Texas contractor license lookup: how to check and get a license
Texas contractor license lookup: who issues home improvement contractor licenses (no state license; check city/county (e.g. Austin Building and Trade Contractor Services registration, City of Dallas contractor registration)), how to check one online, the license types, and 6,136 residential remodelers by county.
Do home improvement contractors need a license in Texas?
| Who licenses them | no state license; check city/county (e.g. Austin Building and Trade Contractor Services registration, City of Dallas contractor registration) |
|---|---|
| When a license is required | None at state level |
Texas has no state general contractor or home improvement license (the Texas Residential Construction Commission was abolished in 2009); some cities such as Austin and Dallas require contractor registration before permits. Electrical, plumbing and HVAC subcontractors must still hold their own state licenses, so ask for those and confirm permits are pulled.
How do you look up a home improvement contractor's license in Texas?
- Ask the home improvement contractor for the license number and the exact business name on the license.
- Open the official no state license; check city/county (e.g. Austin Building and Trade Contractor Services registration, City of Dallas contractor registration) license search run by no state license; check city/county (e.g. Austin Building and Trade Contractor Services registration, City of Dallas contractor registration).
- Search by license number first. A name search can return several people or companies with similar names.
- Check that the status is active or current, that the license type covers your job, and that the name matches the company on your contract.
- If something doesn't match, ask the home improvement contractor about it before you sign or pay a deposit, or contact no state license; check city/county (e.g. Austin Building and Trade Contractor Services registration, City of Dallas contractor registration).
How do you get a contractor license in Texas?
Licenses are issued by the no state license; check city/county (e.g. Austin Building and Trade Contractor Services registration, City of Dallas contractor registration). Requirements such as experience, exams, insurance and fees change, so read the current rules on the official no state license; check city/county (e.g. Austin Building and Trade Contractor Services registration, City of Dallas contractor registration) source before you apply. Already licensed? List your business on Expert Helper to get matched with customers.
How many home improvement contractors are there in Texas?
The Census Bureau counted 6,136 residential remodelers with employees in Texas in 2023. The counties with the most:
| Harris County | 885 |
|---|---|
| Dallas County | 588 |
| Tarrant County | 479 |
| Travis County | 471 |
| Bexar County | 346 |
| Collin County | 295 |
| Williamson County | 232 |
| Denton County | 230 |
What do Texas homes mean for home improvement work?
The median home in Texas was built in 1990, 37% of households rent and 67% of homes are single-family houses. 34% of homes heat with utility gas and 61% with electricity.
How do you choose a home improvement contractor in Texas?
- Check the contractor's license with the state or city. Many places require a home improvement license for residential work over a few hundred dollars.
- Get a written contract with the scope, materials, schedule, total price and payment schedule. Don't pay most of it upfront.
- Ask who pulls the permits. If the contractor suggests skipping a permit that the job needs, find another contractor.
- Ask for proof of liability insurance and workers' compensation, and make sure the policy is current.
- Ask for two or three recent jobs like yours that you can see or call about.
Home Improvement Contractors in other states
Sources: Texas licensing agency (linked above); US Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2023 and ACS 2023 5-year estimates.