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TX Compliance Guide Class B Security Contractor License / Alarm Systems Company Verified for 2026/2027 Electrical & Low Voltage

Texas Commercial Security, CCTV & Access Control Contractor

Official statutory licensing standards, state surety bond mandates, and commercial liability minimums overseen by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) - Regulatory Services Division. Satisfy General Contractor (GC) compliance requirements and secure instant digital ACORD 25 certificates to keep your security & access control crew jobsite-ready.

Audited by Pasi Tapio Hakamaki • Editorial Review: September 2026 • Statutory Authority: Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) - Regulatory Services Division
Min General Liability
$1,000,000
Occurrence / $2,000,000 General Aggregate
Required State Bond
No statewide contractor license bond required
No Statewide License Bond Required by TDLR / TSBPE
Board Application Fee
Varies by regulatory agency ($115 - $225 for TDLR/TSBPE licenses; $60 - $130 for municipal contractor registration)
Exam Provider: PSI Services (State Licenses: TDLR & TSBPE) / Local Municipal Review
License Renewal
Annual or Biennial by trade
CE: 0 Hours (No statewide CE required for general contracting; local rules apply)
✓
Primary Source Verified: 2026 Statutory Code Review
Requirements cross-referenced against the official Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) - Regulatory Services Division administrative code.
Official TX Board Portal → | Our Audit Methodology
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Target Jurisdiction
Texas (TX)
Trade Classification
Commercial Security, CCTV & Access Control Contractor
Estimated Annual Gross Revenue $350,000
$50k $1.5M $3M+
Estimated Statutory Costs Instant Certificate Available
General Liability (GL)
$1,000,000 Each Occurrence / $2,000,000 General Aggregate
$146/mo
~$1,750 / year
Contractor License Bond
Texas $0 State Bond
$0/yr
No State License Bond Required by TDLR / TSBPE ($0 Statutory State Bond)
Workers' Comp Guidance: Elective for private construction (§ 406.002); Mandatory for public works construction (§ 406.096). Governed under Texas Labor Code § 406.002 (Private Elective) & § 406.096 (Public Mandatory). Commercial GCs almost universally mandate active coverage before jobsite dispatch.
Review Governing Statutory Citations Explore 50-State Licensing Directory →

*Estimates based on standard market rates for commercial artisan contractors. Exact quotes require underwriting review of prior loss history, specific endorsements, and payroll declarations.

Commercial Security, CCTV & Access Control Contractor Scope of Work & Legal Permitting Authority

Security contractors install card readers, electronic magnetic door locks, NVR IP video surveillance, and intrusion detection systems.

Defined Authorized Scope of Construction:

Commercial IP CCTV networks, RFID badge readers, turnstile gates, biometric biometric scanners, and electrified panic exit hardware.

Permit Trigger in Texas: Electrified magnetic door hardware tied to emergency life safety egress
Minor Work Exemption Threshold: No statewide dollar threshold; governed by municipal IRC/IBC Section 105.2 permit exemption rules; $0 threshold for state-licensed trades and work requiring building permits

Mandatory Experience Prerequisites

3 years electronic access control, IP camera surveillance, and biometric security installation experience

Required Insurance Policy Endorsements

Electronic Security E&O, Cyber Liability Data Breach Floater, Blanket Additional Insured

Governing Technical Code & Safety Standard
Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1702 & 37 TAC Chapter 35
National Electrical Code (NEC / NFPA 70) & NFPA 70E Arc Flash Safety
Testing & Compliance Benchmarks: UL certification standards, IEEE grounding standards, and OSHA 1910.303 electrical compliance. Requires specialized arc-rated protective equipment, calibrated load-balancing verification, and electrical inspection sign-offs before energizing service panels.
Procedural Roadmap

How to Obtain a Commercial Security, CCTV & Access Control Contractor License in Texas

Official 4-step compliance path pursuant to Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1702 & 37 TAC Chapter 35.

Official Board Rules →
1

Legal Entity & EIN Formation

Texas Business Entity Filing Statutes

Form your business entity (LLC, Corporation, or Sole Proprietorship) with the Texas Secretary of State and secure your Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN). Ensure your registered business name precisely matches all state and municipal filings.

2

Designate Qualifying Individual (QI)

Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) - Regulatory Services Division Experience Verification Rules

Appoint a Qualifying Party, Primary Qualifying Agent, or Responsible Managing Employee (RME). The QI must verify 3 years electronic access control, IP camera surveillance, and biometric security installation experience and satisfy experience criteria governed under Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1702 & 37 TAC Chapter 35.

3

Execute Statutory Bond & Insurance

Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1702 & 37 TAC Chapter 35 Financial Responsibility Mandates

Secure the mandatory No statewide required contractor license bond executed by an admitted surety. File an official Certificate of Insurance (COI) maintaining at least $1,000,000 Each Occurrence / $2,000,000 General Aggregate Commercial General Liability, naming Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) - Regulatory Services Division as certificate holder.

