Texas · TDLR
Texas contractor license lookup.
Texas does not run one statewide contractor license. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) licenses specific trades, and this guide shows which and how to search.
Short answer: for air conditioning, refrigeration, heating or electrical work, search TDLR's license data. For general contracting or remodeling, TDLR's list has no statewide program, so ask what licence applies and check the city or county.
Which license applies?
Result and official links
How the TDLR search works
TDLR's “Search / Verify Licenses” page leads to its License Data Search, which covers active licenses only. You can inquire by license type or by license number. TDLR's regulated industries include Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors and Electricians, among many others.
General contractors
TDLR's list of regulated industries has no general contractor program. This guide therefore does not claim there is a statewide general contractor license to look up. If a remodeler says they are “licensed”, ask which license, issued by whom, and check with the city or county building department where the work will happen. A TDLR search will not find a license that TDLR does not issue.
HVAC and electrical
TDLR says contractors who install, repair or maintain air conditioning, refrigeration or heating systems must have a TDLR license, and that ACR companies must employ an ACR contractor in each permanent location. For electrical work, TDLR says anyone who performs or offers to perform non-exempt electrical work must be licensed and perform it through a licensed electrical contractor.
Bonds, insurance and reciprocity
This guide does not state TDLR bond or insurance amounts because the pages reviewed do not set them out. TDLR's air conditioning page has an “Out of State Licensed Applicants” section and its electricians page has an “Out of State/Country Applicants” section; read those for how an out-of-state license is treated.
What “active licenses only” means
Because TDLR's data search lists active licenses only, a contractor who does not appear may have an expired license, a different legal or business name, or no TDLR license at all. Try the exact name and license number from their paperwork, then ask them.
Sources
- TDLR: Search / Verify Licenses or Projects (retrieved October 2026)
- TDLR: Active License Search (retrieved October 2026)
- TDLR: Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors (retrieved October 2026)
- TDLR: Electricians (retrieved October 2026)
Frequently asked questions
Does Texas require a general contractor license?
TDLR's regulated-industries list has no general contractor program. Texas licenses specific trades such as HVAC and electrical at state level; other requirements may be local.
How do I look up a Texas HVAC or electrician license?
Use TDLR's License Data Search, which covers active licenses and can be queried by license type or number.
Why can't I find my contractor in the TDLR search?
The search shows active licenses only. A missing name can mean an expired license, a different business name or a trade TDLR does not license.
Does this page verify a license?
No. It explains which trades TDLR covers and links to its search. Only TDLR's record shows a license status.
A guide, not a verification
TNAADO is not a licensing board and this page does not check anyone's license or imply official verification. Nothing you type here is sent anywhere. Use the official links to confirm status, and check the board's site for current rules.