Texas · 4 cities covered
Business licences and permits in Texas
Texas issues few licences at state level and pushes most permitting down to the city and county. What you need in Austin is not what you need in Houston, even for the same business.
Pre-launch build. The permit records on this page are sample data used to build the site structure. None has yet been verified against a primary source, so nothing here should be relied on.
Which Texas city are you opening in?
- Austin, TXAustin Public Health handles food enterprise permits; Development Services handles occupancy and signage. Most delays come from the plan review step, not the permit itself.64 permits mapped
- Houston, TXHouston has no zoning ordinance, which removes one step from most openings but shifts weight onto deed restrictions and the certificate of occupancy.71 permits mapped
- Dallas, TXDallas Development Services runs certificate of occupancy and signage; the county handles food establishment permitting outside city limits.68 permits mapped
- San Antonio, TXSan Antonio's Development Services Department consolidates most building and occupancy permits, with Metro Health separately permitting food establishments.59 permits mapped
Is there a single Texas business licence?
No. Texas has no single licence that covers every business. What you need depends on your industry, your city and your county, and most of the obligations that matter are issued locally rather than at state level.
The state-level registrations that do apply to nearly everyone are tax accounts rather than licences — which is why they are easy to miss.
Who issues permits in Texas?
By industry
- Restaurants — national overview
- Coffee shops — national overview
- Retail stores — national overview
- Salons and barbers — national overview
- Food trucks — national overview
- Fitness studios — national overview
- Childcare centres — national overview
- Contractors and trades — national overview
- Auto repair shops — national overview
- Veterinary clinics — national overview
Commercial Compliance Hub publishes information, not legal advice. Requirements change — confirm anything you rely on with the issuing agency before you file.