Texas handyman insurance
handyman in
Texas? here’s
what you need.
The license gaps, the comp choice and coverage, in plain English.
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the short answer
Texas has no statewide handyman or general contractor license, but local permits and registration can apply, and non-exempt electrical work needs a Texas license and a licensed electrical contractor. The state sets no handyman insurance minimum, so your customers and property managers set the terms.
what Texas requires.
The rules that come with repair work here.
- License
No statewide handyman or general contractor license. Cities can require registration and permits. Non-exempt electrical work needs a TDLR license; check plumbing and HVAC work separately.
- Insurance requirement
No state minimum for handyman work. Customers and property managers set the limits, additional insured wording and vehicle or employee coverage.
- Workers’ comp
A choice for most private employers. Private employers contracting with government entities must cover employees on the project.
- General liability
No state rule. A recurring maintenance contract can ask for different terms than a home repair.
Sources: City of Austin Development Services, Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, Texas Department of Insurance. Last reviewed September 2026.
what your customers will ask for.
Tap a coverage to see what it does on a handyman job and who asks for it.
What it covers
general liability.
Damage to a customer’s property or injuries to people who aren’t your employees, like a shelf that comes down after you leave.
Who asks: Property managers and homeowners, often with additional insured wording on maintenance contracts.
What it covers
workers’ comp.
Medical bills and lost wages when a helper is hurt on the job, like a fall from a ladder.
Who asks: Government contracts, and customers who ask for it even where Texas lets you choose.
What it covers
commercial auto.
Your pickup or van, and the damage or injuries it causes driving between jobs.
Who asks: Lenders, lessors and some property managers.
What it covers
tools and equipment.
Drills, saws, ladders and tools, in the truck or at the job, if they’re stolen or damaged.
Who asks: Usually no one. It protects your own gear.
What it covers
umbrella.
Extra limits on top of your liability and auto policies when a claim is bigger than they are.
Who asks: Property managers and commercial customers whose contracts ask for higher limits than one policy carries.
what’s different about
handyman work in Texas.
Insurance isn’t a license.
General liability doesn’t make regulated electrical work legal. TDLR decides the licensing, and your insurer decides what it covers. Check both before you take the job.
Customers set the terms.
With no state minimum, the customer’s agreement decides. A property manager’s maintenance contract can ask for different limits and endorsements than a homeowner does.
good to know.
Straight answers for Texas handymen.
Do handymen need a license in Texas?
Do Texas handymen need general liability insurance?
Do Texas handymen need workers’ comp?
Sources: City of Austin Development Services, Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, Texas Department of Insurance. Last reviewed September 2026.
Insurance words, in plain English: ghost policy
more for Texas
handymen.
Go deeper, go back up, or see other trades in Texas.
see what your
program is missing.
Most have gaps. Find yours with a policy review.
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