Does Texas license handymen or general contractors?

No. Texas has no state license for them. But electrical, plumbing, and heating or cooling work usually needs a state license, even on small jobs. That is true even if the worker is not paid. Owners have some exceptions for their own homes. Cities and counties may add their own rules.

Can I do my own electrical or plumbing work in Texas?

State law lets you do your own electrical work in a home you own and live in, unless a city ordinance regulates it. It also lets you do plumbing in your homestead. Check with your city about permits and inspections.

Can I cancel a deal I signed at home in Texas?

Often, yes. If a seller signed you up away from their place of business for goods or services over $25, you may cancel until midnight of the third business day after you sign.

Home › Who Should Fix It? › Texas

Who can fix it in Texas? Handyman and contractor license rules

Checked October 20, 2026 against Texas law and state agency pages · General information, not legal advice

The short answer: Texas has no state license for handymen, roofers, or general contractors. But electrical, plumbing, and heating or cooling work usually needs a state license. Small jobs count too.

“General contractors are not required to obtain a license to practice in Texas.” — Texas Business Licenses & Permits Guide, 2026-2027 edition (Office of the Governor)

What that means for your job

Electrical work needs a state license, even if the worker is not paid. Hooking up a hard-wired appliance counts. Low-voltage wiring, like TV or network cable, does not.
Plumbing needs a state license in most of Texas. A few rural areas have narrow exceptions.
Heating and cooling work needs a state license. Window units and portable units are an exception.
You may do your own electrical, plumbing, and heating or cooling work on a home you own and live in. For heating and cooling, this applies only if you are the home's only owner. City permits and rules still apply.

Trades that need a license in Texas

General building and home improvement: No. Texas has no state license for general contractors. Cities and counties may set their own rules. (Texas Business Licenses & Permits Guide, 2026-2027 edition: General Contracting – Construction – Home Builder)
Electrical: Yes. Electrical work needs a license from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), even if the worker is not paid. That includes hooking up a hard-wired appliance. Low-voltage and communications wiring is exempt. So is work by an owner in the home they live in, unless a city rule covers that work. (Texas Business Licenses & Permits Guide: electrician licenses; Tex. Occ. Code § 1305.151 (electrical license required); Electrical Safety and Licensing FAQ, 1.1.1: Who needs to be licensed?; Tex. Occ. Code § 1305.003(a)(12) (low-voltage and communications wiring exemption); Tex. Occ. Code § 1305.003(a)(6) (homeowner exemption, electrical))
Plumbing: Yes. Plumbing work needs a license from the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners in most of Texas, even if the worker is not paid. An owner may do plumbing in their own homestead. Some rural properties have narrow exceptions. (Texas Business Licenses & Permits Guide: plumbing licenses; Tex. Occ. Code § 1301.351 (plumbing license required); Tex. Occ. Code § 1301.051 (plumbing by property owner in homestead); Tex. Occ. Code § 1301.052 (certain rural and small-town properties))
Heating and air conditioning: Yes. Heating and cooling work needs a TDLR license, even if the worker is not paid. An owner may do this work in the home they live in, if they are its only owner. Small self-contained units, like window and portable units, and kitchen vent hoods are also exceptions. (Texas Business Licenses & Permits Guide: air conditioning and refrigeration licenses; Tex. Occ. Code § 1302.251 (air conditioning and refrigeration license required); Tex. Occ. Code § 1302.053 (homeowners); Tex. Occ. Code § 1302.058 (certain products or equipment); Tex. Occ. Code § 1302.060 (vent hoods))
Roofing: No. A Texas House committee report says the state does not require a license for reroofing contractors. A 2025 bill to create one did not pass. Cities and counties may set their own rules. (Bill Analysis, C.S.H.B. 3344 (89th Legislature, Regular Session): Background and Purpose; H.B. 3344 (89th Legislature, Regular Session): bill history, last action; Texas Business Licenses & Permits Guide, 2026-2027 edition: General Contracting – Construction – Home Builder)

Before you sign with a contractor

If a seller signs you up away from their place of business, such as at your home, you may cancel. You have until midnight of the third business day after you sign. This covers goods or services over $25.
Before you sign a contract to build or repair your home, the contractor must give you a written notice about your rights.
That notice says to hold back 10 percent of payments until 30 days after the work is done. If you don't, and an unpaid worker or supplier makes a valid claim in time, you may have to pay up to the amount you should have held back. Your home could also face a lien for that amount.
A contractor can have a lien on your homestead only with a written contract signed before the work starts. If you are married, both spouses must sign.

