Texas contractor licensing
How to Get a Contractor License in San Marcos, Texas
San Marcos requires a Contractor's License / Registration from the city for foundation repair and general contracting. It costs $175.
City contractor registration in San Marcos
| Registration | Contractor's License / Registration (Building) |
|---|---|
| Covers | Foundation repair and general contracting |
| Fee | $175 (initial; $144 renewal; all licenses expire on the last day of the calendar year). Amounts from the application form updated September 2026. The development fee schedule effective October 1, 2025 lists $170 initial and $140 annual renewal. |
| Experience | Attach a written description of your last two construction projects with start and end dates and contact phone numbers; the Building Official verifies construction experience. |
| Insurance | No insurance requirement appears on the application form. Source |
| Processing time | Not published. Call 512-805-2630. |
| Renewal | Annual; expires December 31. |
| Before a permit | You must be registered before the permit is issued |
How to register
- Write up your last two construction projects with dates and contact numbers.
- Apply online at MGOConnect.org with a current driver's license.
- Pay the $175 initial fee.
- Renew by the end of each calendar year ($144).
What each trade needs in San Marcos
| Foundation repair | Not rated | Contractor's License / Registration, Building category | $175 |
|---|---|---|---|
| General contracting | Easy · 4 | Contractor's License / Registration, Building category | $175 |
| Roofing | Not rated | Contractor's License / Registration, Building category | $175 |
| Plumbing | Hard or harder · 62+ | Contractor's License / Registration, Plumbing category | |
| Electrical | Hard or harder · 58+ | Contractor's License / Registration, Electrician category | |
| HVAC | Hard or harder · 52+ | Contractor's License / Registration, Mechanical category | |
| Irrigation | Moderate · 28 | Contractor's License / Registration, Irrigation category | $62 |
| Concrete flatwork | Not rated | Residential | $105 |
| Drainage and detention | Not rated | Site Preparation permit / Watershed Protection Plan | $2,100 |
| Demolition | Not rated | Demolition permit | $105 |
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, 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 | Contractor's License / Registration, Building category (building contractor license). |
|---|---|
| Experience | Attach a written description of your last two construction projects with start and end dates and contact phone numbers; the Building Official verifies construction experience. |
| Engineer letter | The building permit application lists a foundation plan with details and an engineer's seal 'if required'; the official pages do not say when a repair needs one. Ask Planning and Development Services. |
| Permit fee | $0.16 (Foundation Permit, per square foot) |
Apply online at MGOConnect.org or at Planning and Development Services, 630 East Hopkins, with a current driver's license. The applicant certifies familiarity with Code Chapter 14 and the adopted building codes.
Foundation work needs a Foundation Permit ($0.16 per square foot) and the contractor's city license number on the application.
Prepare the foundation plan with details (engineer's seal if the city requires it).
Checked October 18, 2026 against San Marcos contractor license application; San Marcos fee schedule; San Marcos building permit application.
General contracting (residential remodels, additions and home improvement)
| Local rule | Contractor's License / Registration, Building category (building contractor license). |
|---|---|
| Experience | Attach a written description of your last two construction projects with start and end dates and contact phone numbers; the Building Official verifies construction experience. |
Remodels and additions need a building permit listing the contractor's city license number.
Submit the building permit application and plans through MGOConnect.org.
Checked October 18, 2026 against San Marcos contractor license application; San Marcos building permit application; San Marcos fee schedule.
Roofing
| Local rule | Contractor's License / Registration, Building category (building contractor license). |
|---|---|
| Permit fee | $0.10 (Roofs, per square foot, maximum $2,000) |
| Before the permit | You must be registered before the permit is issued |
Roofs have a permit fee in the schedule. Which license category the roofer needs is not stated; the license form lists Building, Plumbing, Mechanical, Irrigation, Electrician and Swimming Pool. Ask Planning and Development Services.
Re-roofs carry a city permit fee of $0.10 per square foot (maximum $2,000).
Confirm with the city which license category covers roofing.
Checked October 18, 2026 against San Marcos fee schedule; San Marcos contractor license application.
