Texas Contractor License Lookup

• Electricians and electrical contractors: TDLR. TDLR says anyone who performs or offers non-exempt electrical work in Texas must be licensed and work through a licensed electrical contractor (TDLR electricians).
• Air conditioning, refrigeration, and heating contractors: TDLR. Contractors who install, repair, or maintain these systems must hold a TDLR license (TDLR air conditioning and refrigeration).
• Plumbers: TSBPE. The Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners licenses and regulates the plumbing trade.
• General contractors, remodelers, and handymen: no state license. Some cities have their own registration or permit rules, so check with your city's building or permitting office.

• Open TDLR License Search.
• Pick the license type: Electricians, A/C Technicians, or Air Conditioning Contractors.
• Search by name or license number. You can also search by city, county, or ZIP.
• Confirm the license is active, the name matches the person or company coming to your house, and the type matches the job. A technician and a contractor license aren't the same thing.

The search shows active licenses only. If you can't find someone, TDLR's customer service line is 1-800-803-9202. TDLR also lets you search final enforcement orders against licensees on its administrative orders search.

One more tell: TDLR has said electricians and air conditioning contractors are required by state law to include license information in their ads (TDLR, June 2023). An ad with no license number is a reason to ask.

Go to tsbpe.texas.gov and use the public license search linked from the home page. Search by name, license number, or city, and confirm the license is current and in the name of the person doing the work. The board's own advice is short: always hire a licensed plumber.

• Ask for a certificate of insurance before the visit, not at the door.
• Check that the business name matches the company you hired and the dates cover your job.
• Call the insurance company or agent listed on the certificate to confirm the policy is active.
• Ask about workers' compensation. In Texas, private employers can choose whether to carry it, and most aren't required to (Texas Department of Insurance). If a crew isn't covered, you want to know before someone's on a ladder in your house.

• Read reviews on more than one site, and look for patterns, not single stars. How the owner answers complaints tells you a lot.
• Ask for recent customers you can call. TDLR's consumer tips (from NASCLA) say to check at least three references and get two or three estimates (TDLR, June 2023).
• Get the bid in writing, with detail about exactly what will be done. The Texas Attorney General recommends it, and warns about bids far below everyone else's.

Next: the questions to ask a contractor before hiring, and the red flags.

The lookup is the before. The door is the during. Your Bell Rep verifies the service provider's ID and credentials when they arrive, every visit, then sends you photo updates while the work happens. Most homeowners never ask to see a license at the door. It isn't comfortable. That's why we do it for you. Read what a Bell Rep does, or see Bell in New Braunfels and Carrollton.