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The Houston Homeowner

How to choose an electrician in Houston

Verify the electrical contractor license and the master electrician behind it at TDLR, insist on a City of Houston permit for panel, circuit and generator work, and never accept a bid without the scope in writing.

License and permits

Texas requires an Electrical Contractor license for the company and a Master Electrician license for the person responsible for its work, both issued by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. The electrician on site must be a licensed journeyman or master, or an apprentice under direct supervision. License numbers must appear on vehicles and advertising.

Look up a electrician license at TDLR

In the City of Houston, panel replacements, service upgrades, new circuits, generator and EV charger installs, and most work beyond replacing a like-for-like fixture require an electrical permit and inspection through the Houston Permitting Center.

Walk away if

  • No TDLR license number on the truck, website or invoice.
  • They offer to skip the permit on a panel change or generator install to save you money.
  • They cannot tell you who the master electrician of record is.
  • The bid for a panel or service upgrade does not say the amperage, the panel brand, or whether CenterPoint coordination is included.
  • They want full payment before the inspection passes.

Ask before you hire

  1. What is your TDLR electrical contractor license number, and who is the master electrician of record?
  2. Will you pull the Houston permit and schedule the inspection?
  3. For a panel or service change, who coordinates the utility disconnect and reconnect?
  4. What is the labor warranty, and is the equipment warranty registered in my name?
  5. Can you send a certificate of insurance from your agent?

Houston specifics

Hurricane season drives generator installs, and generator installs are where unlicensed work hurts people. A standby generator or a transfer switch that is wired wrong can back-feed the grid and injure a utility worker. This is the one job where a permit and inspection protect someone other than you.

Older Houston neighborhoods still have Federal Pacific and Zinsco panels, which insurers and inspectors flag, and some 1960s and 1970s homes have aluminum branch wiring. An electrician who recognizes these on sight and explains the options calmly, without a hard sell, is the one you want.

Reading an electrical bid

Expect the amperage of a service, the brand of panel and breakers, the number and location of new circuits, the wire gauge for an EV charger or range, whether the permit and inspection are included, and the labor warranty in years. Equipment warranties for generators and chargers usually require registration, so ask who registers it.

Frequently asked

Does an electrician in Houston need a license?

Yes. Texas licenses electricians statewide through TDLR. The company needs an Electrical Contractor license and a Master Electrician of record, and the person doing the work must be licensed or a supervised apprentice.

Do I need a permit to replace an electrical panel in Houston?

Yes. Panel replacements and service upgrades require a City of Houston electrical permit and inspection. The utility will not energize a new service without a passed inspection.