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How to Check Whether a Houston Contractor Is Actually Licensed
Here is the thing most Houston homeowners don't know, and that a certain kind of contractor would rather you didn't:
Texas does not issue a general contractor license. There is no state license for general contractors, home builders, remodelers, or handymen. When someone hands you a card that says "licensed and insured" for a kitchen remodel, the "licensed" part may refer to nothing at all.
Some trades are licensed by the state, and strictly. Knowing which is which is the single most useful thing you can learn before hiring anybody.
Which trades the state actually licenses
| Trade | Licensed by the state? | Who issues it |
|---|---|---|
| Plumbing | Yes | Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE) |
| Electrical | Yes | Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) |
| HVAC / air conditioning | Yes | Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) |
| General contracting / remodeling | No state license | — |
| Roofing | No state license | — |
| Handyman | No state license | — |
| Fencing, flooring, painting | No state license | — |
For the top three, working without a license where one is required isn't a technicality — it's a misdemeanor offense, and both agencies investigate complaints about unlicensed work.
For everything below the line, "licensed" is not a meaningful claim on its own. That doesn't make those contractors bad. It means you have to verify different things.
Verifying a license takes about two minutes
Both agencies publish free public license lookups. You need the person or company name, or better, the license number off their card or truck.
- Plumbers — search the TSBPE license database at tsbpe.texas.gov
- Electricians and HVAC — search TDLR's license lookup at tdlr.texas.gov
What you're checking for:
- The license exists and is active — not expired, not surrendered.
- The name matches the company you're actually hiring. A common pattern is a licensed individual whose number is used to cover work performed by an unlicensed operation. If the license is in one name and your contract is with a different entity, ask directly how those relate.
- The license class fits the job. A journeyman working under a master's license is normal. A license for a different trade entirely is not.
If a contractor is reluctant to give you a license number, you already have your answer. Legitimate license holders give the number without friction — it's public information and they know it.
For the unlicensed trades, verify these instead
Roofers, remodelers and handymen aren't state-licensed, so the checks that matter shift:
Insurance, verified at the source. Ask for general liability and workers' compensation, then call the insurance agent listed on the certificate to confirm it's active. A certificate is a PDF; anyone can produce a PDF. The two-minute phone call is the actual verification. If a worker is injured on your property and the contractor carries no workers' comp, that becomes your problem.
A real physical address. Not a PO box, not just a cell number. Search the address and see whether it's a business location or a vacant lot.
Their permit history. Most substantial work in Houston requires a permit, pulled by the contractor. Asking "will you be pulling a permit for this?" is a fast filter. A contractor who suggests skipping the permit to save you money is proposing that you absorb the risk — unpermitted work surfaces later during an insurance claim or a sale.
Reviews that describe the work. Volume of reviews matters less than specificity. Five reviews describing an actual job, with details and a timeline, tell you more than fifty saying "great service!"
The storm-chaser problem
After every major Houston storm, out-of-state crews arrive, work fast, collect deposits, and leave. Roofing is unlicensed in Texas, which makes it the most common vehicle for this.
The tells are consistent: they knocked on your door rather than you finding them, the truck has out-of-state plates or none, they want a large deposit up front, they offer to "cover your deductible" (that's insurance fraud, and it makes you a participant), and the price expires today.
None of those is illegal on its own except the deductible offer. All of them together is a pattern.
The short checklist
Before signing anything:
- Is this a state-licensed trade? If yes, verify the number at TSBPE or TDLR.
- Certificate of insurance obtained — and confirmed by calling the agent, not just received as a PDF.
- Physical business address that resolves to a real place.
- Written scope of work, itemized, not a single lump-sum line.
- Permit responsibility stated in writing.
- Payment schedule tied to milestones — never the full amount up front.
- Three quotes, not two.
That's twenty minutes of work. It's the cheapest insurance available on a project that might run five figures.
Start here
Every listing in our directory is a real Houston-area business. Listings marked ✓ Verified have been personally called and confirmed by us. Unclaimed listings are built from public sources and haven't been confirmed yet — so run the checks above either way.
Browse plumbers, electricians, HVAC contractors, roofing contractors, or handyman services in Houston.
This is general guidance on verifying credentials, not legal advice. Licensing requirements change; confirm current requirements with TDLR or TSBPE directly. Sources: TDLR, TSBPE, Procore Texas licensing overview.