Texas General Contractor License Requirements
Official classification: No statewide license — set by municipality · Issued by the None at state level (Texas has no general-contractor licensing board).
🏗️ General ContractorTX ✔ Verified 2026-06-19
In Texas, general contractors must hold the No statewide license — set by municipality, issued by the None at state level (Texas has no general-contractor licensing board), and no state surety bond is required. Full requirements — experience, exams, fees, insurance, renewal and reciprocity — are detailed below.
How to become a licensed general contractor in Texas
Texas licenses general contractors at the city level rather than statewide, so the path runs through your local permitting office. Here are the general steps — the verified specifics are detailed further down the page.
- Start with your city, not the state. Texas has no statewide general contractor license — registration, bonds and insurance are set by each municipality, so confirm the rules with your local permitting office first.
- Carry the insurance your city requires. Set by city. Dallas and San Antonio require proof of general liability insurance; Austin and Houston may require it by project (Dallas commonly sets $500,000–$1,000,000 minimums by project type).
- Post any local bond. No statewide bond. City bonds are work-specific where required: Dallas ~$10,000 for right-of-way work plus project performance/payment bonds (no flat GC bond); Austin none for general contractor registration (a one-time registration with no state license required); Houston $2,000 (right-of-way) / $3,500 (building mover) only; San Antonio bonding for some projects.
- Register and pay the local fees. By city — Dallas $120/yr; Houston $33.56 admin; Austin free; San Antonio $150–$170 per 2 years
- Renew on your city's schedule. Set per municipality (Dallas annual; San Antonio biennial; Austin one-time).
For the general path in every state, see the General Contractor guide →
Texas general contractor license lookup
Texas has no statewide general contractor license, so there is no state license database to search — verify a contractor's registration or license with the city or county where the work will be done.
License types
- Dallas — Contractor Registration — Contractors pulling permits register with the city ($120/year) and show proof of general liability insurance plus a workers' compensation election. Bonds are work-specific (e.g. ~$10,000 for right-of-way/paving work; performance & payment bonds for large private projects) rather than a single flat GC bond.
- Houston — Permit-based (most deregulated) — No professional GC license; contractors register through the Houston Permitting Center ($33.56 admin fee, 2026 schedule) to pull permits. Bonds only for specific work: $2,000 right-of-way; $3,500 building mover.
- Austin — One-time registration — Free one-time registration via Austin Build + Connect; no bond is required for general contractor registration. Insurance may apply by project.
- San Antonio — Registration by work type — Home Improvement Contractor $150 (2 years); Residential Building Contractor $170 (2 years). Certificate of liability insurance required; bonding for some projects.
Requirements at a glance
| Experience required | None at the state level — no statewide GC exam or experience requirement. Requirements are municipal and registration/insurance-based rather than competency-exam-based. |
|---|---|
| Application fee | By city — Dallas $120/yr; Houston $33.56 admin; Austin free; San Antonio $150–$170 per 2 years |
| License fee | N/A statewide |
| Renewal fee | By city — Dallas annual; Austin one-time; San Antonio every 2 years |
| Renewal period | Set per municipality (Dallas annual; San Antonio biennial; Austin one-time) |
| Continuing education | None at state level; not generally required by cities for GC registration. |
| Bond required | No statewide bond. City bonds are work-specific where required: Dallas ~$10,000 for right-of-way work plus project performance/payment bonds (no flat GC bond); Austin none for general contractor registration (a one-time registration with no state license required); Houston $2,000 (right-of-way) / $3,500 (building mover) only; San Antonio bonding for some projects. |
| Liability insurance | Set by city. Dallas and San Antonio require proof of general liability insurance; Austin and Houston may require it by project (Dallas commonly sets $500,000–$1,000,000 minimums by project type). |
| Property damage | Per city / per policy |
| Workers' comp | Dallas registration requires a workers' compensation election; Texas does not otherwise mandate workers' comp generally. |
| Background check | Not a statewide requirement; varies by city. |
| Credit requirement | None |
| Reciprocity | N/A — no statewide license to reciprocate · other states' agreements |
| Processing time | Varies by city permitting office. |
What a Texas general contractor license costs
Fees are set per city; the figures on this page are one city's example.
Exams
| No statewide GC exam | Provider: — · Passing: — · Fee: — |
|---|
Renewing a Texas general contractor license
Because Texas licenses general contractors locally, renewal runs through the same city office that issued the credential. The figures below are the set by municipality rules; other Texas municipalities set their own.
| Renewal period | Set per municipality (Dallas annual; San Antonio biennial; Austin one-time) |
|---|---|
| Renewal fee | By city — Dallas annual; Austin one-time; San Antonio every 2 years |
| Continuing education | None at state level; not generally required by cities for GC registration. |
| Where to renew | None at state level (Texas has no general-contractor licensing board) |
Local / municipal notes
Texas has NO statewide general-contractor license. To pull building permits you register with the city where you work, and the big metros differ sharply: Dallas charges $120/yr with insurance, a workers' comp election and work-specific bonds; Austin registers GCs free (one-time) but requires a class-based bond; Houston is the most deregulated (permit registration plus project-specific bonds only); San Antonio charges $150–$170 per two years with liability insurance. Always confirm the current figure with the specific city before bidding.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Texas general contractor license cost?
Application: By city — Dallas $120/yr; Houston $33.56 admin; Austin free; San Antonio $150–$170 per 2 years. License: N/A statewide. Renewal: By city — Dallas annual; Austin one-time; San Antonio every 2 years.
Do general contractors in Texas need a surety bond?
No statewide bond. City bonds are work-specific where required: Dallas ~$10,000 for right-of-way work plus project performance/payment bonds (no flat GC bond); Austin none for general contractor registration (a one-time registration with no state license required); Houston $2,000 (right-of-way) / $3,500 (building mover) only; San Antonio bonding for some projects.
What experience is required for a Texas general contractor license?
None at the state level — no statewide GC exam or experience requirement. Requirements are municipal and registration/insurance-based rather than competency-exam-based.
Is insurance required for general contractors in Texas?
Liability: Set by city. Dallas and San Antonio require proof of general liability insurance; Austin and Houston may require it by project (Dallas commonly sets $500,000–$1,000,000 minimums by project type). Property damage: Per city / per policy. Workers' compensation: Dallas registration requires a workers' compensation election; Texas does not otherwise mandate workers' comp generally.
How long does it take to get a Texas general contractor license?
Processing time: Varies by city permitting office.
Is a background check required for general contractors in Texas?
Background check: Not a statewide requirement; varies by city.
How often must a Texas general contractor license be renewed?
Set per municipality (Dallas annual; San Antonio biennial; Austin one-time). Continuing education: None at state level; not generally required by cities for GC registration.
Official sources
austintexas.gov/development-services/contractor-registration
houstonpermittingcenter.org/media/1881/download
nextinsurance.com/blog/texas-general-contractor-license-and-insurance-requirements