Skip to content
Completa
Greater Austin small-business resource hub

Licenses, permits, and safety

Austin and Texas tools for contractor registration, permit research, occupational licensing, jobsite safety, and insurance duties.

Editorial owner: SteveLatest catalog update:

Resource directory

Austin

City of Austin Development Services Department

Contractor registration

Official registration instructions for contractors working on permitted projects in Austin, including account and trade-license requirements.

Fees may applyOnlineService: English
Best for
Preparing to perform permitted construction work in Austin
Eligibility · Before you go
Eligibility
Registration path and state-license evidence depend on contractor type
Before you go
Select the exact contractor type and complete registration before permitted work.
Reviewed August 16, 2026Official page: EnglishIndependent listing
Go to official site: Contractor registration (opens in a new window)
Official sources
Unincorporated Travis, Williamson, and Hays counties

Travis, Williamson & Hays county development offices

County permits and development requirements

Direct county owners for development, repair, floodplain, septic, driveway, utility, commercial-construction, building, and fire-system requirements outside incorporated city limits.

Fees may applyOnlineIn personService: English
Best for
Contractors and property owners determining which county approvals may apply before work starts
Eligibility · Before you go
Eligibility
Requirements depend on the property's incorporated-city, extraterritorial-jurisdiction, or unincorporated-county location and on the exact scope; county, city, utility, fire-district, and state approvals can overlap
Before you go
Confirm the property's jurisdiction and project scope with the responsible county and city offices before bidding, scheduling, demolition, excavation, repair, or construction.
Reviewed October 12, 2026Official page: EnglishIndependent listing
Browse official resources3 official links

Each link opens the named provider's official page. Eligibility, availability, deadlines, registration, fees, funding, and service area can differ by provider; verify the current terms before acting or paying.

Austin

City of Austin Development Services Department

Do I Need a Permit?

A short City questionnaire that gives initial permit guidance for residential projects and directs users to confirmation resources.

Free accessOnlineService: English
Best for
Early permit research before defining a project schedule
Eligibility · Before you go
Eligibility
Guidance only; staff confirmation and other permits or approvals may be required
Before you go
Complete the questionnaire and follow its instruction to confirm the result with the City.
Reviewed August 16, 2026Official page: EnglishIndependent listing
Go to official site: Do I Need a Permit? (opens in a new window)
Texas

Texas 811

Utility locate request

Texas's official notification service for requesting underground utility locates before excavation.

Free accessOnlinePhoneService: English
Best for
Any project involving digging or excavation
Eligibility · Before you go
Eligibility
Notice timing, ticket scope, marking, tolerance-zone, and refresh duties apply
Before you go
Submit the request within the official timing rules and wait for the required responses before digging.
Reviewed August 16, 2026Official page: EnglishIndependent listing
Go to official site: Utility locate request (opens in a new window)
Texas

Office of the Texas Governor

2026–2027 Business Licenses and Permits Guide

A current state-level directory of licenses and permits organized by business activity and responsible Texas agency.

Free accessOnlineService: English
Best for
Identifying the Texas agency that regulates an activity
Eligibility · Before you go
Eligibility
State guide; local permits and professional requirements can also apply
Before you go
Use the guide to find the agency, then confirm the live program page and local requirements.
Reviewed August 16, 2026Official page: EnglishIndependent listing
Go to official site: 2026–2027 Business Licenses and Permits Guide (opens in a new window)
Austin

City of Austin Development Services Department

Austin Build + Connect portal

The City's account and portal entry point for supported permit applications, documents, payments, inspections, and public record searches.

Fees may applyOnlineService: English
Best for
Managing an Austin permit or inspection workflow
Eligibility · Before you go
Eligibility
Available functions depend on permit type, role, and account permissions
Before you go
Read the account instructions before creating or using an AB+C account.
Reviewed August 16, 2026Official page: EnglishIndependent listing
Go to official site: Austin Build + Connect portal (opens in a new window)
Texas

Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation

Programs licensed and regulated by TDLR

The official index of Texas occupations and programs regulated by TDLR, including electrician and air-conditioning licensing paths.

Fees may applyOnlineService: English
Best for
Checking whether TDLR regulates a trade or occupation
Eligibility · Before you go
Eligibility
License class, examination, experience, insurance, renewal, and fee rules differ by program
Before you go
Open the exact program and use its current application and renewal instructions.
Reviewed August 16, 2026Official page: EnglishIndependent listing
Go to official site: Programs licensed and regulated by TDLR (opens in a new window)
Texas

Texas Department of Insurance

Workers' compensation for employers

Official Texas guidance on workers' compensation coverage choices, government-construction requirements, notices, and nonsubscriber duties.

Free accessOnlineService: EnglishService: Spanish
Best for
Understanding insurance and notice duties before hiring or bidding
Eligibility · Before you go
Eligibility
Requirements depend on employer status, contract, project, and coverage choice
Before you go
Review the official employer guide and obtain qualified insurance or legal advice for your facts.
Reviewed August 16, 2026Official page: English and SpanishIndependent listing
Go to official site: Workers' compensation for employers (opens in a new window)
Official sources
Texas

Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE)

Plumbing licenses, renewals, and verification

The plumbing trade's own Texas licensing board, with license types, applications, renewals, continuing education, and public license search.

