STATE LICENSE
NoneSee what applies
No Texas agency licenses framers or carpenters. What governs framing is the code and the inspection stop. The International Residential Code as it existed on May 1, 2012 is adopted by statute as the municipal residential building code in Texas, and the International Building Code as the municipal commercial code, with cities administering, enforcing and amending them by ordinance after a public hearing.
Outside city limits the picture is unusual. Local Government Code chapter 233, subchapter F applies only to counties that adopt a resolution or order opting in. Where a county has opted in, new residential construction on a vacant lot must conform to the IRC and must be inspected at three stages: the foundation stage before concrete is placed, the framing and mechanical systems stage before drywall goes up, and on completion. The builder — not the county — is responsible for having those inspections performed.
On the coast, framing is also insurance work. Most new construction and major alterations in the 14 first-tier coastal counties and Harris County east of Highway 146 require a windstorm inspection and a TDI certificate of compliance during construction (WPI-8), which means an inspection while the frame is still open.
The state sets the license floor; the county or city permit office controls filing, inspections, and local rules wherever the job site sits.
Framing is where the Texas local layer bites hardest. Inside a municipality, the statutorily adopted IRC and IBC apply and the city runs permits, inspections and local amendments (Loc. Gov't Code §§ 214.212, 214.216); cities over 100,000 must publish notice at least 21 days before considering a model code adoption or amendment (§ 214.217). In a city's extraterritorial jurisdiction, an adopted municipal code controls. In unincorporated areas, only counties that have opted into chapter 233, subchapter F apply the IRC to new residential construction, with three builder-arranged inspections and no requirement of prior county approval to begin. Because no state license preempts them, cities may also require contractor registration and charge for it.
The local offices section below names the exact permit desk for every Texas county on file.
Each row names the issuing authority, cost, timeline, citation, and status behind the requirement — verified against the official source.
Published fees from the issuing authorities, as of September 2026. Local permit fees vary by project and jurisdiction — the basis is stated where a flat number does not exist.
Chapter 233, subchapter F applies only to counties that have adopted a resolution or order requiring it and that are within 50 miles of an international border or have a population over 100. Confirm the county's status before assuming either way.
In opted-in counties, the person who builds the new residential construction is responsible for having it inspected at the foundation, framing/mechanical, and completion stages — the county does not schedule them for you, and prior county approval is not required to start.
If a municipality has adopted a building code in its extraterritorial jurisdiction, that code controls and the county subchapter has no effect there — § 233.153(c).
A practical sequence for a new framing contractor in Texas. Actual agency processing times are noted in the ledger above.
Each item names the issuing authority, cycle, and citation.
Statutory consequences with their citations — not estimates, not “commonly cited” guesses.
There is no Texas state framing license, so there is no state unlicensed-practice offense. Enforcement runs through building codes, permits and civil liability.
Construction payments and loan receipts for improving specific real property are trust funds; retaining, using or diverting them before paying beneficiaries is misapplication.
Claims arising from a construction defect run through the Residential Construction Liability Act, which requires 60 days' written pre-suit notice and a boldface contract disclosure and prevails over conflicting law.
Inside city limits, the city office listed here issues the permit; the county office serves unincorporated areas. Every office links to its official page.
Every fact in this file was checked against these official sources on September 2026.
Pending verification: Which specific counties have adopted the chapter 233, subchapter F resolution — Texas publishes no consolidated list; confirm with the county · Municipal building permit and inspection fee schedules, which are set individually by each city
General information, not legal advice. Always confirm requirements, deadlines, and forms with the issuing authority before filing or contracting.
Store licenses, permits, policies, and renewal dates in one place.