Texas Contractor License Lookup
A Texas contractor license lookup depends on the trade, because Texas has no statewide general contractor license.
What kind of contractor?
A Texas contractor license lookup depends on the trade, because Texas has no statewide general contractor license. Search electricians, HVAC, solar sellers, and mold contractors at TDLR, and plumbers at the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners. TDLR shows active licenses only. Builders, remodelers, and roofers have no state license to look up.
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Getting licensed in Texas instead? See how to get a Texas contractor license.
Which Texas license search do I use?
| Type of work | Who licenses it | Where to check |
|---|---|---|
| Electrician or electrical contractor | Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) | Search TDLR licenses |
| HVAC (air conditioning & refrigeration) | Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) | Search TDLR licenses |
| Plumber | Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE) | Search TSBPE plumber licenses |
| Residential solar seller or salesperson | Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) | Search TDLR licenses |
| Mold assessment or remediation | Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) | Search TDLR licenses |
| Sprinkler / landscape irrigation | Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) — Landscape Irrigation | How to check an irrigator |
| Roofer | No state license | Check your city’s rules |
| Remodeler | No state license | Check your city’s rules |
| Home builder | No state license | Check your city’s rules |
| Commercial general contractor | No state license | Check your city’s rules |
License status in Texas: what “not found” means
TDLR’s search shows active licenses only. An expired, suspended, or revoked license will not appear in the TDLR license search at all.
“Not found” is not the same as “licensed elsewhere.” If a license you expected doesn’t appear, call TDLR customer service at 800-803-9202.
Plumbers are not in the TDLR search. Search them in the TSBPE public license search instead.
How to check a Texas sprinkler or irrigation contractor
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) — Landscape Irrigation licenses landscape irrigators, irrigation technicians, and irrigation inspectors. It is against Texas law to install or advertise landscape irrigation without a TCEQ license (TCEQ notice, PDF).
Before you hire, ask the contractor for their TCEQ landscape irrigator license number, and confirm it with TCEQ through its official irrigation licensing page.
General contractors, remodelers, and roofers: Texas city rules
Texas has no state license for general contractors, home builders, remodelers, or roofers. Some cities require contractors to register before pulling permits.
| City | Rule | Official page |
|---|---|---|
| Austin | One-time general contractor registration with Building and Trade Contractor Services before being assigned to a building permit. No license; no annual renewal for GCs. Trade contractors register and update annually with their state license. | Austin contractor registration |
| San Antonio | Residential contractors register with Development Services: Home Improvement Contractor (nonstructural repair/remodel; $150 initial and renewal per city application Rev 10/25) or Residential Building Contractor (new 1-2 family homes, structural work; requires ICC certification and FBI background check per Information Bulletin 228). | San Antonio contractor registration |
| Dallas | General contractors must register with the City of Dallas Development Services Department. The city defines general contractor broadly: residential builder, commercial builder, fence, foundation repair, demolition, swimming pool, landscaper, tree service. | Dallas registration form (PDF) |
| Fort Worth | Anyone obtaining a building, mechanical, plumbing, or electrical permit must have a valid Contractor Registration on file with Development Services. | Fort Worth contractor registration |
| Houston | General contractors are not required to be licensed. Building permits can be purchased by the owner, agent, or contractor. Electrical contractors must register with the city's Electrical Inspections section. | Houston electrical contractor rules |
Before you hire: 60-second checklist
- Know which credential the work needs. Electrical, HVAC, plumbing, irrigation, solar sales, and mold work need a state license. General contracting, roofing, remodeling, and home building do not, but your city may require registration (see the city table).
- Match the license to the person or business. Look up the license yourself in the official search and confirm the name matches who you’re hiring. For electrical work, the business must employ a licensed Master Electrician.
- Ask for proof of insurance. Recommendation, not a legal requirement. A license is not proof of insurance. Ask for a current certificate and confirm it with the insurer.
- Get a written estimate and contract. Recommendation, not a legal requirement. Get the scope, price, and schedule in writing before work starts or money changes hands.
- Check permits and local rules. Ask who will pull the permit. In Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, and Fort Worth, contractors register with the city before pulling permits. In Houston, general contractors do not need a license, and permits can be bought by the owner, an agent, or the contractor.
This checklist is written to be printed. A valid license does not guarantee quality of work or insurance coverage.
How to verify a contractor license in Texas, step by step
- Pick the right board from the table above. Electricians, HVAC, solar, and mold go to TDLR; plumbers go to TSBPE.
- Open the official lookup. Search TDLR licenses or Search TSBPE plumber licenses. In the TSBPE search, choose “Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners” as the board (TSBPE how-to guide, PDF).
- Search for the contractor and compare the result with the name and business on your estimate.
- If nothing appears, remember TDLR lists active licenses only. Check that you searched the right board, then call TDLR at 800-803-9202. No result does not, on its own, prove someone is unlicensed.
Texas contractor license lookup FAQ
Does Texas have a contractor license lookup?
Not a single one. Texas has no statewide general contractor license, so you search by trade: TDLR for electricians, HVAC, solar sellers, and mold contractors, and TSBPE for plumbers.
How do I check if a roofer is licensed in Texas?
Texas does not license roofers, so there is no state roofer lookup. TDLR’s license search lists every license type it issues, and roofing is not one of them. Ask whether your city requires the roofer to register before pulling a permit.
Why can’t I find a contractor in the TDLR search?
TDLR’s search shows active licenses only, so an expired, suspended, or revoked license won’t appear. Plumbers aren’t in TDLR at all; they’re licensed by TSBPE. If you still can’t find a license, call TDLR at 800-803-9202.
How do I verify a plumber’s license in Texas?
Use the TSBPE public license search and choose “Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners” as the board. TSBPE licenses Responsible Master, Master, Journeyman, and Tradesman Plumber-Limited plumbers.
Do sprinkler system installers need a license in Texas?
Yes. It is against Texas law to install or advertise landscape irrigation without a TCEQ license (TCEQ notice, PDF).
Does a door-to-door solar salesperson need a license in Texas?
Yes. TDLR licenses residential solar retailers and salespeople, so you can search them in the TDLR license search before you sign anything.
Getting licensed in Texas instead? See how to get a Texas contractor license.
Texas contractor licensing overview · All states
Official sources
- Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR): tdlr.texas.gov/LicenseSearch/, tdlr.texas.gov/electricians/apply/businesses/contractor-elec.htm
- Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE) public license search: vo.licensing.hpc.texas.gov/datamart/selSearchType.do
- Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE): tsbpe.texas.gov/, tsbpe.texas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/TSBPE_HowTo_PublicLicenseSearch.pdf
- Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ): tceq.texas.gov/goto/irrigator, tceq.texas.gov/downloads/publications/rg/notice-landscape-irrigators-must-be-licensed-rg-498eng.pdf/@@download/file/rg-498eng.pdf
- Texas Sunset Advisory Commission: sunset.texas.gov/reviews-and-reports/agencies/texas-residential-construction-commission
- City of Austin Development Services: austintexas.gov/development-services/contractor-registration
- City of Houston Permitting Center: houstonpermittingcenter.org/media/1731/download
- City of Dallas Development Services: dallascityhall.com/departments/sustainabledevelopment/DCH%20documents/pdf/building/GeneralContractor_RegistrationForm.pdf
- City of San Antonio Development Services: sa.gov/Directory/Departments/DSD/Contractor/Building-Home-Improvement
- City of Fort Worth Development Services: fortworthtexas.gov/departments/development-services/permits/contractor-registration
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Independent reference. Not a government agency. A valid license does not guarantee quality of work, insurance coverage, or the absence of complaints.