Updated
Does Texas require a septic license?
Yes. Texas requires septic installers to hold a state credential issued by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). TCEQ licenses the individuals who install, evaluate and maintain on-site sewage facilities (OSSF), including maintenance providers for aerobic systems.
Who licenses septic contractors in Texas?
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).
Texas's septic credentials:
- OSSF installer (Basic and Advanced)
- Site evaluator
- Designated representative
- Maintenance provider and maintenance technician
How to check a septic contractor's license in Texas
- Open the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) lookup.
- Search by the contractor's name, the license holder's name or the license number.
- Check the license type covers your job (installation, pumping or inspection) and that the status is active.
- If the contractor's business name doesn't come up, ask which person on staff holds the license: several states license individuals, not companies.
Septic permits in Texas
A contractor license says who may do septic work; a permit authorizes a specific system. In Texas, permits for new systems, replacements and most repairs come from the local health department or the state agency office that covers the property. Ask your installer to pull the permit and include the fee in the quote.
Licensed septic companies in Texas
The Septic Guide lists 363 septic companies and licensed professionals in Texas, 158 matched to the state's published list. Source list: TCEQ authorized contact list (OSSF). This is what we could match as of October 2026, not an official count.
- Bexar County (16)
- Harris County (14)
- Travis County (13)
- McLennan County (12)
- Tarrant County (12)
- Lubbock County (11)
- Smith County (10)
- Johnson County (9)
All septic companies in Texas →
Texas septic licensing: common questions
Do you need a license to install septic systems in Texas?
Yes. Texas requires septic installers to hold a state credential issued by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). TCEQ licenses the individuals who install, evaluate and maintain on-site sewage facilities (OSSF), including maintenance providers for aerobic systems.
Who issues septic licenses in Texas?
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) issues Texas's septic credentials: OSSF installer (Basic and Advanced); Site evaluator; Designated representative; Maintenance provider and maintenance technician.
How do I check a septic contractor's license in Texas?
Open the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) lookup. Search by the contractor's name, the license holder's name or the license number. Check the license type covers your job (installation, pumping or inspection) and that the status is active. If the contractor's business name doesn't come up, ask which person on staff holds the license: several states license individuals, not companies.
How many licensed septic contractors are in Texas?
The Septic Guide lists 363 septic companies and licensed septic professionals in Texas, 158 of them matched to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality list (data as of October 2026). This counts what we could match; it is not an official total.
Do you need a permit for a septic system in Texas?
New septic systems, replacements and most repairs need a permit before work starts. The permit comes from the local health department or the state agency office that covers your property, and the permit, not the contractor license, is what authorizes a specific job.
Sources: Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ); state license lists loaded into The Septic Guide. See how we verify licenses.