After the storm, before the payment
Check the Texas rule before the contractor gets your money
Texas has no statewide general-contractor license. That does not mean there is nothing to check. The trade, local rules, declared-disaster law, business identity, insurance proof, deductible promise, and requested payee can each change the answer.
Do not search for a license Texas does not issue
The state does not require a general business license or a statewide general-contractor license. A city or county can still require permits, registrations, or local licenses. Ask the local building or permitting office what applies to the property and the proposed work.
Use the license route for the actual trade
Texas requires licenses for non-exempt electrical work and for air-conditioning, refrigeration, and heating contractors. Plumbing has its own state board and public search. Mold assessment and remediation can also require TDLR credentials. Match the holder, license type, status, expiration, business affiliation, and work scope. A valid license for one trade does not authorize every part of a rebuild.
Reconcile the business, quote, contract, and payee
Search the legal business name and compare it with the quote, contract, email domain, invoice, and person or company requesting payment. The Comptroller search reports an entity's right to transact business. It does not establish contractor quality. A mismatch is a question to resolve in writing before payment, not automatic proof of fraud.
Check whether Chapter 58 changes the payment rule
Chapter 58 covers defined disaster-remediation work caused by a natural disaster with a governor or county disaster declaration. When the chapter applies, the contract must be written, the contractor may not require payment before work begins, and later partial payments may not exceed an amount reasonably proportionate to work performed and materials delivered.
The chapter does not apply when the contractor maintained a physical business address for at least one year in the project county or an adjacent county. Do not turn the rule into a slogan. Check the declaration, work, property, contractor address history, and current statute for the specific contract.
Reject the deductible shortcut
The Texas Department of Insurance says a contractor may not waive your insurance deductible or help you avoid paying it. Treat a rebate, credit, inflated estimate, or promise to "work it into the bid" as a stop signal. Keep proof of deductible payment because the insurer may request it.
Verify the proof through a second route
Ask for the contractor's certificate of insurance, then contact the listed agency using a route reviewed independently of the document. Compare the named insured, policy dates, and type of coverage with the business and project. A certificate is evidence, not a guarantee that every worker, subcontractor, loss, or part of the project is covered.
This guide is general consumer information, not legal, construction, or insurance advice. Texas rules depend on the work, location, disaster declaration, contractor history, and contract facts. Last reviewed July 21, 2026.