Texas doesn’t license or register home builders. The state agency that registered them, the Texas Residential Construction Commission, was abolished on September 1, 2009. So checking a builder’s track record is up to you: look up permit and inspection records, read the warranty and contract, see how finished sections are holding up, and hire your own inspector.
Brock Bremmer | U.S. Air Force Reserves Veteran | Real Estate Agent | eXp Realty | San Antonio Metro Area
New Construction Specialist
Also see: Builder Contracts in Texas | Inspections on New Builds | New-Home Warranties
Does Texas License Home Builders?
No. According to the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission, the Legislature didn’t continue the Texas Residential Construction Commission, and it was abolished on September 1, 2009. The Texas Association of Builders notes that the state doesn’t require contractors to be licensed, though many trades, such as electrical, plumbing, and HVAC, are regulated by the state or by local authorities.
VA doesn’t fill that gap either. In Circular 26-25-1 (March 31, 2025), VA said it stopped compliance inspections on new construction in February 2006. It now relies on local building inspections and 1- or 10-year construction warranties, and it no longer issues builder ID numbers for most VA loans. When a Veteran complains about a builder, VA points them to the local building department, licensing boards, or legal counsel. It doesn’t step in.
That leaves the homework to you and your agent.
How Do You Look Up a Builder’s Permits and Inspections in San Antonio?
Inside San Antonio city limits, use the city’s BuildSA customer portal. The Development Services Department says anyone can search applications and permits without logging in. You can search by address, and typing just the street number and part of the street name works best. Each record shows its processing status, related records, and the inspection list.
Here’s how to use it:
- Check homes the builder already finished on the same street or in an earlier phase. See whether inspections passed on the first try or needed a lot of re-inspections.
- Check your own homesite once it’s permitted. As the build goes on, you can follow inspection results yourself.
- Outside city limits, as in many new communities in the ETJ, New Braunfels, or Boerne, find out which city or county handles permits and inspections for that lot. Ask the builder which inspections are actually required there.
What Should You Ask the Builder Before You Sign?
- Who backs the warranty? Get the warranty booklet, the coverage terms, and the name of any third-party warranty company.
- How do service requests work? Ask who you contact, how fast they respond, and whether there’s a scheduled walkthrough before the first-year warranty ends.
- Can my own inspector come in? Get the builder’s rules for pre-drywall and final inspections in writing.
- How firm is the completion date? Look at what the contract says about delays.
- Which incentives depend on the builder’s lender or title company? Get those terms in writing too.
My video 5 Questions You MUST Ask Before Buying a New Construction Home in San Antonio goes through more of these.
How Can You See How a Builder’s Finished Homes Are Holding Up?
- Walk the older sections of the same community. Look at grading, drainage, driveways, fences, and exterior finishes on homes a few years old.
- Read the HOA’s public documents and the recorded deed restrictions to see what the developer still controls.
- Read online reviews carefully. Look for patterns in how the builder handles warranty claims, not single angry posts.
- Search court records in the county for lawsuits naming the builder, and look at how they turned out, not just how many there are.
What Does Texas Law Say If Something Goes Wrong?
Construction-defect claims against a builder fall under Chapter 27 of the Texas Property Code, the Residential Construction Liability Act. Before you sue or start arbitration, you generally have to send the builder written notice by certified mail, return receipt requested, at least 60 days ahead. You have to describe the defects and share your evidence. The builder can then inspect up to three times within 35 days and make a written settlement offer, which can include repairs.
Section 27.007 requires your contract to include a bold notice about this chapter. If it’s missing, you can recover a $500 civil penalty. Look for that notice when you read the contract. If it isn’t there, that tells you something about how carefully the builder writes its paperwork. Talk to a Texas real estate attorney about any actual dispute.
One more difference from buying a resale home: the Texas seller’s disclosure law doesn’t apply to a new home that’s never been lived in. So inspections and the warranty matter even more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do home builders need a license in Texas?
No. Texas has no general license or registration for home builders since the Texas Residential Construction Commission was abolished on September 1, 2009. Trades such as electrical, plumbing, and HVAC are still regulated, and local permits and inspections apply.
How do I look up permits for a new build in San Antonio?
Use the City of San Antonio’s BuildSA customer portal. You can search applications and permits by address without logging in, then open each record to see its status and inspection results. Outside city limits, ask which city or county handles permits for the lot.
Ready to Vet a Builder?
Brock Bremmer with eXp Realty is a U.S. Air Force Reserves veteran with 130+ homes sold across the San Antonio metro and an eXp ICON agent (2023–24). He helps buyers compare builders, contracts, warranties, and incentives across San Antonio, New Braunfels, and Boerne new construction. Bring him on your first model-home visit so he can represent you from the start.
- 📞 Call or text: 210-501-5088
- 📧 Email: [email protected]
- 📅 Schedule a free consultation
Also see: Builder Lenders vs. Outside Lenders | Quick Move-In vs. Build | How Long a Build Takes | Upgrades Worth Paying For
Sources: Texas Sunset Advisory Commission, Texas Residential Construction Commission; Texas Association of Builders, Building in Texas; VA Circular 26-25-1; City of San Antonio DSD, Information Bulletin 110; City of San Antonio, BuildSA Customer Portal; Texas Property Code, Chapter 27; Texas Property Code, Section 5.008 (accessed November 10, 2026).