How to Choose an Electrician: Licenses, Permits, Safety

Start by confirming the license with your state. In Texas, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation licenses electricians and electrical contractors. In Florida, the Electrical Contractors' Licensing Board under the Department of Business and Professional Regulation licenses contractors. Ask who will pull the permit, get a written contract with the license number, and never let anyone connect a generator to your house wiring without a properly installed transfer switch.

Key facts

Texas says anyone who performs or offers to perform non-exempt electrical work in the state must be licensed, and the work must go through a licensed electrical contractor.
Florida's electrical contractor licenses come in two forms: certified licenses valid statewide and registered licenses limited to the local areas where the holder has a competency card.
The National Fire Protection Association publishes a new edition of NFPA 70, the National Electrical Code, every three years.
Texas adopted the 2026 National Electrical Code for all non-exempt electrical work in the state effective September 1, 2026.
CPSC says to run portable generators outdoors only, at least 20 feet from doors, windows and vents.
CPSC warns that plugging a generator into a wall outlet, known as backfeeding, is an electrocution risk to utility workers and neighbors served by the same transformer.
The FTC lists a contractor who asks you to get the building permits yourself as a warning sign of a scam.

What does an electrician's license actually tell you?

Electrical licensing is set by each state, and it is often layered. A license says the person passed the state's requirements for a certain level of work. It does not say the person is right for your job.

Texas licenses individuals and businesses separately. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) issues individual licenses such as apprentice, journeyman, master electrician and residential wireman. It issues business licenses for electrical contractors. TDLR says non-exempt electrical work must be performed through a licensed electrical contractor.

Florida licenses the contracting business owner or qualifier. Its Electrical Contractors' Licensing Board issues certified licenses that work statewide and registered licenses that work only where the holder has a local competency card. Florida also has separate alarm system and specialty categories.

In both states you can check a license online for free. Use the TDLR license search in Texas or the DBPR license search in Florida. Match the name and number to the contract and the permit.

Why do permits and inspections matter for electrical work?

A permit puts a local inspector between the work and your walls. In Texas, TDLR says the city, county or region is responsible for inspecting work in its area. TDLR does not do those inspections.

Inspections usually happen in stages. Houston's permitting guide, for example, lists a rough-in inspection when walls and ceilings are wired and a final inspection after all work is complete. Once drywall covers the wiring, problems are much harder to see.

The FTC says scammers ask homeowners to get any required building permits themselves. A licensed contractor should be able to pull the electrical permit. Put in the contract who is responsible for permits and inspections.

Which electrical code applies to your job?

Texas and Florida both build their electrical rules on NFPA 70, the National Electrical Code, or NEC. The National Fire Protection Association updates it every three years. States and cities then adopt an edition, sometimes with local amendments.

Texas adopts the NEC as its state electrical code through TDLR. The 2026 NEC took effect in Texas on September 1, 2026. TDLR's compliance guide says that when a permit is required, the code that applies is the state-adopted code from when the permit was obtained.

Florida folds the NEC into the Florida Building Code. The 8th Edition (2023) code took effect December 31, 2023. The 9th Edition (2026) is set to take effect at the end of 2026 and references the 2023 NEC.

Ask your electrician which edition and local amendments apply to your permit. The answer can affect requirements such as ground-fault protection.

How should a generator be connected to a home?

CPSC calls portable generators one of the leading causes of post-storm carbon monoxide deaths.

Never backfeed. CPSC says never power house wiring by plugging a generator into a wall outlet. Backfeeding can electrocute utility workers and neighbors on the same transformer, and it bypasses some household circuit protection.
Use a transfer switch installed by a qualified electrician. OSHA says never attach a generator directly to a building's electrical system unless a qualified electrician has properly installed it with a transfer switch.
Keep it outside and away. CPSC says to use portable generators outside only, at least 20 feet from doors, windows and vents, and never in a garage, basement, crawlspace or shed.
Use the right cords. CPSC says to use heavy-duty extension cords designed for outdoor use, rated above the total wattage of the connected appliances.
Install CO alarms. CPSC recommends CO alarms on every level of the home and outside sleeping areas. Interconnected alarms are best.

Permanent standby generators usually need permits. In Houston, for example, separate electrical and plumbing permits are required, and each licensed contractor pulls its own.

What should you do about electrical systems after a flood or outage?

CDC says to have an electrician check the house's electrical system before turning the power back on after a flood. If you would have to step into standing water to reach the main switch, CDC says to call an electrician to turn it off. Never switch power on or off while standing in water.

Outages carry their own risks. Ready.gov says power may return with momentary surges or spikes that can damage equipment, so disconnect appliances and electronics during an outage.

OSHA tells workers to assume electrical lines are energized until proven otherwise. Lines thought to be dead can become live through generator backfeed, lightning or other causes. Stay away from downed lines.

What red flags does the FTC warn about when hiring a contractor?

The FTC's home improvement guidance applies to electrical work:

Consider only contractors who are licensed and insured. Confirm the license with your state or county.
Get several written estimates. Don't automatically pick the lowest bid.
Get a written contract with the contractor's name, address, phone number and license number, plus estimated start and completion dates. Fill in every blank.
Avoid paying for everything up front or paying only in cash.
Be wary of anyone who asks you to get the required permits.
If you sign at home, the contract should include a written statement of your right to cancel within three business days.

How to choose a provider

Look up the license on the state's official search (TDLR in Texas, DBPR in Florida) and match the name and number to the contract.
In Texas, confirm the business holds an electrical contractor license, not just an individual electrician license.
In Florida, check whether the license is certified (statewide) or registered (local only), and that it covers your area.
Ask who will pull the permit. A licensed contractor should be able to do it.
Ask which code edition and local amendments apply to your permit.
Ask for proof of insurance.
Get several written estimates and a written contract with start and completion dates.
For a generator, require a transfer switch installed by a qualified electrician, and a permit where your city requires one.
Don't pay everything up front or only in cash.

Electricians guides by state and city

Questions people ask

How do I check if an electrician is licensed?

Use the state's official license search. In Texas that is the TDLR license search, which lets you search by name or license number. In Florida it is the DBPR license search. Check that the name and number match your contract and permit.

Does an electrician need a permit for my job?

It depends on your city or county. In Texas, TDLR says local authorities inspect electrical work, and cities set their own permit rules. Many cities require permits for most electrical work, so ask your local building department and your contractor.

Can I plug a generator into a wall outlet to power my house?

No. CPSC calls this backfeeding and says never to do it. It can electrocute utility workers and neighbors served by the same transformer, and it bypasses some household circuit protection. Use a transfer switch installed by a qualified electrician.

How far from the house should a portable generator be?

CPSC says at least 20 feet from doors, windows and vents, outdoors only. Never run one in a garage, basement, crawlspace or shed, even with doors or windows open.

What is the National Electrical Code?

It is NFPA 70, a model electrical code published by the National Fire Protection Association every three years. States and cities adopt an edition, sometimes with local amendments. Texas adopted the 2026 edition effective September 1, 2026.

Should I turn the power back on after my house floods?

Not until an electrician checks it. CDC says to have an electrician check the house's electrical system before turning the power on again. If reaching the main switch means stepping into standing water, call an electrician to turn it off.

What is a red flag when hiring an electrician?

The FTC lists several. A contractor who asks you to pull the permits yourself, demands full payment up front or wants cash only, or won't put the agreement in writing should give you pause.

Sources

This guide was written by our editorial team from the public sources listed above. It is general information, not legal advice; confirm licensing and terms directly with any provider.

How do you choose a licensed electrician you can trust?