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Subcontractor License Requirements in Texas
Which trades require a Texas state license, what GCs are responsible for verifying, and what happens if you hire an unlicensed sub — even by accident.
In this guide
How Texas Contractor Licensing Works
Texas does not require a statewide general contractor license. Any company can act as a GC in Texas without holding a state-issued license — though many municipalities have their own registration requirements. What Texas does license at the state level are the specialty trades, and those rules are strict.
Most specialty trade licensing in Texas runs through the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR). A handful of trades operate under separate boards (engineers under TBPE, architects under TBAE), but for the construction trades GCs care about most — HVAC, electrical, plumbing — TDLR is the authority.
Which Trades Require a State License in Texas
The following trades require state licensure before a subcontractor can legally perform work in Texas. This is what you need to verify before any of these subs touch a project.
| Trade | Licensing authority | License types to look for |
|---|---|---|
| HVAC / Air Conditioning | TDLR | Class A (commercial), Class B (residential), Technician (EPA 608 required separately) |
| Electrical | TDLR | Master Electrician (required to pull permits), Journeyman Electrician, Electrical Contractor license (company-level) |
| Plumbing | TDLR | Master Plumber, Journeyman Plumber, Plumbing Inspector; Responsible Master Plumber required per company |
| Boiler / Pressure Vessel | TDLR | Boiler Installation/Repair Contractor |
| Elevator | TDLR | Elevator Contractor, Elevator Inspector, Elevator Mechanic |
| Water Well Drilling | TDLR | Water Well Driller, Pump Installer |
| Mold Remediation | TDLR | Mold Remediation Contractor, Mold Assessment Consultant |
| Accessibility / ADA | TDLR | Registered Accessibility Specialist (RAS) |
Trades that don't require a state license — but may require local registration
Texas does not currently require a state license for roofing, framing, drywall, painting, landscaping, or general carpentry. However, many municipalities — including Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, and Austin — have their own registration or permit requirements for these trades. The absence of a state license requirement doesn't mean unregulated; it means the regulation is local.
What GCs Are Responsible for Verifying
Texas law does not create a single explicit "GC license verification obligation" statute, but the liability exposure is real and well-established through civil case law and insurance practice. Here's the practical breakdown:
Your verification obligations
- Verify the sub's TDLR license number before they perform any licensed trade work — not after onboarding paperwork is complete, before work starts
- Confirm the license is Active in the TDLR database, not just that the sub provided a license number
- Check that the license classification matches the work being contracted — an HVAC contractor's license does not authorize electrical work
- For electrical subs: verify both the company-level Electrical Contractor license and that a licensed Master Electrician is associated with their company (required to pull permits)
- Re-verify for long projects — TDLR licenses renew on two-year cycles, and a license valid at project start may expire mid-project
What's the sub's responsibility vs. yours
The sub is legally obligated to hold and maintain their license. But when something goes wrong, that distinction rarely protects the GC. If a sub's work causes damage or injury and they were unlicensed, your insurance carrier will investigate whether you exercised reasonable due diligence. Verification is that diligence — the sub's legal obligation doesn't substitute for your own check.
Penalties for Hiring Unlicensed Subcontractors in Texas
Texas takes an enforcement-forward approach with trade licensing. The penalties hit both the unlicensed contractor and, in some circumstances, the GC who hired them:
Civil liability for the GC
If an unlicensed sub's work causes property damage or personal injury, the GC can be held jointly liable. Texas courts have consistently held that a GC's failure to verify subcontractor licensing constitutes a breach of ordinary care. Your commercial liability policy may also limit or deny coverage if the loss involved an unlicensed contractor.
Administrative fines from TDLR
TDLR can issue cease-and-desist orders and administrative penalties of up to $5,000 per violation per day against unlicensed contractors. The entity that hired the unlicensed contractor can also be subject to TDLR review, particularly if the GC knowingly used unlicensed labor.
Permit and inspection problems
Licensed trades require a licensed individual to pull permits. If a sub performed electrical or plumbing work without a license, those permits may not have been properly issued — or may be retroactively invalidated. This can result in required demolition and redo of completed work, stop-work orders, and failed inspections that delay project close-out.
Insurance claim denial
Your general liability and builder's risk policies typically include conditions around "proper licensing." If a claim involves work performed by an unlicensed sub, the insurer can investigate — and depending on policy language, decline coverage on the grounds that you failed to verify compliance before allowing work to proceed.
How to Look Up a Texas Contractor License
The TDLR public license lookup is the authoritative source for all TDLR-licensed trades. You can search by license number (fastest and most accurate) or by business name.
Get the sub's TDLR license number as part of onboarding — before work begins. If they can't produce it immediately, treat that as a flag.
Search the TDLR database at tdlr.texas.gov/LicenseSearch. Enter the license number and confirm the result shows Active status and the correct license type.
Verify entity name and expiration. The business name on the TDLR record should match the entity on your subcontract. Check the expiration date covers your project timeline.
Log the result. Record the license number, status, and date of your verification for each sub. TrackMyVendor stores this automatically and alerts you when a license is approaching renewal.
Verify every sub's Texas license automatically
TrackMyVendor queries TDLR daily and alerts you when a sub's license expires or changes status — without a manual lookup every time. Free for your first 10 contractors.
Start free →Frequently Asked Questions
Does Texas require a general contractor license?
Does a roofing contractor need a license in Texas?
What is a Responsible Master Plumber and why does it matter?
Can a sub work under my GC license in Texas?
How often do TDLR licenses need to be renewed?
Does a COI tell me if a sub is licensed in Texas?
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