Short answer
Look the plumber up on the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE) website, the state board that licenses plumbers. Then ask which master plumber is responsible for the company and whether that person is registered with the City of Houston, because only a city-registered master plumber can pull a Houston water heater permit.
Key facts
- Texas plumbers are licensed by the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE), a stand-alone state board; state law continues it until September 1, 2033 unless the Legislature acts.[2]
- Under 22 TAC 367.9, a person or company may not advertise or contract for plumbing work unless it has secured at least one Responsible Master Plumber holding a current Master Plumber License.[3]
- Houston's water heater permit must be obtained by a master plumber registered with the City of Houston.[5]
Who licenses plumbers in Texas?
The Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE) licenses plumbers in Texas[1]. It is its own state board. Some websites say plumbing licensing moved to the state's general licensing agency. We found no such transfer: TSBPE's site is active, and state law continues the board until September 1, 2033 unless the Legislature acts[1][2]. If a site other than TSBPE's is offered as the place to check a plumbing license, check TSBPE directly.
How do you check a license, step by step?
- Get the name and license number. Ask for the individual plumber's name and license number, and the name of the company's Responsible Master Plumber (RMP).
- Look it up on TSBPE. Use the license search on the TSBPE website[1]. Check that the license is current and that the name matches the person or company you are dealing with.
- Ask who pulls the permit. Inside Houston city limits, the water heater permit "must be obtained by a master plumber registered with the City of Houston"[5]. Ask which master plumber will pull it and ask for the permit number once it is issued.
- Get it in writing. The quote should name the heater, the permit, and what happens to the old unit.
Why does the Responsible Master Plumber matter?
Under 22 TAC 367.9, a person or company "shall not advertise, contract for or otherwise offer or agree to perform plumbing work" for the public unless it has secured at least one RMP holding a current Master Plumber License[3]. The RMP must be an employee or the owner of the company doing the work[3]. This is the person whose license backs the job.
So there are two checks for a Houston water heater:
| Check | Where | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| State license | TSBPE license search[1] | Confirms the plumber and the company's RMP hold current Texas licenses[3] |
| City registration | Ask the plumber; the permit itself proves it | Only a master plumber registered with the City of Houston can obtain the permit[5] |
A company that holds a state license but has no city-registered master plumber cannot pull the Houston permit. Ask before you book.
What about doing it yourself?
Texas Occupations Code 1301.051 lets a property owner do plumbing in their own homestead without a license[4]. That does not change Houston's permit rule, which requires a city-registered master plumber to obtain the permit[5]. So a homeowner can skip the state license but not the city process. Gas piping, venting and relief valve work also carry real safety risk, and we do not give step-by-step instructions for them.
Do the suburbs add their own checks?
Some do. Pasadena's plumbing permit application requires a master plumber's signature[6]. Pasadena also requires building and remodel contractors to register with its Permit Department, at $75 to start and $75 a year to renew, with insurance checks for residential contractors[7]. Other cities in the metro, such as Sugar Land, League City and Pearland, run their own permit offices. Ask the plumber whether they have pulled permits in your city before.
What if the plumber knocked on your door?
If you sign a contract over $25 at your home, Texas law gives you until midnight of the third business day to cancel, and the contract must state that right in bold type near your signature[8]. A water heater that has failed is urgent, but a sales visit that pushes you to sign today is a reason to slow down.
How this site fits in
Water Heater Facts is a referral and information service run by Strive LeadGen LLC. We connect homeowners with independent, licensed plumbing companies. Strive LeadGen does not perform plumbing work. See how we match.
When to call a pro
- Any permitted water heater replacement in Houston: you need a master plumber registered with the city.
- The license search shows an expired license or a name that does not match the company: ask for an explanation before any work starts.
- Gas smell near the heater: leave the house, do not use switches or phones inside, and call 911 or the gas utility from outside. CenterPoint Energy is the natural gas utility for Houston[9].
- Water on the floor or a dripping relief valve line: have a licensed plumber check the heater the same week.
More questions
Which state agency licenses plumbers in Texas?
The Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners. It is a stand-alone board, separate from the state's general licensing agency, and its website is where you check a plumbing license.
Can a handyman replace my water heater in Houston?
Not as a permitted job. The Houston permit must be obtained by a master plumber registered with the city, and under state rules a business may not offer plumbing work without a Responsible Master Plumber. A handyman without a plumbing license fails both tests.
Do I have to be home for the inspection?
Houston's permit page says an inspection is required but does not set access rules. Ask the plumber how the inspection will be scheduled and whether someone must be home to open the house.
Sources
- Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners, State of Texas, TSBPE. Accessed 2026-10-06.
- Texas Occupations Code 1301.003, sunset provision, Texas Public Law (mirror of the Texas Occupations Code). Accessed 2026-10-06.
- 22 Texas Administrative Code 367.9, responsible master plumber requirement, Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School. Accessed 2026-10-06.
- Texas Occupations Code 1301.051, exemption for homestead plumbing, Texas Public Law (mirror of the Texas Occupations Code). Accessed 2026-10-06.
- Water heater permit (HPWCODE1101), City of Houston, Houston Permitting Center. Accessed 2026-10-14.
- Plumbing Installation Permit Application, City of Pasadena, Texas. Accessed 2026-10-06.
- Fee Schedule (contractor registration), City of Pasadena, Texas. Accessed 2026-10-06.
- Business and Commerce Code, Section 601.052 (home solicitation right to cancel), State of Texas, via FindLaw codes. Accessed 2026-10-06.
- Texas Geographic Rate Areas by City, CenterPoint Energy. Accessed 2026-10-06.
Water Heater Facts is an information and referral service run by Strive LeadGen LLC. We may be paid by contractors when we connect a homeowner with one; that never changes what we publish. Found an error? Tell us. We review safety and legal reports within 2 business days and all others within 7 days.