The 10 Best Dallas, TX General Contractors

You are never required to hire a licensed general contractor in Dallas, as the state of Texas does not license general contractors. However, you must hire a contractor who is registered with the city for all projects that require a permit.

The Dallas Department of Sustainable Development & Construction is responsible for registering general contractors. General contractors in Dallas are not required to pass an examination, prove relevant education or skills, or pass a background check.

Registration requires an annual payment of $120.

Contractors can have their registration suspended or revoked if they exhibit incompetency or commit gross negligence or misconduct in the performance of construction work in the city.

Although state law does not require contractors to carry general liability or workers' compensation insurance, hiring contractors who do have an active policy of each insurance is highly recommended. You should request a copy of each insurance certificate for your records before any work begins.

The State's Department of Public Safety maintains a publicly accessible database so you can run your own background check prior to hiring.

Generally, a building permit is required in Dallas for any work that involves the structural elements of a building, new construction and major additions. Most projects that involve significant improvements, alterations, installations and demolition will need a building permit. Note that if your building is in a historic, conservation and planned development district, a permit may be required when otherwise exempted.

The Dallas Department of Sustainable Development and Construction, Permit Center handles the issuing of permits. The permitting process is designed to ensure project compliance with all applicable codes and ordinances to protect homeowners and the general public. Before moving forward with your project, you and your contractor should make clear who is responsible for acquiring necessary permits. The party that obtains the permit is ultimately held responsible for any work that violates city code. The Permit Center provides a variety of services to assist you with the permitting process. These include meetings with Department staff at the start of project planning, in addition to a variety of methods for obtaining a building permit. More details are available on the Department of Sustainable Development and Construction website.

General contractors in Dallas are not required to carry a surety bond to conduct work on residential properties. There is no homeowner recovery fund in Texas. Keep in mind that under Texas state law, If your contractor fails to pay the employees or suppliers he uses, you could be held financially responsible.

The BuildZoom score is based on a number of factors including building permit data, gathered from the Dallas Department of Sustainable Development and Construction; and feedback and behavior we have observed in the BuildZoom marketplace and in other, third-party review sites.

We have analyzed every contractor who has worked in Dallas, Texas. Using this information, we’re able to save you time, money and lessen your risk by providing you with a simple and straight-forward way to gather and receive multiple bids from vetted general contractors in Austin. Click here to get started by providing us with a few details about your project.