Plumbing
| Local rule | Contractor's License / Registration, Plumbing category. |
|---|---|
| Fee | The registration form lists $62 a year (the October 2025 fee schedule says $60). State law bars a city registration fee for state-licensed plumbers (Occupations Code 1301.551(g)), so ask the city whether it charges one. Fee schedule |
Register with the state license number and a driver's license. The city form lists a $62 annual fee for this category, but state law bars cities from charging licensed plumbers, electricians and ACR contractors a registration fee (Occupations Code 1301.551(g), 1305.201(f), 1302.304); ask the city whether the fee is still collected.
Plumbing work needs a trade permit ($63 residential stand-alone) by a city-registered plumber.
Register the TSBPE license with the city ($62 per year).
Checked October 18, 2026 against San Marcos contractor license application; San Marcos fee schedule.
Electrical
| Local rule | Contractor's License / Registration, Electrician category. |
|---|---|
| Fee | The registration form lists $62 a year (the October 2025 fee schedule says $60). State law bars a city registration fee for state-licensed electricians (Occupations Code 1305.201(f)), so ask the city whether it charges one. Fee schedule |
Electrical work needs a trade permit by a city-registered electrical contractor.
Register the TDLR license with the city ($62 per year).
Checked October 18, 2026 against San Marcos contractor license application.
HVAC
| Local rule | Contractor's License / Registration, Mechanical category. |
|---|---|
| Fee | The registration form lists $62 a year (the October 2025 fee schedule says $60). State law bars a city registration fee for state-licensed air conditioning contractors (Occupations Code 1302.304), so ask the city whether it charges one. Fee schedule |
HVAC work needs a trade permit by a city-registered mechanical contractor.
Register the TDLR ACR license with the city ($62 per year).
Checked October 18, 2026 against San Marcos contractor license application.
Irrigation
| Local rule | Contractor's License / Registration, Irrigation category. |
|---|---|
| Fee | $62 (annual registration; expires the last day of the calendar year). The October 2025 fee schedule lists $60 per year for other trade licenses. |
| Permit fee | $105 (Irrigation System permit) |
Register with the state license number and a driver's license.
A landscape irrigation system needs an Irrigation System permit ($105) by a city-registered irrigator.
Register the TCEQ license with the city ($62 per year).
Checked October 18, 2026 against San Marcos contractor license application; San Marcos fee schedule.
Concrete flatwork (driveways, sidewalks and work in the public right-of-way)
| Local rule | Residential (Type I) Driveway or Sidewalk permit. |
|---|
Driveway access uses the Access Driveway Application; work in the right-of-way uses the Right-of-Way Permit Application. Which contractor license or bond is needed is not stated.
A residential driveway or sidewalk needs a Type I Driveway or Sidewalk permit ($105).
- Submit the Access Driveway Application or Right-of-Way Permit Application.
- Pay the permit fee and build to city standards.
Checked October 18, 2026 against San Marcos fee schedule; San Marcos Access Driveway Application; San Marcos Right-of-Way Permit Application.
Drainage and detention (grading, drainage, stormwater and detention ponds)
| Local rule | Site Preparation permit / Watershed Protection Plan. |
|---|
Grading, drainage and detention are handled through site preparation permits and Watershed Protection Plans. No contractor registration category for this work was found; who must seal plans is not stated.
Site grading and detention go through a Site Preparation permit and, where required, a Watershed Protection Plan.
- Have the drainage and detention design prepared by a Texas PE.
- Apply for the Site Preparation permit or Small Site Permit.
- Build to the approved plan and pass the site final inspection.
Checked October 18, 2026 against San Marcos fee schedule; San Marcos applications list.
Demolition
| Local rule | Demolition permit. |
|---|
The demolition application asks for the contractor's license number; the license category is not stated.
Demolishing a house needs a residential demolition permit ($105).
Checked October 18, 2026 against San Marcos demolition permit application; San Marcos fee schedule.
San Marcos does not publish a local license or registration rule for roofing, concrete flatwork, drainage and detention work, and demolition. Ask Planning and Development Services before you bid that work.
Official sources and contacts
Planning and Development Services, 630 East Hopkins, 512-805-2630.
- Contractor's License / Registration application (updated September 2026)
- Development fee schedule effective October 1, 2025
- Building permit application
- Development applications list
Rules and fees change, and this is not legal advice. Confirm with Planning and Development Services before you apply or bid.