Business Licenses & Permits in Texas
The State of Texas doesn’t require any general business license. But, depending on your type of business, you may be required to have have a license from a state regulatory agency or from the local government.
Below is a list of business types that require a license, a permit, or registration. They are organized by categories.
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Agriculture & Animals
- Auctioneer†
- Dairy Farms*
- Deer Breeders Permit
- Drilling Permit˜
- Equine and Large Animal Inspection Certificates
- Flower Sales‡
- Landscape Irrigator & Installer¶
- Licensed Breeders†
- Structural Pest Control Service Business & Technicians‡
- Veterinarians
- Wholesale Eggs, Fruits, & Vegetables‡
Automobiles
- Auto Body¶
- Auto Repair¶
- Auto Salvage¶
- Fleet Maintenance¶
- Tow Truck Operator†
- Vehicle Inspector
- Vehicle Storage†
Beauty & Fitness
Child Care & Youth Camps
Clothing & Bedding
- Bedding – Manufacture, Distribute, or Import*
- Dry Cleaning¶
Construction & Housing
- Architect, Landscape Architect, & Interior Designers
- Aggregate Production Operations¶
- Air Conditioning and Refrigeration†
- Asbestos, Lead, & Mold Abatement/Remediation*
- Architectural Barriers†
- Concrete Batch Plants¶
- Boiler Safety†
- Elevator/Escalator Safety†
- Electrician†
- Engineering
- Industrialized Housing and Buildings¶
- Land Surveying
- Manufactured Housing
- Plumbers
- Underground Storage Tank Contractors¶
Energy, Environment & Natural Resources
- Air Permits & Regulation¶
- Drilling Permits˜
- Environmental Permits˜
- Fueling Station Registration‡
- Geologists & Geophysics
- Landscape Irrigator & Installer¶
- Mining & Mineral Extraction¶
- Municipal Solid Waste Facility Supervisor¶
- Oil & Gas Facilities¶
- On-Site Sewage Facilities, Septic Systems¶
- Petroleum Storage Tanks¶
- Radioactive Materials¶
- Recycling˜
- Stormwater Permits¶
- Waste˜
- Wastewater Operators¶
- Water Operators¶
- Water Quality¶
- Water Treatment Operators¶
Financial
- Credit Access Businessesˆ
- Commercial Motor Vehicle Sales Financeˆ
- Debt Management & Settlement Providersˆ
- Motor Vehicle Sales Financeˆ
- Pawnshops & Pawn Employeesˆ
- Property Tax Lendersˆ
- Refund Anticipation Loan Facilitatorˆ
- Registered Creditorsˆ
- Regulated Lendersˆ
- Residential Mortgage Loan Originatorsˆ
Gaming, Entertainment, & Racing
- Bingo Retailer
- Farrier/Plater/Blacksmith`
- Jockey`
- Jockey Agent`
- Kennel Owner/Trainer`
- Lottery Retailer
- Mutuel Clerk`
- Racing Announcer`
- Racing Industry Representative`
- Racing Management`
- Racing Medical Staff`
- Racing Officer/Director`
- Racing Owner`
- Racing Security Officer`
- Racing Trainer`
- Racing Veterinarian`
- Stable Foreman`
- Tattooer`
- Tooth Floater`
- Totalisator`
- Vendor Concessionaire`
Healthcare, Dental, Vision, Hearing, & Sanitation
- Bloodborne Pathogen Control Program Device Registration*
- Chiropractors & Chiropractic Radiological Technologists
- Contact Lens Dispensing Permit*
- Dentists, Dental Hygienists, Dental Assistants, Dental Laboratories
- Drugs and Devices*
- EMS – Trauma Systems*
- Fitting & Dispensing of Hearing Instruments*
- Funeral Homes, Commercial Embalming Facilities
- Healthcare Facilities*
- Mammography*
- Medical Physicists*
- Medical Radiologic Technologist*
- Midwifery*
- Nurses
- Opticians*
- Optometrists, Therapeutic Optometrists
- Orthotics & Prosthetics*
- Perfusionist*
- Personal Emergency Response System*
- Physicians, Physician Assistants, Acupunturists
- Pharmacists, Pharmacies, Pharmacy Technicians
- Pharmaceutical Sales*
- Podiatrists
- Respiratory Care Practitioners*
- Sanitarian Registration*
Hospitality & Food
Manufacturing
- Engineering
- Foundries¶
- Hazardous Consumer Products*
- Industrial Radiographers*
- Metal Finishers¶
- Radiation Control*
- Surface Coating¶
- Thermoset Resin/Cultured Marble Facilities¶
- Wood Products Manufacturing¶
Professional Services
- Auctioneer†
- Continuing Education Provider*
- Court Reporters
- For-Profit Legal Services†
- Licensed Court Interpreters†
- Polygraph Examiners†
- Professional Employer Organizations†
- Property Tax Consultants†
- Property Tax Professionals†
- Service Contract Providers†
Real Estate
- Appraiser
- Property Tax Consultants†
- Property Tax Professionals†
- Real Estate Salesperson, Broker, or Inspector
Retail
Security, Investigation, & Firearm Instruction
- Alarm Training School#
- Electronic Access Control Device#
- Firearm Training Schools & Instructors#
- Guard Dog Trainer#
- Locksmith#
- Personal Protection Instructor#
- Private Investigation Company#
- Security Contractor#
- Security Officer#
- Security Salesperson#
- Telematics Copmany#
Social Work & Mental Health
- Chemical Dependency Counselors*
- Offender Education Program*
- Psychologists, Associates and Licensed Specialists in School Psychology
- Sex Offender Treatment*
- Master Social Worker*
Therapists
- Counselors*
- Dyslexia Therapists*
- Occupational Therapists, Occupational Therapy Assistants
- Physical Therapists, Physical Therapy Assistants
- Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology*
† = See TDLR
¶ = See TCEQ
‡ = See TDA
* = See TDSHS
ˆ = See TOCCC
˜ = See TRRC
# = See TDPS
` = See TRC
Tip – Don’t forget to check with your local governments for laws and regulations affecting your business.