How do you check a contractor license in Texas?

In Texas the trade decides the agency: the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation licenses electrical and air conditioning contractors and runs a license data search, while the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners licenses plumbing, so check the trade first.

Source: Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, Electricians, read 16 October 2026.
Source: Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration, read 16 October 2026.
Source: Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, License Data Search, read 16 October 2026.
Source: Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners, read 16 October 2026.

The license lookup is yours to run on the state's site.

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Researched by the InstaBids editorial team. Last checked: 16 October 2026

Key facts

TDLR's license data search shows active licenses only.
Source: Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, License Data Search, read 16 October 2026.
TDLR says non-exempt electrical work in Texas must be done by someone holding a license, through an electrical contractor that holds one.
Source: Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, Electricians, read 16 October 2026.
The Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners licenses and regulates the plumbing trade.
Source: Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners, read 16 October 2026.

Where is the Texas contractor license search?

TDLR's license data search covers the trades TDLR regulates and shows active licenses only, so a contractor whose license has lapsed may simply not appear in the results.

Source: Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, License Data Search, read 16 October 2026.

The search page, read 16 October 2026, is headed "TDLR License Data Search (Active Licenses only)" and lets you search by license type or by name, under the option "Inquire by Name (Last, First) or by Business Name".

Source: Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, License Data Search, read 16 October 2026.

In our reading, an empty result is a reason to ask more questions, not proof of anything by itself: a misspelt business name or the wrong license type gives the same blank page.

Which Texas trades need a state license from TDLR?

TDLR's own program pages name electrical work and air conditioning, refrigeration and heating work as trades that need a license, and each page says the work has to run through a contractor that holds the matching license.

The electricians page says: "Anyone who performs, or offers to perform, non-exempt electrical work in the state of Texas must be licensed and perform that work through a licensed electrical contractor."

Source: Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, Electricians, read 16 October 2026.

The air conditioning and refrigeration page says: "Contractors who install, repair, or maintain systems related to air conditioning, refrigeration, or heating must have a TDLR license and ACR companies must employ an ACR contractor in each permanent location."

Source: Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration, read 16 October 2026.

Who licenses plumbers in Texas?

Plumbing has its own board: the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners licenses and regulates the plumbing trade, so look a plumber's license up with that board.

Source: Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners, read 16 October 2026.

The board describes itself on its home page, read 16 October 2026, as: "Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners – Licensing and regulation of the plumbing trade for the State of Texas."

Source: Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners, read 16 October 2026.

For work outside these trades, such as framing, drywall or painting, the agency pages quoted here say nothing either way. Ask your city or county building department what it registers or permits for that job.

What should you ask a Texas contractor before you search?

Ask which trade license covers your job and which agency issued it, then search that agency for the license number and the business name. These questions are practical suggestions, not agency rules.

Ask whether your job includes electrical, heating and air conditioning, or plumbing work.
For electrical or air conditioning work, ask for the contractor's TDLR license number and the license type.
For plumbing, ask for the plumbing board license number of whoever will do the work.
Search each number on the right agency's site, and read the name and the license type on the result.
For the rest of the job, ask whether your city needs a permit, and who will pull it.

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