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 $5,000–$25,000 by class; 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).

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. A contractor bond is required by class, generally $5,000–$25,000; 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 $5,000–$25,000 by class; 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
Processing time	Varies by city permitting office.

Exams

No statewide GC exam	Provider: — · Passing: — · Fee: —

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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 $5,000–$25,000 by class; 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). Workers' compensation: Dallas registration requires a workers' compensation election; Texas does not otherwise mandate workers' comp generally.

How often must a Texas general contractor license be renewed?

Set per municipality (Dallas annual; San Antonio biennial; Austin one-time).

Fees and rules change frequently (often annually). This page was last verified on 2026-06-19 — always confirm current requirements directly with the None at state level (Texas has no general-contractor licensing board) before applying. This is not legal advice.