How to Verify a Contractor License in Texas (TDLR & TSBPE Lookup, 2026)
Texas does not license general contractors or roofers at the state level — anyone can legally call themselves a “contractor” or “roofer” in Texas. What is state-licensed: electricians and HVAC technicians (verify at TDLR, tdlr.texas.gov) and plumbers (verify at TSBPE, tsbpe.texas.gov). That licensing gap is exactly why Texas is a storm-chaser magnet — and why your own verification routine matters more here than almost anywhere.
Who Is (and Isn’t) Licensed in Texas?
| Trade | State license? | Where to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Electrician | Yes — TDLR | TDLR license search (tdlr.texas.gov) |
| HVAC (A/C & refrigeration) | Yes — TDLR (ACR license) | TDLR license search |
| Plumber | Yes — TSBPE | TSBPE license search (tsbpe.texas.gov) |
| General contractor | No state license | City registration only, where required |
| Roofer | No state license | Voluntary RCAT certification only |
| Foundation repair | No state license | Vet via engineer’s report + warranty |
Some Texas cities require contractors to register with the local building department (Houston, San Antonio, and others for permit purposes) — registration confirms identity, not competence.
How Do You Verify the Licensed Trades, Step by Step?
- Electrician / HVAC: go to tdlr.texas.gov → “License Search” → search by name or license number. Confirm: status active, correct license type (e.g., Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Contractor), and the company name matches your contract. Check the violations tab.
- Plumber: tsbpe.texas.gov → license search. Texas plumbing work must run under a Responsible Master Plumber (RMP) — ask whose master license covers your job and verify that person.
- Match the name exactly. A common trick: quoting under a company name while “borrowing” someone else’s license number. The license holder and the contracting entity must line up.
How Do You Protect Yourself Where Texas Doesn’t License (GCs & Roofers)?
Since the state won’t filter for you, build your own filter:
- Roofers: look for voluntary RCAT certification (Roofing Contractors Association of Texas) — not required, but it signals a real local business. After hail, run the full storm chaser checklist — Dallas–Fort Worth is the storm-chasing capital of America.
- Insurance is your substitute for licensing: demand certificates of general liability and workers’ comp sent directly from the insurer.
- Deductible “waivers” are a crime here: Texas HB 2102 (2019) made paying or absorbing insurance deductibles a Class B misdemeanor. A roofer who offers it is committing a crime in the first conversation.
- Deposits: Texas has no statutory cap — hold the line at the industry norm. See how much deposit is normal.
- Price-check first: roof replacement, HVAC repair, foundation repair in Dallas and Houston.
What Happens If You Hire Unlicensed Anyway?
For the licensed trades, unlicensed work is illegal and TDLR/TSBPE take complaints (tdlr.texas.gov → file a complaint). Practical consequences for you: permits may be refused or work red-tagged, your insurer can balk at claims involving non-compliant electrical/plumbing work, and there’s no license to leverage in a dispute — your remedies shrink to demand letter and small claims (Texas small claims limit: $20,000, one of the nation’s highest).
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Texas require a license for general contractors? No — Texas has no statewide general contractor or roofer license. Electricians, HVAC technicians (TDLR), and plumbers (TSBPE) are the state-licensed trades. Some cities require contractor registration for permits.
How do I look up an electrician or AC company in Texas? Search tdlr.texas.gov by company or license number. Verify the status is active, the license class covers the work, and the name matches your contract exactly.
Are Texas roofers licensed at all? Not by the state. The closest signal is voluntary RCAT certification plus verifiable local address, insurance certificates, and reviews older than the last hailstorm.
Is it illegal for a Texas roofer to waive my insurance deductible? Yes — since 2019 (HB 2102), offering to waive or absorb a deductible is a criminal offense, and homeowners who participate are committing insurance fraud.
What can I do if a Texas contractor takes my money and disappears? Document everything, send a demand letter, file with the Texas AG’s consumer protection division and (for licensed trades) TDLR/TSBPE, and use small claims court — Texas allows claims up to $20,000. Full playbook: scammed by a contractor.
Last updated: June 10, 2026. Sources: Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation (TDLR); Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE); Texas HB 2102 (2019); Texas justice court (small claims) limits. This article is consumer information, not legal advice.