How to check a contractor's license in Texas, trade by trade.
Texas licenses some trades and not others, and each licensed trade answers to a different state agency. Here's who licenses what, how to look a pro up in a couple of minutes, and what to check instead when the trade has no license.
By GivvBack · Updated 2026-09-28
Trades that need a Texas license — and where to look them up
Ask for the license number before anyone starts work, then look it up on the agency's own website. A real pro gives you the number without hesitation.
- Plumbers
- Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE). Look for a Master, Journeyman or Tradesman plumber license — the company should have a Responsible Master Plumber. Plumbing in Houston
- Electricians
- Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR). The company needs an electrical contractor license and the people doing the work need their own electrician licenses. Electrical in Houston
- Air conditioning & heating
- TDLR licenses air conditioning and refrigeration (ACR) contractors. Techs handling refrigerant also need EPA Section 608 certification. HVAC in Houston
- Pest control
- Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA), Structural Pest Control Service — both the business and the applicator should be licensed. Pest Control in Houston
- Sprinkler & irrigation
- Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) licenses irrigators. Mowing and planting don't need it; installing or repairing irrigation does. Landscaping in Houston
- Backflow testing
- TCEQ licenses backflow prevention assembly testers. Commercial Plumbing in Houston
- Movers
- Household-goods movers working within Texas must be registered with the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV); interstate movers need a USDOT number from FMCSA. Moving in Houston
- Alarm & access control
- The Texas Department of Public Safety's Private Security Program licenses alarm and access-control companies; fire alarm installers are licensed by the State Fire Marshal's Office. Security & Access in Houston
- Engineers
- The Texas Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors (TBPELS) licenses professional engineers. Structural drawings should carry a PE seal. Engineering in Houston
Trades with no Texas license — what to check instead
Texas has no statewide license for roofers, general contractors and remodelers, handymen, painters, house cleaners, landscapers (other than irrigation) or concrete contractors. That doesn't make them risky — it just means the checking is on you.
- Insurance: ask for a certificate of insurance showing general liability, and call the insurer if the job is big.
- Local references: recent jobs in your part of Houston, with a name you can actually call.
- A written contract: scope, materials, price, payment schedule, timeline and warranty.
- Permits: ask who pulls them. Structural, electrical and plumbing work in the City of Houston generally needs a permit.
- Roofers: Texas law bars roofing contractors from waiving, rebating or paying your insurance deductible. The Roofing Contractors Association of Texas also runs a voluntary licensing program.
- Painters on homes built before 1978: they should be EPA lead-safe (RRP) certified.
Roofing in Houston · Remodeling in Houston · Handyman in Houston · Painting in Houston · Concrete Construction in Houston
Red flags, licensed or not
If you sign a contract of $25 or more at your home with a salesperson who came to you, the federal Cooling-Off Rule generally gives you three business days to cancel.
- A large cash deposit before any materials arrive.
- No written contract, or a contract that's mostly blank.
- Pressure to sign today — especially door-to-door after a storm.
- “We don't need a permit for that” on electrical, plumbing or structural work.
- They can't name a single recent local customer.
How GivvBack handles this for you
Every pro on GivvBack was referred in by a neighbor who has used them, and we vet them before they're listed. You get one matched pro and one written quote you approve before work starts — and you pay through a secure online invoice, not cash in hand. Requesting is free for homeowners.
Quick answers
Does a handyman need a license in Texas?
Not for general handyman work. But electrical, plumbing and air-conditioning work must be done by a pro licensed for that trade.
Do roofers need a license in Texas?
No — Texas has no state roofing license. Check insurance, local references and a written contract, and never let a roofer 'cover' your deductible.
Where do I look up an electrician or AC contractor?
On the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) website's license search.