Get Quotes from Top Handymen in Dallas, TX

Are You Licensed To Practice as a Handyman in Dallas City?

Dallas City has no specific local or state occupational licensing requirements for handymen. However, if a handyman wants to work on specific systems, such as plumbing, electrical, fire sprinklers, or HVAC systems, they will need to obtain specific professional licenses from the proper state agencies.

Furthermore, if a handyman wishes to execute home repairs as a contractor in Dallas City, they must first get a home repair license from the city's Department of Code Compliance. Performing a home repair as a contractor without first acquiring a home repair license is an offense that is punishable by a fine of up to $500, according to § 50-143 of the Dallas City Code. Except for minor repairs, asking your handyman if a home repair license is required before they begin working on your job is always a good idea.

You can contact the Department of Code Compliance to confirm if the type of home repair you wish to do can be performed by a handyman. You can also call the Department to discover if the handyman you are considering hiring has a home repair license. For additional information about home repairs that can be done by a handyman and home repair licensees in the city, contact the city's Department of Code Compliance at (214) 670 5708.

Having verified that your home repair can be executed by a handyman, the next thing to do is to check if the individual you are planning to hire has met the appropriate business regulations in the city. Everyone who provides services in the city must comply with the city's business regulations. Therefore, when hiring a handyman for your work, always ensure that the individual or firm has met the applicable business regulations in the city. You can ask your handyman to show proof of business registration before signing any agreement with them.

Handyman service that wants to file a local business registration can do so online or by downloading, completing, and submitting a Certificate of Ownership for Unincorporated Business or Profession Form to the Dallas County Clerk's Office at:

On the other hand, handyman services that want to file a state-level registration can do so online via the Texas Secretary of State's SOSDirect platform. Note that registrants will have to create a user profile before they can be allowed to utilize this platform. Registrants who do not wish to use the SOSDirect platform can complete and submit two copies of an Assumed Name Certificate Form to:

For more information concerning handyman service business licenses, contact the Dallas County Clerk's Office at (214) 653-7110 or (214) 653-7099 and the Texas Secretary of State's Office at (512) 463-5555.

How Much Do You Charge Compared to Handymen in Dallas City?

The cost of retaining the services of a handyman in Dallas City varies depending on a number of factors. These factors include the nature of the project, the time of the year, the amount of time it will take to complete the project, and the amount of manpower needed to complete the job.

Since each handyman considers the aforementioned factors before billing for their services, getting a second opinion before signing any agreement with anyone is always good. You should always get and compare written estimates from multiple handymen before choosing the best handyman for the project. Comparing prices from different handymen will ensure that you do not pay more than the average market price for your project.

Dallas handymen earn an average wage of $41,890 annually. Listed below are the cost comparison of average hourly wages of handymen and other general maintenance and repair workers in Dallas City with those of workers in this industry across the State of Texas and major American cities:

Do You Require a Permit To Complete This Work in Dallas City?

In Dallas City, anyone who intends to add to, repair, install, remove, improve, or maintain a building or a building service equipment must first obtain a master permit from the city's Building Inspection Office via its permit center. However, per the requirements of Chapter 52, section 301b of the Dallas City Code, not every home improvement or construction-related work requires a permit in the city. Common home improvement work that can be performed without a permit include:

• Stopping of leaks in pipes, drains, or plumbing fixtures provided that the repair does not require replacement or rearrangement of valves, pipes, or fixtures
• Adding storm windows, awnings, trims, and shutters to a building
• Erection of fences that are not more than four feet high in a front yard
• Re-roofing of a single-family or duplex dwelling when the value of the work does not exceed $500
• Construction of decks, driveways, and platforms not more than 30 inches above grade and over any basement

If the home improvement work you seek is not exempted from permitting, you must ensure that your handyman obtains a permit for the work. Home improvement workers can obtain a master permit for a project online, but before they can use the online portal, each handyman will be required to create a user profile with their email and a unique password. Once the profile has been created and confirmed, the handyman can then complete the documentation form, upload the necessary plans and other relevant documents, and pay the permit fee.

Note that before issuing a permit to the applicant, the Building Inspection Office will conduct a preliminary evaluation as well as a plan review. A preliminary evaluation is carried out to ensure that all required papers have been submitted and that the plans were formatted correctly. On the other hand, a plan review is performed to confirm that the applicant's proposals comply with the Dallas Development Code. The Building Inspection Office will issue the permit to the applicant once all of the essential checks have been done, the plan review has been completed, and the plans have been approved.

A permit can also be obtained in person if the permit is for re-roofing, foundation repair, or constructing a fence on an interior lot only. Applicants can take the necessary documents and plans to:

For more information concerning the requirements and procedures for obtaining a home improvement work permit in Dallas City call (214) 948-4480.

What Works Can You Do Legally as a Handyman in Dallas City?

In Dallas City, the major difference between a handyman and a construction contractor is that contractors are mandatorily required to register with the Building Inspection Office before they can operate, whereas handymen are not. Handymen in Dallas City can operate without a license or registration, provided that the services they are providing do not involve major electrical, plumbing, mechanical, or home improvement work that must be done by a licensed professional.

Services that a handyman can provide legally in the city include, but are not limited to, the addition of trim or siding, artwork hanging, cabinet repair, drain unclogging, and gutter cleaning. Even though handymen do not require a license or registration before they can execute the aforementioned projects in the city, it is always good to hire a handyman who is experienced in providing the type of service you seek.

Hiring an experienced handyman will not only prevent you from financial responsibilities that may arise as a result of ineptitude, but it will also ensure that you get value for your money. Outlined below are cost estimates for some of the services that handymen in Dallas City offer:

Do You Carry the Necessary Insurance Policy for Handymen in Dallas City?

In Dallas City, there are no specific insurance requirements for handymen. However, it is always in your best interest to ensure that the person you are planning to hire for home renovation work has insurance coverage. Hiring a handyman who carries the appropriate insurance policies protects you from potential financial responsibilities that may result from accidents, property damage, or bodily injury during your work.

The fact that many general maintenance and repair workers, including handymen, suffer from both fatal and nonfatal work injuries annually while providing their services across the country is enough reason to ensure that your handyman is insured. In 2020 alone, general maintenance and repair workers suffered 70 fatal work-related injuries and 23,400 nonfatal work-related injuries. To avoid being held liable for these injuries, always ask your handyman if they have active general liability insurance and, if they have employees, ask if they have workers' compensation insurance.

You can confirm if your handyman has general liability insurance by asking for their insurance certificate and contacting the insurance company that issued the certificate. Likewise, you can confirm if your handyman has active workers' compensation insurance by contacting the Texas Department of Insurance Division of Workers' Compensation Insurance at (800) 253-7031.