---|
| Fee | Not published. Fee schedule |
The handout (rev. 01/16/20) lists $100 a year, prorated at $0.27 a day on first registration. Fee Ordinance No. 2025-11-4 does not list an electrical registration fee, and Occupations Code section 1305.201(f) bars such fees for licensed electricians; confirm with Building Inspections at 972-941-7140. Journeymen and residential wiremen need no City registration.
Electrical permits are pulled by a TDLR-licensed electrical contractor registered with the City through its master electrician.
Checked October 18, 2026 against City of Plano, contractor registration handout; City of Plano, fee Ordinance No. 2025-11-4.
HVAC
| Local rule | Mechanical contractor registration. |
|---|---|
| Fee | Not published. Fee schedule |
The handout (rev. 01/16/20) lists $100 a year, prorated on first registration. Fee Ordinance No. 2025-11-4 does not list a mechanical registration fee, and Occupations Code section 1302.304 bars registration fees for licensed ACR contractors; confirm with Building Inspections.
Register with the City with the license and driver's license.
Checked October 18, 2026 against City of Plano, contractor registration handout; City of Plano, fee Ordinance No. 2025-11-4.
Irrigation
| Local rule | Irrigation contractor registration. |
|---|---|
| Fee | $100 per year |
Requires a current Texas irrigator license. The 2025 fee ordinance sets the irrigation contractor registration at $100 a year and a residential lawn irrigation permit at $165 per backflow device.
A lawn sprinkler system needs a lawn irrigation permit ($165 residential, per backflow device) pulled by a registered irrigator.
Checked October 18, 2026 against City of Plano, fee Ordinance No. 2025-11-4; City of Plano, contractor registration handout; City of Plano, when is a permit required.
Concrete flatwork (driveways, sidewalks and work in the public right-of-way)
| Local rule | City of Plano contractor registration, General Contractor (includes concrete, demolition, fence, foundation, pool, roof and sign companies). |
|---|
A driveway approach or sidewalk in the right of way needs a permit ($75 under the 2025 fee ordinance).
- Register with the Building Inspections Department with a current driver's license.
- Apply for the sidewalk or approach in right of way permit and pay $75.
Checked October 18, 2026 against City of Plano, when is a permit required; City of Plano, fee Ordinance No. 2025-11-4.
Demolition
| Local rule | City of Plano contractor registration, General Contractor (includes concrete, demolition, fence, foundation, pool, roof and sign companies). |
|---|
Demolishing a building needs a demolition permit ($100 residential).
Register with the Building Inspections Department with a current driver's license.
Checked October 18, 2026 against City of Plano, when is a permit required; City of Plano, fee Ordinance No. 2025-11-4.
Plano 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 Plano, contractor registration requirements handout (rev. 01/16/20)
- City of Plano, Building Inspections fee schedule, Ordinance No. 2025-11-4
- City of Plano, when is a permit required
- City of Plano, foundation repair permit requirements (rev. 12/05/19)
Rules and fees change, and this is not legal advice. Confirm with the city's permit office before you apply or bid.