Electrical: the licensing rule
Electrical and Electrical Sign Contractors. Written from the agency's own pages.
The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) licenses electrical contractors, who design, install, repair or alter electrical wires and conductors for light, heat, power or signaling 2. Its Electrical Sign Contractor license covers designing, manufacturing, installing and servicing electric signs, including neon and cold cathode tubing 3. Anyone who performs, or offers to perform, non-exempt electrical work in Texas must be licensed and do that work through a licensed electrical contractor 1.
TDLR's exemptions include a person working on a dwelling they own and live in, and electrical work on buildings, structures or equipment in agricultural use 5. TDLR notes that municipal or regional rules may override those exemptions 5. An electrical contractor must employ a licensed Master Electrician, who may also be the business owner 2.
A sign contractor must employ a licensed Master Electrician or Master Sign Electrician 3. Contractor licenses do not require examinations 4. Contractors must carry business liability insurance of at least $300,000 per occurrence and $600,000 aggregate 2.
To check a contractor, use TDLR's license search, which lists active licenses only and can be searched by license number, city, county or zip code 7. Contractors must put their license number on proposals, invoices and written contracts 6. TDLR does not perform inspections required for local permitting and code requirements, and a city may still collect a building permit fee 6.
Not found in the pages read
- Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1305 text was not read: statutes.capitol.texas.gov builds its pages with JavaScript (the pages read returned only their site navigation). Section numbers appear in the guide's sources only as TDLR's own pages cite them.
- A dollar threshold for when the license is required was not found in the pages read; TDLR's pages say any non-exempt electrical work needs a license.
- A surety bond requirement for Electrical Contractor or Electrical Sign Contractor was not found in the pages read (insurance is stated; a bond is not mentioned).
- Whether the license search lists 'Electrical Contractor' and 'Electrical Sign Contractor' as separate choices was not seen: the license-type list on the search page shows 'Electricians'. The search form was not submitted.
- The full exemption list on the exemptions page is longer than the guide shows; the guide names three examples only.
A guide is a summary for orientation. It is not legal advice, and the agency's pages and statutes control.