Does Texas Require a General Contractor License?

At a glance

State GC license

None at the state level: TDLR's list of licensed programs has no general contractor license

State builder registration

None since 2009. Texas used to register home builders through the Texas Residential Construction Commission, which was abolished when its law expired on September 1, 2009

City registration

Cities can require contractors to register before they issue permits, each with its own rules and renewal dates. San Antonio, for example, registers residential building and home improvement contractors before it issues permits, but has no license or registration for commercial general contractors

Trade licenses

Electrical, HVAC (ACR) and plumbing work still require state licenses: non-exempt electrical work must be done by a licensed electrician through a licensed electrical contractor (TDLR), air conditioning, refrigeration and heating contractors need a TDLR license, and plumbing is licensed by the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE)

How to renew

1. List every city you pull permits in and check whether each requires registration.
2. Record each registration's renewal date, along with your insurance policy dates.
3. Keep current COIs on file for every subcontractor you use, and check their expiration dates before each job.

Deadline checklist

• TodayList every city you pull permits in and check whether each requires contractor registration.
• TodayWrite down the renewal date of each city registration, your liability policy and your workers' comp policy.
• Every new jobCollect a current certificate of insurance from each subcontractor and note its expiration date.
• 30 days before any dateRenew the registration or policy, and send updated COIs to clients and GCs who need them.

Frequently asked questions