Sources: (Tex. Bus. & Com. Code § 601.002(a)(1) (sales away from the seller's place of business); Tex. Bus. & Com. Code § 601.002(a)(3)(A) (price threshold); Tex. Bus. & Com. Code § 601.051 (consumer's right to cancel); Tex. Prop. Code § 53.001(9) (residential construction contract defined); Tex. Prop. Code § 53.255(a) (disclosure statement required); Tex. Prop. Code § 53.255(b) (disclosure statement text); Tex. Prop. Code § 53.254 (lien on a homestead))

Doing the work yourself

Electrical: you may do your own electrical work in a home you own and live in. But if your city has a rule for that work, the city rule controls.
Plumbing: you may do your own plumbing in your homestead.
Heating and cooling: you may do this work in the home you live in, if you are its only owner. The law does not clearly cover a home you co-own, so ask TDLR.
For heating and cooling work, state law says city permits, inspections, and approvals still apply. Check your city's permit rules before any project.

Sources: (Tex. Occ. Code § 1305.003(a)(6) (homeowner exemption, electrical); Tex. Occ. Code § 1301.051 (plumbing by property owner in homestead); Tex. Occ. Code § 1302.053 (homeowners); Tex. Occ. Code § 1302.052 (municipal permits still apply))

Check a license in Texas

Ask for the license number, then look it up yourself. Check that the name and the license type match the work. See how to check any contractor's license.

Common jobs: who should do them

These are the tool's answers for each job. The Texas rules above decide who may do it. Tap a job to see why, where to stop, and what to ask.

Job	Who should do it
Replace a toilet	It depends
Replace a kitchen or bathroom faucet	DIY
Replace a water heater	Pro
Replace a dishwasher	It depends
Replace a light fixture	It depends
Put a ceiling fan where a light was	It depends
Replace an outlet or light switch	It depends
Replace your old thermostat	It depends
Patch a hole in drywall	It depends
Paint a room	It depends
Replace a few cracked ceramic tiles	Handyman
Put in new flooring	It depends
Replace an interior door	It depends
Clean the gutters	It depends
Replace an outside window or door	Pro
Replace the roof	Pro

Common questions

Does Texas license handymen or general contractors?: No. Texas has no state license for them. But electrical, plumbing, and heating or cooling work usually needs a state license, even on small jobs. That is true even if the worker is not paid. Owners have some exceptions for their own homes. Cities and counties may add their own rules.
Can I do my own electrical or plumbing work in Texas?: State law lets you do your own electrical work in a home you own and live in, unless a city ordinance regulates it. It also lets you do plumbing in your homestead. Check with your city about permits and inspections.
Can I cancel a deal I signed at home in Texas?: Often, yes. If a seller signed you up away from their place of business for goods or services over $25, you may cancel until midnight of the third business day after you sign.