Fees may applyOnlineService: English
Best for
Plumbers and businesses verifying plumbing credentials
Eligibility · Before you go
Eligibility
Experience, examination, registration, renewal, and fee requirements depend on the credential.
Before you go
Choose the correct license type or use Public License Search before assigning plumbing work.
Reviewed September 7, 2026Official page: EnglishIndependent listing
Go to official site: Plumbing licenses, renewals, and verification (opens in a new window)
Austin

City of Austin Development Services Department

Types of permits

The City's directory of residential, commercial, trade, land-use, and other permit types and their owning review groups.

Free accessOnlineService: English
Best for
Finding the official owner of a permit type
Eligibility · Before you go
Eligibility
The required permit depends on address, scope, use, and project conditions
Before you go
Open the exact permit type and confirm prerequisites before estimating time or fees.
Reviewed August 16, 2026Official page: EnglishIndependent listing
Go to official site: Types of permits (opens in a new window)
Official sources
United States

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Lead-safe renovation: RRP contractor guidance

EPA guidance on firm certification, renovator training, and lead-safe work when disturbing paint in covered pre-1978 properties.

Fees may applyOnlineService: English
Best for
Planning painting, demolition, or renovation in older buildings
Eligibility · Before you go
Eligibility
Building use, age, activity, and exemptions determine coverage. The guide is free; certification and training can cost money.
Before you go
Check the RRP requirements before advertising or starting covered work, then follow the official certification and training paths.
Reviewed September 7, 2026Official page: English and SpanishIndependent listing
Go to official site: Lead-safe renovation: RRP contractor guidance (opens in a new window)
Texas

Texas Department of Insurance — Division of Workers’ Compensation

OSHCON workplace safety consultation

Free, confidential safety consultation for private Texas employers, plus written-program examples and workplace training resources.

No-cost advisingOnlinePhoneIn personService: English
Best for
Finding jobsite hazards and improving crew safety
Eligibility · Before you go
Eligibility
Private Texas employers can request help; consultation requirements and hazard-correction commitments apply.
Before you go
Request an OSHCON consultation and discuss your worksite, hazards, and training needs with the consultant.
Reviewed September 7, 2026Official page: EnglishIndependent listing
Go to official site: OSHCON workplace safety consultation (opens in a new window)
United States

U.S. Small Business Administration

Business Guide and counseling

SBA's official starting point for business planning, launch, compliance, hiring, growth, local counseling, contracting guidance, tools, training, and events.

Free accessOnlineService: English
Best for
Finding the correct federal guide or counseling network for the business's current stage
Eligibility · Before you go
Eligibility
The guide is public; counseling networks, events, certifications, loans, and other linked programs set separate eligibility and cost rules
Before you go
Choose the relevant Business Guide section or local-assistance pathway, then verify the official program requirements before acting.
Reviewed October 12, 2026Official page: EnglishIndependent listing
Go to official site: Business Guide and counseling (opens in a new window)
Texas

Texas Workforce Commission

Texas Guidebook for Employers

TWC's employer reference on hiring, pay, records, leave, unemployment tax, workplace policies, and common Texas employment questions.

Free accessOnlineService: English
Best for
Building a Texas employer-compliance checklist
Eligibility · Before you go
Eligibility
General agency guidance; federal law and fact-specific requirements can also apply
Before you go
Use the guide as a starting point and obtain qualified advice for legal or payroll decisions.
Reviewed August 16, 2026Official page: EnglishIndependent listing
Go to official site: Texas Guidebook for Employers (opens in a new window)
Texas

Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts

Sales tax for repair and remodeling

Official guidance on how property use, materials, labor, and contract structure affect Texas repair and remodeling sales tax.

Free accessOnlineService: English
Best for
Checking tax treatment before quoting a job
Eligibility · Before you go
Eligibility
Residential, nonresidential, mixed-use, exempt, and disaster-related work can have different treatment.
Before you go
Read the section for your scope and contract. Ask the Comptroller or your tax adviser about unclear cases.
Reviewed September 7, 2026Official page: EnglishIndependent listing
Go to official site: Sales tax for repair and remodeling (opens in a new window)
Official sources
United States

Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)

Small-business cybersecurity resources

Free guidance and tools to help protect business accounts, customer information, and operations from cyber threats.

Free accessOnlineService: English
Best for
Building a practical cybersecurity plan for a small team
Eligibility · Before you go
Eligibility
Public guidance is available to small and medium businesses; individual tools and services have their own requirements.
Before you go
Start with the small-business guidance, identify gaps, and choose protections suited to your team's systems.
Reviewed September 7, 2026Official page: EnglishIndependent listing
Go to official site: Small-business cybersecurity resources (opens in a new window)
Clear answers

Before you use the directory.

Does an Austin contractor registration replace a trade license?

No. City registration, permits, and state-issued occupational licenses serve different purposes. Follow the instructions for the exact trade and project.

Can an online permit questionnaire guarantee that no permit is needed?

No. The City of Austin describes its questionnaire as guidance and directs users to confirm results with staff; other permits or approvals may still apply.

Trust before traffic

A listing is not a partnership.

Completa independently selects and summarizes resources. No organization paid for placement, and a link does not imply endorsement, sponsorship, referral, or a formal relationship.

Read the publication standard

Corrections and suggestions

Run one of these programs?

Send a correction or suggest an official resource. We verify the source independently and do not promise inclusion or ranking.

Suggest an update