Permits and licensing · Texas
Renovation permits and contractor licences in Texas
Texas licenses individual trades rather than general contractors: electricians and air conditioning contractors are licensed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, and plumbers by the separate Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners. TDLR's programs do not include a general contractor or home builder licence. Building permits and codes are handled by your city.
Regulators and licensing bodies in Texas
These official bodies license contractors, oversee safety or issue permits in Texas.
Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR)
Licenses electricians and air conditioning and refrigeration contractors, among many other occupations. It describes itself as both a consumer and worker protection agency.
Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners
Licenses and regulates the plumbing trade for the State of Texas, issuing responsible master plumber, master plumber, journeyman plumber, tradesman plumber-limited and plumbing inspector licences.
Trades that need a licence in Texas
Electrical work
Anyone who performs, or offers to perform, non-exempt electrical work in Texas must be licensed and must perform that work through a licensed electrical contractor.
Certified trades
Contractors who install, repair or maintain air conditioning, refrigeration or heating systems must hold a TDLR licence, and an air conditioning and refrigeration company must employ a licensed contractor at each permanent location.
Sources:TDLR – Air conditioning and refrigeration contractors(opens in a new tab)
Plumbing
Plumbing is not a TDLR programme: plumbers are licensed by the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners, which tells consumers to always hire a licensed plumber. Check the plumber's licence with that board, not with TDLR.
Sources:Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners(opens in a new tab)
General contracting and renovation
TDLR's list of licensed programmes includes no general contractor, home builder or remodeler licence, so for general renovation work there is no state licence to check. Ask instead about the trade licences the job needs, references and insurance, and check any city registration where you live.
Sources:Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR)(opens in a new tab)
Building and renovation permits in Texas
Building permits come from your city. Texas sets energy standards at state level: the State Energy Conservation Office adopted the energy efficiency chapter of the 2015 International Residential Code as the state's standard for one- and two-family homes of three storeys or fewer, and the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code for commercial, industrial and taller residential buildings. Ask your city which building code it enforces.
Sources:Texas Comptroller, State Energy Conservation Office – Single-family residential code(opens in a new tab)Texas Comptroller, State Energy Conservation Office – Commercial code(opens in a new tab)Houston – Planning and Development Department(opens in a new tab)
Permit information from large municipalities
Before you hire a contractor in Texas
Practical checks you can do yourself, using official tools where they exist.
For electrical or air conditioning work, check the licence in TDLR's active licence search.
Official lookup: TDLR – Active license search(opens in a new tab)
For plumbing, check the licence with the plumbing board, which is a separate agency from TDLR.
Official lookup: Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners(opens in a new tab)
For general renovation work there is no state licence, so ask for references, proof of insurance and any city registration.
Official lookup: Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR)(opens in a new tab)
Ask your city's permitting office which permits your project needs before work starts.
Official lookup: Houston – Planning and Development Department(opens in a new tab)
Confirm the contractor's licence and insurance with your state or county government, and get the work, materials and price in writing.
Official lookup: FTC – How to avoid a home improvement scam(opens in a new tab)
Sources for renovation permits and licences in Texas
Every fact on this page comes from these official sources.
- Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR)(opens in a new tab)
- TDLR – Electricians(opens in a new tab)
- TDLR – Air conditioning and refrigeration contractors(opens in a new tab)
- Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners(opens in a new tab)
- Texas Comptroller, State Energy Conservation Office – Single-family residential code(opens in a new tab)
- Texas Comptroller, State Energy Conservation Office – Commercial code(opens in a new tab)
- Houston – Planning and Development Department(opens in a new tab)
- FTC – How to avoid a home improvement scam(opens in a new tab)
Find licensed pros
Compare local pros for the regulated trades in this guide, then confirm their licence with the regulator before you hire.
Renovation permits in other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Planning a renovation?
Describe your project once and hear from local pros. Ask each one for their licence and permit details before you hire.