Sources

Texas Business Licenses & Permits Guide, 2026-2027 edition: General Contracting – Construction – Home Builder — Office of the Texas GovernorGeneral contractors are not required to obtain a license to practice in Texas. A general contractor may be subject to local (county or city) requirements and may need to coordinate with those localities.
Texas Business Licenses & Permits Guide: electrician licenses — Office of the Texas GovernorElectrician Licenses - Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation
Texas Business Licenses & Permits Guide: plumbing licenses — Office of the Texas GovernorPlumbing Licenses - Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners
Texas Business Licenses & Permits Guide: air conditioning and refrigeration licenses — Office of the Texas GovernorAir Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors Licenses - Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation
Tex. Occ. Code § 1305.151 (electrical license required) — Texas Legislative Council (Texas Constitution and Statutes)may not perform or offer to perform electrical work or residential appliance installation unless the person or business holds an appropriate license issued or recognized under this chapter
Tex. Occ. Code § 1305.003(a)(6) (homeowner exemption, electrical) — Texas Legislative Council (Texas Constitution and Statutes)work not specifically regulated by a municipal ordinance that is performed in or on a dwelling by a person who owns and resides in the dwelling
Tex. Occ. Code § 1305.003(a)(12) (low-voltage and communications wiring exemption) — Texas Legislative Council (Texas Constitution and Statutes)the design, installation, erection, repair, or alteration of Class 1, Class 2, or Class 3 remote control, signaling, or power-limited circuits, fire alarm circuits, optical fiber cables, or communications circuits
Tex. Occ. Code § 1301.351 (plumbing license required) — Texas Legislative Council (Texas Constitution and Statutes)A person, other than a responsible master plumber, may not engage in plumbing unless: (1) the person holds the proper license, registration, or endorsement required by this chapter
Tex. Occ. Code § 1301.051 (plumbing by property owner in homestead) — Texas Legislative Council (Texas Constitution and Statutes)A property owner is not required to be licensed under this chapter to perform plumbing in the property owner's homestead.
Tex. Occ. Code § 1301.052 (certain rural and small-town properties) — Texas Legislative Council (Texas Constitution and Statutes)A person is not required to be licensed under this chapter to perform plumbing, other than plumbing performed in conjunction with new construction, repair, or remodeling, on a property that is:
Tex. Occ. Code § 1302.251 (air conditioning and refrigeration license required) — Texas Legislative Council (Texas Constitution and Statutes)A person may not engage in air conditioning and refrigeration contracting unless the person holds an air conditioning and refrigeration contractor license under this subchapter or Subchapter G.
Tex. Occ. Code § 1302.053 (homeowners) — Texas Legislative Council (Texas Constitution and Statutes)This chapter does not apply to a person who engages in air conditioning and refrigeration contracting in a building owned solely by the person as the person's home.
Tex. Occ. Code § 1302.058 (certain products or equipment) — Texas Legislative Council (Texas Constitution and Statutes)This chapter does not apply to a person who engages in air conditioning and refrigeration contracting on: (1) a portable or self-contained ductless air conditioning product that has a cooling capacity of three tons or less
Tex. Occ. Code § 1302.060 (vent hoods) — Texas Legislative Council (Texas Constitution and Statutes)This chapter does not apply to a person who installs, repairs, or removes a vent hood of the type commonly used in residential or commercial kitchens.
Tex. Occ. Code § 1302.052 (municipal permits still apply) — Texas Legislative Council (Texas Constitution and Statutes)Work performed by a person who is exempt from this chapter is subject to any permit, inspection, or approval required by a municipal ordinance.
Tex. Bus. & Com. Code § 601.002(a)(1) (sales away from the seller's place of business) — Texas Legislative Council (Texas Constitution and Statutes)the merchant or the merchant's agent engages in a personal solicitation of a sale to the consumer at a place other than the merchant's place of business
Tex. Bus. & Com. Code § 601.002(a)(3)(A) (price threshold) — Texas Legislative Council (Texas Constitution and Statutes)the purchase of goods or services for consideration that exceeds $25, payable in installments or in cash
Tex. Bus. & Com. Code § 601.051 (consumer's right to cancel) — Texas Legislative Council (Texas Constitution and Statutes)a consumer may cancel a consumer transaction not later than midnight of the third business day after the date the consumer signs an agreement or offer to purchase
Tex. Prop. Code § 53.001(9) (residential construction contract defined) — Texas Legislative Council (Texas Constitution and Statutes)"Residential construction contract" means a contract between an owner and a contractor in which the contractor agrees to construct or repair the owner's residence, including improvements appurtenant to the residence.
Tex. Prop. Code § 53.255(a) (disclosure statement required) — Texas Legislative Council (Texas Constitution and Statutes)Before a residential construction contract is executed by the owner, the original contractor shall deliver to the owner a disclosure statement described by this section.
Tex. Prop. Code § 53.255(b) (disclosure statement text) — Texas Legislative Council (Texas Constitution and Statutes)During construction and for 30 days after final completion, termination, or abandonment of the contract by the contractor, you should reserve or cause your lender to reserve 10 percent of the amount of payments made for the work performed by your contractor. If you choose not to reserve the 10 percent for at least 30 days after final completion, termination, or abandonment of the contract by the contractor and if a valid claim is timely made by a claimant and your contractor fails to pay the claim, you may be personally liable and your property may be subject to a lien up to the amount that you failed to reserve.
Tex. Prop. Code § 53.254 (lien on a homestead) — Texas Legislative Council (Texas Constitution and Statutes)To fix a lien on a homestead, the person who is to furnish material or perform labor and the owner must execute a written contract setting forth the terms of the agreement. (b) The contract must be executed before the material is furnished or the labor is performed. (c) If the owner is married, the contract must be signed by both spouses.
Electrical Safety and Licensing FAQ, 1.1.1: Who needs to be licensed? — Texas Department of Licensing and RegulationAnyone who performs electrical work in the state of Texas must be licensed.
Bill Analysis, C.S.H.B. 3344 (89th Legislature, Regular Session): Background and Purpose — Texas Legislature (House Committee on Trade, Workforce & Economic Development)Texas does not currently require a state-issued license for reroofing contractors.
H.B. 3344 (89th Legislature, Regular Session): bill history, last action — Texas Legislature Online05/08/2025 H Committee report sent to Calendars

Checked October 20, 2026. We used AI-assisted research, then separate review passes that tried to prove each claim wrong against the law and agency pages above. This is general information, not legal advice. Rules can change; confirm with the state board or your local building department before you hire or start work. See a mistake? Email [email protected].

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