Texas contractor licenses: who needs one and how to check

Texas does not issue a state license for general contractors. The state licenses specific trades instead.

Licensing body: Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) and the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners.

How licenses are organized

• Electricians: licensed by TDLR.
• Air conditioning and refrigeration contractors: licensed by TDLR.
• Plumbers: licensed by the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners.

Good to know

• Without a statewide general contractor license, ask the city's permit office what it requires before work starts.
• For electrical, HVAC and plumbing work, confirm the person doing it holds the state trade license.

Check a contractor's license

Search the state's own records by the business name or license number before you sign. On ContractorsNearMe.ai, a profile shows a Verified license badge only after we match its license to these records.