The 10 Best Houston, TX General Contractors

You are never required to hire a licensed general contractor in Houston, as the state of Texas does not license general contractors. All electrical, mechanical, and plumbing work must be completed by someone with the appropriate license.

Unlike in many cities and states, general contractors in Houston are not licensed or registered, and therefore not required to pass an examination, prove relevant education or skills, or pass a background check.

Even when not required by law, it is highly recommended to only hire contractors with active workers' compensation policies and general liability insurance. You should ask for copies of each of these insurance certifications for your records before you begin any work on your property.

All construction and home improvement projects in Houston require a permit unless explicitly exempted. Generally, a permit is required for all new construction, alterations, re-modeling, repairs, additions, changes of use or occupancy, demolition, and moving existing buildings. Common projects that need a permit also include building fences that are more than 8 feet high or made of concrete or masonry, driveways and sidewalks and paving or making repairs to parking lots. If you are unsure if your project needs a permit, you should contact the Houston Permitting Center at 832.394.9000.

The Permitting Center of the Houston Department of Public Works is responsible for issuing permits and ensuring compliance with all relevant building code and regulations. At the start of project planning, you and your contractor should decide who will acquire the necessary permits. The person who obtains the permit is ultimately held responsible for any work that violates city code. Before beginning any project, check for deed restrictions and if the property is within the 100-year floodplain, which may limit how it can be used or altered. The Houston Permitting Center offers a variety for methods for obtaining a permit, including electronic plan review. Some minor projects can be issued permits without the submission of plans. More information is available on the Houston Department of Public Works’ website.

General contractors in Houston are not required to hold a surety bond to conduct work on residential properties. There is no homeowners recovery fund in Texas to reimburse homeowners who have suffered financial loss through a contractor’s incompetent or dishonest conduct. If your contractor fails to pay the employees or suppliers he uses, you could be held financially responsible under Texas law.

The BuildZoom score is based on a number of factors including building permit data, gathered from the Houston Department of Public Works; 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 Houston, 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 Houston. Click here to get started by providing us with a few details about your project.