Plain English

How Texas mold law actually works

Most states don't regulate mold work at all. Texas does, and the structure is genuinely well designed — it exists because of a wave of mold claims and disputes in the early 2000s. Knowing how it works puts you in a much stronger position with any contractor.

Who regulates it

The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation administers mold licensing under Chapter 1958 of the Texas Occupations Code and the associated administrative rules — the Texas Mold Assessment and Remediation Rules. TDLR issues several distinct credentials, and the distinctions matter.

License	What it covers
Mold Assessment Consultant (MAC)	Assesses the problem, writes the remediation protocol, performs clearance, issues the certificate
Mold Assessment Technician (MAT)	Performs assessment work under a consultant's supervision
Mold Assessment Company	The business entity employing assessors
Mold Remediation Contractor (MRC)	Performs the actual removal work
Mold Remediation Worker	Works under a remediation contractor
Mold Remediation Company	The business entity performing remediation
Mold Analysis Laboratory	Analyzes samples

The number that decides everything: 25 contiguous square feet

This threshold determines whether your job is regulated work. Below 25 contiguous square feet of contamination, you can hire whoever you want or clean it up yourself, and no notification is required. At or above it, remediation you hire out must be performed by a licensed Mold Remediation Contractor, following a written protocol prepared by a licensed Mold Assessment Consultant, with notification to TDLR before work begins.

"Contiguous" means connected. Three separate ten-square-foot patches in three different rooms don't add up to thirty. One thirty-square-foot patch does.

Here's the part people miss. The area counted is not just the fuzzy patch you can see — TDLR's position is that it's the entire area requiring cleaning, removal or treatment. Because remediation necessarily includes cleaning surfaces around and beyond visible growth, jobs that look small on the wall frequently land above the line once the actual cleaning footprint is measured. A contractor telling you a clearly substantial job is "under 25 feet, so we don't need a protocol" is worth questioning.

The exemptions

Homeowners. A homeowner can assess or clean up mold in their own residence without any license, regardless of area. You're allowed to take samples and you're allowed to do the work. Whether it's a good idea on a large area is a separate question — opening a wall without containment moves contamination rather than removing it.

Residential owners and agents. An owner, or a managing agent or employee of an owner of residential property, isn't required to be licensed — unless the property has ten or more residential dwelling units.

Non-residential owners and tenants. An owner or tenant of non-residential property, or their agent or employee, isn't required to be licensed unless the contamination affects 25 contiguous square feet or more.

The work standards

The Texas rules set minimum standards for regulated projects, not just who can do them. Above the threshold, that includes physical containment — sealed plastic barriers with negative air pressure maintained by HEPA-filtered air scrubbers, so air flows into the work area rather than out of it. Larger projects require heavier containment. Workers wear respiratory protection, coveralls, gloves and eye protection, primarily so they don't carry spores into clean parts of the building on their gear.

Post-remediation verification by an independent licensed assessor is standard practice on regulated jobs, and many insurance policies and contracts require it regardless.

The paperwork you should end up with

On a regulated job you should receive the Consumer Mold Information Sheet, a written remediation protocol from the assessor, a written scope or work plan from the remediation contractor, clearance documentation from the assessor, and a Certificate of Mold Damage Remediation on the Texas Department of Insurance form. That certificate has to be provided to the property owner within ten days of project completion.

Hold onto the certificate. It's relevant when you sell the house, and Texas insurance rules give it weight in how a remediated property gets treated.

What this does not cover

Texas mold licensing governs assessment and remediation. It does not license plumbers, roofers, HVAC contractors or foundation companies to do mold work — those trades have their own regimes. Plumbers are licensed by the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners. Electricians and air conditioning contractors are licensed by TDLR under separate programs. Engineers are licensed by the Texas Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors. There is no statewide general contractor license in Texas.

That matters on a Waco mold job because the water source is very often a plumbing failure, and the plumbing repair is separate licensed work from the remediation.

Common questions

Does Texas license mold contractors?

Yes. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation issues separate licenses for mold assessment and mold remediation under Chapter 1958 of the Texas Occupations Code. Texas is in the minority of states that regulate this at all.

What is the 25 contiguous square feet rule?

It's the threshold that determines whether hired mold work is licensed work. At or above 25 contiguous square feet of contamination, remediation you hire out must be performed by a licensed Mold Remediation Contractor working to a protocol from a licensed, independent Mold Assessment Consultant. Below it, you can hire anyone.

Does the 25 square feet mean only what I can see?

No, and this trips people up. TDLR's position is that the area counted is the total area requiring cleaning, removal or treatment — not just the visible growth. Since remediation involves cleaning surfaces well beyond the visible patch, jobs that look small often cross the line.

Can I clean up mold in my own house?

Yes. Texas exempts homeowners performing remediation on their own residence, and that exemption applies regardless of the size of the area. The exemption is about who does the work, not how big it is.

What about landlords and rental property?

An owner, managing agent or employee of an owner of residential property is not required to be licensed — unless the property has ten or more residential dwelling units. Above that, the exemption doesn't apply.

Can one company both test and remediate my mold?

Not on jobs at or above the threshold. Texas deliberately separates assessment from remediation so the party defining the scope isn't the party billing for the work.

What is a Certificate of Mold Damage Remediation?

A Texas Department of Insurance form the licensed assessor issues after a licensed remediation job passes clearance, stating that the contamination identified in the protocol has been remediated. Keep it — it matters at resale and it can affect future insurance treatment of the property.

Is there a notification requirement?

Yes. A licensed contractor has to notify TDLR before starting a project where contamination affects 25 contiguous square feet or more. Below that threshold there's no notification requirement.

What is the Consumer Mold Information Sheet?

A TDLR document explaining consumer rights and how mold is regulated in Texas. Licensed professionals are required to provide it to the client and to the property owner if they're different people.

How do I check a license?

TDLR maintains a public license search. Ask the contractor for the exact license name and number and look it up before you sign anything. This is the single most useful five minutes a Texas homeowner can spend on a mold job.

This page is general information about how Texas regulates mold work. It is not legal advice, and rules change. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation is the authority — check with them or with an attorney for anything that matters to your specific situation.