Texas Mold License and Insurance Rules: What to Check Before You Hire in DeSoto, TX
In Texas, mold assessors and mold remediators must hold a state license once a job is large enough. DeSoto Mold Help is a free referral service, not a mold company. Read the rules here, then call and we connect you with an independent local provider.
Each provider sets its own prices and availability. This site does not.
Quick Answers
- The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) licenses mold assessors, mold remediators and their companies.
- Mold work for hire on 25 contiguous square feet or more needs a TDLR license.
- One license holder may not assess and remove mold on the same project.
- You can check any license on the TDLR website in a few minutes.
- Your home insurance policy and a company’s liability insurance are two different things.
Who Regulates Mold Work in Texas?
TDLR regulates the people and companies that test for mold or clean it up, under Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 1958. TDLR took over the program on November 1, 2017. Before that it sat with the Department of State Health Services. Old license numbers carried over, so an older looking number is not a red flag.
TDLR licenses the people. It does not inspect homes, and it cannot make a landlord clean mold. If you need someone to look at your property, you hire a licensed assessor. See the TDLR mold program page for the official overview.
What Mold Licenses Does Texas Issue?
Texas separates the people who find and measure mold from the people who remove it. Each role has its own credential.
| Credential | Type | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Mold Assessment Consultant | License | Inspects, finds the moisture source, writes the plan (called a protocol), checks the result after cleanup and writes the passed clearance report. |
| Mold Assessment Technician | License | Helps with assessment work under a consultant. Cannot write protocols or clearance reports. |
| Mold Remediation Contractor | License | Prepares the work plan from the protocol, supervises the workers, and signs and delivers the certificate. |
| Mold Remediation Worker | Registration, not a license | Does the physical work under a licensed contractor. |
| Assessment or Remediation Company | Company license | The business itself must be licensed and must name a responsible licensed person. |
| Mold Analysis Laboratory | License | Only a licensed lab may analyze samples in this program. |
When Does a Mold Job Need a Texas License?
If you hire someone to work on 25 contiguous square feet or more of visible mold, that person or company needs a TDLR license. Under 25 contiguous square feet, unlicensed people can usually clean it. A licensed firm hired for a smaller job must still follow the rules.
Owners of residential property with fewer than 10 units may do their own mold work on their own property under Occupations Code 1958.102.
| Why two numbers? | EPA guide | Texas license rule |
|---|---|---|
| Number | About 10 square feet | 25 contiguous square feet |
| What it tells you | When most owners can clean up alone, per the EPA | When a provider you hire must hold a Texas license, per TDLR |
One 4 by 8 foot sheet of drywall is 32 square feet. A single stained sheet can already pass the line.
Why Texas Keeps the Assessor and the Remediator Separate
One license holder may not do both the assessment and the removal on the same project. That rule is in Occupations Code 1958.155. The Texas Attorney General also says a person may not own part of both firms on the same project. Two company names under one owner do not meet the rule.
The reason is simple. The assessor’s plan decides how much comes out and what “clean” means. If the same firm is paid for the removal, the one judging the result gains from a bigger job.
Not sure where to start? A licensed assessor comes first. Read how mold inspection works, and when mold testing helps.
How to Check a Mold License in Texas
Checking takes a few minutes and costs nothing. Do it before you sign.
Ask for the License
A licensed person must carry a current TDLR certificate with the number on it.
Search the Number
Type the number only, or search by name, business name, city, county or ZIP code.
Match the Details
Check the name, the license type (assessment, remediation or company) and that the status is active.
Call If Not Found
Call TDLR Customer Service at 800-803-9202.
Get the Information Sheet
The licensee must give you the Consumer Mold Information Sheet before work begins. If you never got it, treat that as a warning sign.
Licensed, Certified, Insured: What Is the Difference?
| Word | What it means |
|---|---|
| Licensed | The state, through TDLR, has approved the person or company to do the work. This is the one that matters for the law. |
| Certified | A private group gave a certificate or training. It is not a Texas license. IICRC, for example, is a private certification and standards body. |
| Insured | The company has insurance. A certificate of insurance proves cover. It does not prove permission to do mold work. |
Licensed assessment and remediation companies must carry liability insurance filed with TDLR. That protects you if something goes wrong on the job. It is not the same as your own home insurance policy.
What a Licensed Texas Mold Job Looks Like
- Assessment. A licensed consultant finds the mold and the moisture source.