4

Examination & Board License Issuance

PSI Services (State Licenses: TDLR & TSBPE) / Local Municipal Review Candidate Information Bulletin (CIB)

Complete the Texas Business & Law examination along with the specific Security & Access Control technical trade examination administered by PSI Services (State Licenses: TDLR & TSBPE) / Local Municipal Review. Submit application fees (Varies by regulatory agency ($115 - $225 for TDLR/TSBPE licenses; $60 - $130 for municipal contractor registration)) to receive official licensure and permit pull authorization.

Regulatory Authority: Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) - Regulatory Services Division (TX)
Official State Government Portal

Ready to file with the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) - Regulatory Services Division?

Make sure your statutory No statewide contractor license bond required (and for LLC entities, your General Liability Certificate listing the state licensing board as certificate holder) are electronically active prior to submitting application fees.

Visit Official TX Board Portal Calculate Statutory Minimums →
Verified Statutory Guidance

Texas Security & Access Control Compliance & Insurance FAQs

Direct answers on state licensing prerequisites, insurance thresholds, and surety bond regulations.

Is a state contractor license legally mandated for Security & Access Control contractors in Texas?

Yes, executing commercial or residential security & access control contractor projects in Texas legally requires an active state contractor license issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) - Regulatory Services Division under Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1702 & 37 TAC Chapter 35. Performing contracting services without official board credentials triggers immediate stop-work orders, statutory fines, and civil citations.

What technical codes govern security & access control contractor operations in Texas?

Commercial Security, CCTV & Access Control Contractor installations in Texas must strictly adhere to the National Electrical Code (NEC / NFPA 70) & NFPA 70E Arc Flash Safety. In addition, all completed work and materials must satisfy UL certification standards, IEEE grounding standards, and OSHA 1910.303 electrical compliance to pass municipal building inspection.

What are the commercial general liability insurance minimums for Security & Access Control contractors in Texas?

Security & Access Control contractors in Texas typically must maintain a minimum of $1,000,000 Each Occurrence / $2,000,000 General Aggregate in commercial general liability insurance. Under Texas statutory rules and General Contractor (GC) bid standards, policies must cover bodily injury, property damage, and completed operations to secure jobsite clearance.

How much does the required Texas Security & Access Control surety bond cost?

A Texas security & access control contractor license bond costs between $0 and $0 per year for contractors with standard credit, satisfying the statutory No statewide required bond requirement. High-risk credit profiles range from $0 to $0 annually. Premium rates are calculated as a percentage of the total bond penal sum.

Is workers' compensation insurance required for Security & Access Control contractors in Texas?

Under state statute (Texas Labor Code § 406.002 (Private Elective) & § 406.096 (Public Mandatory)), workers' compensation insurance is elective in Texas. However, commercial project owners, general contractors, and institutional jobsites almost universally mandate active workers' compensation coverage before dispatching crews. Non-subscribers who decline coverage face strict common-law civil liability and must adhere to state reporting requirements (Elective for private employers; non-subscribers must file annual DWC Form-005 with TDI-DWC and forfeit common-law defenses under § 406.033. Mandatory on public works under § 406.096 (DWC Form-081/083).).

Does Texas offer contractor license reciprocity for Security & Access Control contractors?

Yes, Texas maintains formal reciprocal licensing agreements with AR, LA, NM, OK for qualified security & access control contractor applicants. Out-of-state contractors in good standing under equivalent statutory frameworks can apply to waive trade exams, though state law and business rules testing may still apply.

Primary Sources

Official Statutory Citations & Legal Authorities

Jurisdiction: Texas (TX)
Primary Licensing Authority
Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) - Regulatory Services Division
Official State Portal Link →
Enabling State Statute / Administrative Code
Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1702 & 37 TAC Chapter 35
Statutory authority for trade licensing & discipline
Mandatory License Bond Statute
No statewide contractor license bond required (Texas has no universal contractor bond law). Municipal permit bonds may apply locally (e.g., Houston, Dallas, San Antonio) as a condition of city contractor registration.
Continuous penal surety bond filing
Governing Technical Code & Testing Standards
National Electrical Code (NEC / NFPA 70) & NFPA 70E Arc Flash Safety
Testing Provider: PSI Services (State Licenses: TDLR & TSBPE) / Local Municipal Review • UL certification standards, IEEE grounding standards, and OSHA 1910.303 electrical compliance
PTH
Statutory Research Standards & Verification Desk

Audited by Pasi Tapio Hakamaki • Managing Editor

This compliance benchmark for Texas Commercial Security, CCTV & Access Control Contractors is audited against primary state legislative statutes (Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1702 & 37 TAC Chapter 35) and administrative rules published by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) - Regulatory Services Division. TradeCertify maintains strict editorial independence. If you represent a regulatory body or note an erratum in statutory bond limits, please contact our research desk.

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Official Statutory Minimums
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