Get Quotes from Top Handymen in El Paso, TX

Are You Licensed to Practice as a Handyman in El Paso?

There are no mandatory licensing requirements for handymen who wish to operate in El Paso. However, Section 18.02.104 of the El Paso Code of Ordinances stipulates that these professionals must register as contractors with the city's Planning and Inspections Department before performing jobs requiring permits. These types of jobs include but are not limited to, exterior door and window replacements, work involving masonry walls and fences over 42 inches in height, and interior or exterior remodeling involving structural changes to a building.

Handymen who have to register as contractors may do so by completing and submitting a Contractor Registration Application Form to the Planning and Inspections Department at:

Registrants will typically be required to pay applicable registration fees, provide proof of insurance and bonding, and submit any additional documents that the department may request.

In addition to registering as contractors before they can obtain permits, handymen in the city must also register their businesses with the El Paso County Clerk's Office before providing their services to interested homeowners. This business registration requirement is mandatory for all handymen who wish to operate in El Paso, regardless of whether or not they intend to perform jobs that require permits. Other business registration requirements that handymen in El Paso need to meet include obtaining a Sales and Use Tax Permit from the state's Comptroller of Public Accounts Office and filing federal-level tax obligations with the IRS.

You should always confirm that your intended handyman has met all applicable occupational and business regulatory requirements before reaching any hiring arrangements with them. You can do this and also get additional information on the regulatory requirements for handymen in El Paso by contacting the city's Planning and Inspections Department via email or by calling (915) 212-0104 between the hours of 7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Mondays to Thursdays, and 7:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. on Fridays.

How Much Do You Charge Compared to Handymen in El Paso?

Hourly rates for handyman services in El Paso are generally dependent on a lot of variables, such as the nature and complexity of the job, the type and cost of materials and supplies needed for the job, and the urgency of the required service. Note that not all handymen in the city charge hourly rates for their services, and some of these professionals utilize flat rates for relatively straightforward jobs like artwork hanging.

As such, it is advisable to get estimates for your required service from at least three different handymen and compare these estimates before deciding on the one that best suits your budget. Note that your hiring decision should not be based solely on the project's estimated cost, as some handymen may fraudulently submit low estimates to get you to retain their services. To this end, always look out for estimates that are markedly higher or lower than the others, and be wary of the handymen who submitted these estimates.

El Paso handymen earn an average wage of $31,550 annually. The table below compares and contrasts the average hourly wages of handymen and other general maintenance and repair workers in El Paso 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 El Paso?

Per Section 18.02.105 of the El Paso Code of Ordinances, permits must be obtained before the construction, alteration, or repair of buildings and structures, as well as the installation, removal, repair, or modification of electrical, gas, mechanical, and plumbing systems in the city. The provisions of this law apply to several types of home repair and improvement projects that handymen in the city may perform, such as interior or exterior remodeling work that involves structural changes and the construction or repair of porches, awnings, and carports. Note that permit exemptions are equally made for several types of projects that are commonly handled by handymen, and these include, but are not limited to:

• Ordinary, minor nonstructural repair or remodeling work, such as painting, siding, and papering
• Work involving the repair or replacement of switches, receptacles, fans, fuses, light fixtures, and other similar equipment, provided that this work does not alter existing mechanical, electrical, or plumbing systems
• Work involving masonry walls and fences that are not more than 42 inches in height and chain link fences that are not more than six feet in height

In situations where a permit is required for a home repair or improvement job, these permits can be obtained by completing and submitting a Building Permit Application Form to the El Paso Planning and Inspections Department through its One Stop Shop located at:

Note that the payment of permit fees is typically required before requested permits will be issued. Likewise, applicants may also be required to provide additional documentation for necessary review, and the specific documents that will be requested are largely dependent on the nature and scope of the home repair or improvement work that has to be done.

The El Paso Planning and Inspections Department also allows interested parties to apply for building permits online via the city's Citizen Access Portal. However, parties that wish to utilize this permitting option will be required to register a user account on the portal before they can do so. Finally, it is essential to note that permitted building and construction-related activities in El Paso are usually subject to inspections at various stages and upon their conclusion. This is done to ensure that the work being done complies with all relevant provisions of the city's Code of Ordinances. Additional information concerning the El Paso permitting process can be gotten by contacting the city's Planning and Inspections Department via email or by calling (915) 212-0104 between 7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. on Mondays to Thursdays and 7:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. on Fridays.

What Works Can You Do Legally as a Handyman in El Paso?

Handymen in El Paso can legally provide any type of home repair or improvement service that does not require a permit. These include nonstructural repairs and remodeling, light fixture repairs and replacements, and work involving portable HVAC units. Note that handymen in the city who wish to perform any construction-related work that requires a permit are statutorily required to register as contractors with the El Paso Planning and Inspections Department. In situations where the work involves installing or modifying electrical, mechanical, and plumbing systems, these professionals must also possess state-issued trade licenses obtained from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation or the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners where appropriate.

As such, always determine the scope of your home repair or improvement work before finalizing any arrangements with handymen in the city and make sure that they are qualified to provide the required service. You can find out if your project will require permits and also confirm that your intended handyman is qualified to pull these permits by contacting the El Paso Planning and Inspection Department at (915) 212-0104. It is also a good idea to get an estimate of the cost of the job from the handyman before it begins to avoid misunderstandings down the road. Cost estimates for some commonly requested handyman services in El Paso are listed below:

Do You Carry the Necessary Insurance Policy for Handymen in El Paso?

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, injuries among construction, maintenance, and repair workers accounted for over 37 percent of all fatal on-the-job injuries reported across the State of Texas in 2020. These figures serve to underscore the importance of always hiring hired handymen to work on your home repair and improvement projects. Failing to do this opens you up to financial and legal liabilities if an injury or other unforeseen circumstances like property damage occur while your project is ongoing.

Therefore, even though handymen operating in El Paso must meet no compulsory city or state-level insurance requirements, you should always ensure that any handyman you hire carries commercial general liability insurance. Make sure that the handyman's coverage is adequate to cover any bodily injuries or property damages that may occur during the job by requesting a copy of their insurance certificate and validating it with the relevant issuing organization.

Note that in situations where handymen in El Paso have to register as contractors to enable them to obtain city-issued permits, these handymen will be required to meet certain minimum insurance and bonding requirements. These include carrying general liability coverage of at least $250,000 for bodily injury for each person or $500,000 in aggregate, at least $100,000 for property damage, and holding a building construction bond of $25,000. You can get additional information concerning insurance and bonding requirements for city-registered contractors by contacting the El Paso Planning and Inspections Department at (915) 212-0104.