- Protocol. The consultant writes the plan: which rooms, which materials and how clean is checked. You get a copy before cleanup starts.
- Work plan. The licensed contractor writes a work plan from the protocol and keeps a copy on site. For 25 contiguous square feet or more, the contractor notifies TDLR before starting.
- Containment, removal, cleaning and drying.
- Clearance check. The consultant checks the result against the plan. If it fails, more work is needed.
- Certificate. The certificate of mold damage remediation is due within 10 days after the project ends, signed by the contractor and the consultant.
Keep the certificate and the paperwork. When you sell, Occupations Code 1958.154 requires you to give the buyer a copy of every mold remediation certificate issued in the five years before the sale. TDLR’s consumer sheet also says a certificate showing the cause was fixed helps with insurability.
Does Homeowners Insurance Pay for Mold Removal in Texas?
It depends on your policy and what caused the water. The Texas Department of Insurance says most home and renter policies cover sudden and accidental water damage, such as a burst pipe, and the mold that develops on a damaged item. Gradual leaks are usually not covered. Mold from a flood needs a separate flood policy. Mold cleanup and testing are often not included unless coverage was added.
Ask your insurer before work starts
- Was the cause sudden and accidental, or gradual?
- Does my policy include a mold limit?
- Does it cover cleanup and testing?
- What paperwork do you need from the mold professional?
Take dated photos before repairs, as TDI advises, and keep every receipt. Your insurer cannot require you to use a specific contractor, says the Texas Attorney General. This page cannot tell you whether your claim will be paid. Only your insurer can.
What If a Mold Company Breaks the Rules?
You can file a complaint with TDLR online or by phone at 800-803-9202, within two years of the event. The Texas Attorney General also accepts complaints. TDLR can fine or suspend license holders, and unlicensed mold work can lead to penalties.
Read about the penalty levels on the TDLR mold program page.
Who to Call in DeSoto, TX
If you are not sure what you have, start with a licensed assessor. If you are ready for cleanup, call [PHONE NUMBER] and we connect you with an independent local provider. Whoever you call, ask five questions:
- What is your Texas license number?
- Who writes the plan, and is that firm separate from the one doing the cleanup?
- What does the clearance check involve, and will I get the certificate?
- What is your plan for the moisture source?
- Can I have a written, itemized quote?
Browse all mold removal services in DeSoto, or read how DeSoto Mold Help works.
Service areas: DeSoto, TX (ZIP code 75115).
Texas Mold License and Insurance: Common Questions
Does Texas require mold contractors to be licensed?
Yes, for work for hire on 25 contiguous square feet or more of visible mold. Smaller jobs do not need a license, but a licensed firm hired for them must still follow the rules. Owners may work on their own residential property under the exemption in Occupations Code 1958.102.
How can I check if a mold company is licensed?
Ask for the license number and search it on the TDLR License Data Search. Match the name, the license type and an active status. If you cannot find it, call TDLR at 800-803-9202 before you sign anything.
Can the same company test my mold and clean it up?
No, not on the same project. Texas bars one license holder from doing both jobs and from owning part of both firms. This keeps the final check independent.
Is “IICRC certified” the same as licensed?
No. IICRC is a private certification and standards body. It does not issue a Texas license. Only TDLR licenses mold assessors and remediators in Texas.
Does a mold company have to carry insurance in Texas?
Yes. Licensed assessment and remediation companies must carry liability insurance filed with TDLR. Ask for a certificate of insurance, and remember it proves cover, not a license.
Does homeowners insurance pay for mold removal in Texas?
It depends on your policy and the cause. Most policies cover sudden, accidental water damage and the mold that follows it. Gradual leaks and floods are usually excluded. Call your insurer before work starts.
Can my insurance company make me use a certain contractor?
No. The Texas Attorney General says an insurer cannot require you to use a specific contractor. You choose who does the work.
What is a certificate of mold damage remediation?
It is a document signed by the licensed contractor and the licensed consultant, due within 10 days after the project ends. It says the work was finished and whether the cause was corrected. Keep it, because a seller must give the buyer certificates from the past five years.
Can I clean mold myself without a license?
Yes, owners can clean their own property, and anyone can usually clean under 25 contiguous square feet. The EPA says about 10 square feet is manageable for most people. Wear an N95 respirator, gloves and goggles. People with asthma or a weak immune system should not clean mold.
Get Connected With a DeSoto Mold Provider
Referral disclosure: This site is a free referral service, not a mold removal company. Calls are connected to independent local providers.