Texas licenses trades, not handymen
Texas has no state license for handymen, remodelers or general contractors. The City of Austin says a state license is not required to be a general contractor for a building permit.
The state does license trades. TDLR licenses electricians and air conditioning contractors. The Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE) licenses plumbers. Work outside those trades, such as drywall, painting, trim, doors and fence repair, needs no state trade license. Other rules can still apply, such as the EPA lead rule in older homes.
Your city may add its own step. Some DFW cities require contractors to register with the city. Fort Worth, for example, requires a registration from anyone who pulls a building, mechanical, plumbing or electrical permit. A city registration is not a state license. For the city-by-city table, see how to check a DFW contractor.
Which jobs need a state license
| Job | License needed | Who licenses | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drywall, painting, trim, doors, fence and deck carpentry | No state license. Your city may require registration or a permit. | No state agency | City of Austin; your city’s code |
| Paid work that disturbs paint in a pre-1978 home, above the minor-repair limits | EPA firm certification, with a certified renovator directing the work | US EPA, which runs the program in Texas | 40 CFR §745.81, §745.83 |
| Wiring, outlets, circuits, panels | Electrical license. A company needs an electrical contractor license. | TDLR | Occupations Code §1305.151 |
| Swapping a light fixture, switch or outlet on existing wiring | It fits the definition of electrical work, and no exemption names handymen. Confirm with TDLR. | TDLR | Occupations Code §1305.002, §1305.003 |
| Pipes, drains, gas lines | Plumbing license and licensed supervision | TSBPE | Occupations Code §1301.351 |
| Swapping a faucet, toilet or disposal | Not on the state’s permit list. It fits the definition of plumbing, and no exemption names handymen. Confirm with TSBPE. | TSBPE | Occupations Code §1301.002, §1301.351(a), §1301.551(c) |
| Water heater replacement | Plumbing license and a city permit | TSBPE; your city for the permit | Occupations Code §1301.053(a)(4), §1301.551(c) |
| AC-only job, such as a system replacement | Air conditioning contractor license | TDLR | Occupations Code §1302.251; 16 TAC §75.30(b) |
| Remodel that includes some AC work | A general contractor may bid or contract it. The AC work is not exempt. | TDLR | 16 TAC §75.30(b) |
| Advertising or offering plumbing | A responsible master plumber who owns or works for the company | TSBPE | Occupations Code §1301.351(a-2); 22 TAC §367.9 |
| Advertising or offering electrical work | Electrical license | TDLR | Occupations Code §1305.151 |
Electrical work needs a TDLR license
Texas Occupations Code §1305.151 bars a person or business from performing or offering to perform electrical work without a license. TDLR’s FAQ says anyone who performs electrical work in Texas must be licensed. An electrical contracting company must hold or employ a master electrician.
The exemptions are in §1305.003. None names handymen, remodelers or general contractors. So no exemption covers a hired handyman doing small swaps on existing wiring, or a handyman company that offers electrical work and subcontracts it. In October 2026, TDLR’s Compliance Division confirmed the second case in writing. It added that a hired installer may set an appliance sold with its cord attached; putting a cord on first needs a licensed electrician or appliance installer.
Plumbing needs a TSBPE license
Under §1301.351(a), anyone other than a responsible master plumber needs the proper license and licensed supervision to do plumbing. Under §1301.351(a-2), anyone who advertises or offers plumbing must secure a responsible master plumber.
TSBPE’s rule, 22 TAC §367.9, applies this to companies. A company may not advertise, contract for or offer plumbing without a responsible master plumber. That plumber must be the company’s owner or its employee.
Section 1301.052 exempts plumbing on some property outside city limits, and in some small towns. It does not cover plumbing done with new construction, repair or remodeling. Ask TSBPE whether it fits your property.
Water heater replacement is plumbing and needs a permit
Texas treats water heater work as plumbing. Section 1301.053(a)(4) exempts appliance dealers who connect appliances to existing openings. It expressly leaves out water heaters. Outside the Chapter 1301 exemptions, plan on a licensed plumber.
The job also needs a permit. Under §1301.551(a), every Texas city with more than 5,000 people must regulate plumbing by ordinance, water heaters included. Under §1301.551(c), a city that regulates plumbing must require a permit for all plumbing except a short list. Water heaters are not on that list. Dallas’s code says a permit is required to replace a water heater. For other permit rules, see do you need a permit to remodel in DFW.
Air conditioning: a remodel can include it, an AC-only job cannot
Section 1302.251 bars anyone from air conditioning and refrigeration contracting without a TDLR contractor license. Section 1302.002 defines that contracting to include offering the work.
TDLR’s rule 16 TAC §75.30(b) makes one exception for general contractors. A general contractor without an AC license may bid or contract for a job that includes AC work. The job cannot consist only of work that needs a license. The rule speaks to bidding and contracting. It does not exempt the AC work itself from licensing.
Owner exemptions cover you, not a hired helper
Each trade law has an owner exemption. Each one is narrow.
- Plumbing. Under §1301.051, a property owner needs no license for plumbing in their own homestead.
- Electrical. Under §1305.003(a)(6), an owner who lives in the home needs no state license. It covers only work that no city ordinance specifically regulates. Ask your city’s building inspection office what it allows.
- Air conditioning. Under 16 TAC §75.30(a)(2), you may do the work in a building you own solely as your home. The rule says it does not extend to others who help you.
None of these exemptions names a hired handyman. Landlords should note the limits. The plumbing exemption is for a homestead, the electrical one requires that you live there, and the AC one covers only your home. Cities set their own registration rules. Fort Worth exempts owners working on their own homestead.
Pre-1978 homes need an EPA-certified firm
EPA says anyone paid to disturb paint in housing built before 1978 must be certified, even a sole proprietor. Under 40 CFR §745.81, a firm may not perform, offer or claim to perform renovations there without EPA certification. A certified renovator must direct the work.
Section 745.83 exempts minor repair. Inside, that means 6 square feet or less of disturbed paint per room. Outside, it means 20 square feet or less. The work also cannot use the rule’s prohibited practices. The exemption never covers window replacement or demolition of painted surfaces. Jobs in the same room within 30 days count as one job. Texas DSHS says EPA, not the state, runs this program in Texas. EPA’s program page links to a search for certified firms.
What to ask before you hire
- Which parts of the job touch wiring, pipes, gas, the water heater or the AC system?
- Who holds the license for those parts, and what is the number? Check it with TDLR or TSBPE.
- For a pre-1978 home, is the firm EPA-certified?
- Who pulls the permit, and is that contractor registered with your city?
For repair work that stays outside the licensed trades, see handyman repairs.