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Painting Rules in Texas: Permits, HOAs, Tax and Disposal
Painting a house in Texas rarely needs a permit, but HOAs, city licenses, sales tax and paint disposal each have rules. This guide sorts them out with the source for each.
Updated October 11, 2026
Read This First
The short version
- The building code most Texas cities adopt exempts painting from permits, including Round Rock, Georgetown, Austin, Dallas and Houston.
- Texas has no state license for painters, though Dallas licenses home repair work under its city code.
- Labor to repaint a home is not subject to Texas sales tax, but the materials are taxed.
- Leftover paint goes to a city drop-off, never down a drain, and dried latex can go out with the trash in Round Rock.
To plan a paint job around your HOA, start with Get Help or call or text 512-575-5052.
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City Rules
Do you need a permit to paint a house in Texas?
Painting is exempt under the model code and each city we checked, but some repairs are not.
The building code exemption
Usually not. The International Residential Code lists “Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, counter tops and similar finish work” among work exempt from permits. Round Rock adopted the 2024 code with no change to that exemption, and Georgetown kept painting on its exempt list when it rewrote that section.
Austin, Dallas and Houston
The big cities say the same. Austin lists painting among work exempt from building permits. Dallas exempts painting and similar finish work. Houston exempts painting under minor repair and maintenance, but it lists patching or repairing siding and stucco as minor repair permit work, which matters when repair comes before paint.
Who Can Paint
Do painters need a license in Texas?
No state license exists for painters, but Dallas licenses home repair contractors.
No state license
Texas does not license painters. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, which licenses trades like electricians and air conditioning contractors, has no painting program. A painter who claims a state painting license is claiming something that does not exist.
City rules differ
Some cities have their own. Dallas city code says a person who is not licensed shall not perform or advertise home repair for pay, and defines home repair broadly. Houston does not license or register general contractors. Ask any painter how they meet the rules in your city.
Neighborhood Rules
HOA approval for exterior paint colors
Get written approval first, and in larger HOAs a denial must give reasons and allow an appeal.
Get it in writing first
Many HOAs control exterior colors. Read your deed restrictions, submit your colors, and get written approval before any paint is ordered.
What Texas law requires of larger HOAs
The law gives you a path to appeal. Under Texas Property Code section 209.00505, in an association with more than 40 lots, a denial must describe the basis in reasonable detail and any changes needed for approval. You can ask for a hearing within 30 days of the notice, and the board must hold it within 30 days of your request. Texas law does not set a deadline for the first decision or say anything about paint colors.
Taxes
Is house painting taxable in Texas?
Labor to repaint a home is not taxable, but the paint and materials are.
Labor versus materials
The Texas Comptroller says labor to repair, remodel or restore residential real property is not taxable, and the same publication counts repainting as repair or remodeling work. Materials are taxed. Under a lump sum contract the contractor pays the tax on materials when buying them and does not charge you tax. Under a separated contract the tax is collected on the materials line.
Air Quality
Paint VOC rules in Texas
VOC limits are set on paint makers federally, and Texas does not add house paint limits.
Who the rules apply to
The limits are on the can, not the painter. The federal architectural coatings rule caps volatile organic compounds at 250 grams per liter for flat coatings and 380 for nonflat, and it applies to manufacturers and importers. Texas’ surface coating rules cover industrial coating in certain counties, not house paint. The premium lines in our brand comparison list under 50.
Leftover Paint
How to get rid of leftover paint
Each city runs a drop-off, liquid paint never goes in the trash or drain, and dry latex can.
Round Rock and Georgetown
Round Rock residents can take household hazardous waste to the Deepwood Recycling Center, up to 25 gallons a month, and the city says dried latex paint can go next to the garbage cart with the lid removed. Georgetown holds collection events for city solid waste customers and points residents to Williamson County, Round Rock and Austin options.
Austin
Austin takes paint at its Recycle and Reuse Drop-off Center by appointment. The city says not to put liquid paint in the trash, down the drain or on the ground, and it gives usable paint back to residents as Austin ReBlend.
Dallas and Houston
Dallas residents use the Dallas County Home Chemical Collection Center at 11234 Plano Road. Houston takes up to 25 gallons of latex and oil paint at its Environmental Service Centers.
Common Questions
Questions homeowners ask
Do I need a permit to paint my house in Texas?
Generally no. The International Residential Code exempts painting, and Round Rock, Georgetown, Austin, Dallas and Houston each exempt it. Repairs such as siding or stucco patching can need a permit in some cities, including Houston.
Do painters need a license in Texas?
There is no state painting license. Some cities have their own rules: Dallas licenses home repair work for pay under its city code.
Is painting labor taxable in Texas?
Labor to repaint a home is not taxable, according to the Texas Comptroller. The paint and other materials are taxed.
Can my HOA deny my paint color?
Yes, if your deed restrictions give it that power. In an association with more than 40 lots, Texas law requires a written denial with reasons and lets you request a hearing within 30 days.
How do I dispose of old paint in Round Rock?
Take liquid paint to the Deepwood Recycling Center as household hazardous waste, up to 25 gallons a month for residents. Dried latex paint can go next to the garbage cart with the lid removed.
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