Get Quotes from Top Handymen in Houston, TX

Are You Licensed to Practice as a Handyman in Houston?

There are no professional or occupational license requirements for handymen in Houston. However, a handyman who wants to run a handyman business and offer extensive home repairs and improvements to city residents must fulfill certain city and state regulations. This includes registering a business before offering services to the city's residents. If the handyman intends to structure their business as a sole proprietorship or a general partnership, then a "Doing Business As" form will need to be filed with the relevant county clerk in which the business will be conducted. If the business has no premises, the applicant must file in each county where they intend to carry on business. Applicants can contact the county clerk offices for Houston at the following locations:

Meanwhile, a limited liability company, corporation, or limited liability partnership must file a Certificate of Formation with the Texas Secretary of State to establish their business name. They must also file the necessary "Doing Business As" forms with the Secretary of State and each county where the business will be located. If you need to confirm the validity of a handyman's business registration, you can verify online via SOSDirect provided by the Texas Secretary of State, or you can contact at (512) 463-5555.

The handyman must also obtain a Federal Tax Identification Number, also referred to as an Employer Identification Number (EIN), from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Applicants can visit the IRS office located at:

In addition, the handyman must file a rendition with the relevant county where they are listing their business personal property assets if the business' total value of property assets is more than $500. For more information regarding Texas's appraisal and tax responsibilities, contact the relevant County Appraisal District Office. Generally, you can contact the Houston Office of Business Opportunity Solutions Center (OBOSC) at (832) 393-0954 if you want to inquire about your intended handyman's business registration requirement or if they have met all regulatory requirements. You can also contact the Houston Office of Economic Development at (832) 393-0937 or (832) 393-0981 for more information.

How Much Do You Charge Compared to Handymen in Houston?

Before hiring a home repair professional in Houston, you must know how much the handyman will charge for their services. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average hourly wage for handymen in the Houston area is $20.41. However, the total amount you will have to pay depends on several factors, such as:

• The size of the project and the amount of labor that the handyman will require to complete it successfully.
• The scope of the task and the nature of the work that the handyman will be performing
• The cost of the materials and supplies that the handyman will use for the work.

It is very important to get estimates from different handymen in your area before hiring them. Doing so will help you avoid getting carried away by the various charges involved and also help you spot a fraudulent handyman. You can also confirm if the estimates are calculated using a flat or hourly rate.

Houston handymen earn an average wage of $42,450 annually. The table below compares and contrasts the average hourly wages of handymen and other general maintenance and repair workers in Houston 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 Houston?

When you hire a handyman to carry out repairs in your home, you will require a residential repair permit for certain repair work per the Houston Code of Ordinances, Chapter 10. The Houston Permitting Center is the agency that issues various types of permits for residential repair projects. The following repair work will be eligible for a residential repair permit:

• Exterior siding
• Garage door and windows
• Roof repairs (not to exceed 100 sq.ft.)
• Window repairs
• Repair damaged studs
• Install smoke detectors (hardwired and interconnected)
• Install carbon monoxide detectors
• Repair existing interior stairs and/or steps to original condition
• Repair ceiling, wall covering, and/or insulation
• Repair existing fireplace
• Repair porch
• Repair electrical (separate permit required)
• Repair plumbing (separate permit required)
• Repair mechanical (separate permit required)

Interested individuals can apply for a residential repair permit online by registering or signing in with an existing account on the city's iPermit portal. The applicants can then complete and submit the relevant permit application and pay the applicable fee. Some types of resident home repair projects require the submission of plans. Applicants can use this Residential Repairs Spec List (CE-1059) to confirm if their project requires plan submission. Alternatively, applicants can contact the city's Permitting Center at (832) 394-8840 or by email. If the permit application is carried out by the handyman, the homeowner can confirm if the handyman has obtained all the necessary permits for your intended repair projects by using the Houston Online Permit Search Portal.

In addition to being issued permits, applicants must schedule inspections online or contact the Interactive Voice Response (IVR) System at (713) 222-9922. A copy of the permit and Residential Repairs Spec List must always be on-site until the final inspection. The Houston Permitting Center can help you with your home repair permit-related questions when you call them on (832) 394-9000. You can visit the physical location in person at:

What Works Can You Do Legally as a Handyman in Houston?

There are no occupational licenses in Houston for home repair and maintenance workers. They can perform various tasks, such as repairing and maintaining a home, as long as they follow proper safety procedures. However, handymen cannot carry out home repair or maintenance work that involves HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and fire-sprinkler-related work. To perform these tasks, an individual must be licensed and have a proper trade license issued by either the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation or the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners. Failure to follow these regulations can lead to state-imposed penalties. These can include possible jail time and fines up to $3,500, depending on the type of work performed.

Before hiring a Houston-based home handyman, it is important to get a clear idea of how much their services cost and the mode of payment before work starts. This will help avoid disputes regarding payments. The following estimates the various services a handyman in Houston can provide.

Do You Cary the Necessary Insurance Policy for Handymen in Houston?

In 2020, over 37 percent of fatal occupational injuries in Texas were reported among construction, maintenance, and repair workers. Although insurance is not mandatory for handymen in Houston, hiring a reliable and insured handyman is still important. Working with an insured handyman can protect you from incurring any legal and financial liabilities in the event of an accident while they are carrying out home repairs.

Before starting a project, ensure that the handyman carrying out the work has the necessary commercial general liability insurance. Also, confirm that the handyman with employees carries the required workers' compensation insurance. This will cover the individuals who will be working on the project. You should authenticate the handyman's insurance coverage by contacting the insurance company that issued the certificate of insurance. Likewise, you can contact the Houston Human Resources Department at (832) 393-7233 for more information regarding worker's compensation insurance.