San Antonio Strike Team Contractor Guide
What San Antonio homeowners need to know about DSD Strike Team enforcement, permits, licensed trades, and avoiding unpermitted contractor work.
Texas has no state-level general contractor license, but electrical, plumbing, and HVAC trades are heavily regulated by TDLR. C.S.W. Power Solutions holds all three regulated trade licenses (electrical TECL31793, plumbing RMP46592, HVAC TACLA26479R) plus VA Builder Registration #09311. The City of San Antonio's Strike Team has visited over 8,645 sites and found 77% in violation. This guide is part of the C.S.W. Power Solutions San Antonio homeowner library. Use the related links on this page to move from research into the matching licensed service page, compare connected trade requirements, and request a written estimate when the project needs plumbing, electrical, HVAC, generator, remodeling, restoration, or general-contractor coordination.
The Licensing Gap in Texas General Contracting
In Texas, there is no state-level general contractor license — anyone can legally call themselves a general contractor. The individual trades, however, are heavily regulated: electricians, plumbers, and HVAC technicians must hold valid TDLR licenses. This gap creates real risk for homeowners. Unlicensed individuals can advertise as GCs, take payment, and hire unlicensed workers to perform electrical, plumbing, or HVAC work in your home without permits or inspections. CSW eliminates that risk by holding active state licenses in all three regulated trades — electrical TECL31793, plumbing RMP46592, and HVAC TACLA26479R.
What Is the San Antonio Strike Team?
The Strike Team is an enforcement unit within the City of San Antonio Development Services Department (DSD), led by the Strike Team Building Chief. The team investigates three categories of violations: work performed without required trade permits, work performed outside the scope of the issued permit, and contractors operating with expired or missing licenses. According to data presented by DSD to the Greater San Antonio Builders Association in January 2023, the Strike Team has visited over 8,645 locations and found 6,652 of them — 77% — in violation, completing over 25,090 inspections. The Strike Team focuses on four life-safety areas: electrical, plumbing, mechanical (HVAC), and structural/building.
What the Strike Team Investigates
First, work without permits — contractors who pull a building permit but skip the required separate trade permits. Second, work outside scope — contractors who use a minor-repair permit to perform a full kitchen or bathroom remodel, or a doors-and-windows permit to gut a home. The Strike Team compares actual work against the permit application. Third, expired or missing licenses. DSD has documented cases where beautiful renovations were flagged unpermitted, occupied homes were forced to tear out finished sheetrock, fixtures, and even concrete for inspection, and homes listed for sale had their transactions stalled or killed.
Fines, Suspensions, and Permanent Bans
Under Chapter 10 of the City of San Antonio Building-Related Codes, fines escalate per offense. The Building Official can impose 30-day to 180-day suspensions of a contractor's registration or a full cancellation — permanently banning the contractor from doing business in San Antonio. Enforcement can require removal of finished materials — fixtures, sheetrock, concrete — to expose underlying electrical, plumbing, and structural work for inspection. Under Chapter 10, Article II, Section 10-25, the Building Official maintains a public record of sanctioned contractors searchable online.
The Real Cost of Hiring Unlicensed Contractors
Unlicensed contractors often quote lower prices, but the hidden costs can be devastating. Unpermitted work will not pass inspection — it must be torn out and redone before the home can be sold or refinanced. Insurance companies routinely deny claims for damage caused by unlicensed work, including fire damage from faulty wiring or water damage from improper plumbing. If an unlicensed worker is injured on your property, you could be personally liable for medical expenses since they likely carry no workers' compensation. And unpermitted work discovered during a home sale can delay or kill the transaction entirely.
How to Verify a Contractor's License
Before hiring any contractor for electrical, plumbing, or HVAC work in San Antonio: (1) check their state license at tdlr.texas.gov — search by name, company, or license number, and verify it's current; (2) use the City of San Antonio Contractor Connect program to verify city registration; (3) confirm general liability insurance and workers' compensation; (4) check for complaints or disciplinary actions on TDLR. A legitimate contractor provides license numbers upfront without hesitation. If they cannot or will not produce a license number, that is a major red flag. DSD Customer Service: 210-207-1111.
How CSW Protects You
C.S.W. Power Solutions holds active state licenses in every trade we perform. We pull the correct permits for every aspect of the project — building, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical — and the scope listed on each permit matches the actual work. We schedule and pass all required city inspections at every stage. We carry general liability insurance and workers' compensation. All work meets or exceeds the IRC and City of San Antonio building codes. If a previous contractor left unpermitted work, we can assess the situation, pull the correct permits, bring everything up to code, and coordinate all required inspections — with our own in-house licensed electricians, plumbers, and HVAC technicians. Veteran-owned since 2016. Call 210-504-9796 for a free estimate.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the San Antonio Strike Team look for?
The Strike Team investigates unpermitted work, work outside permit scope, missing contractor registration, and trade work performed without proper electrical, plumbing, mechanical, or building permits.
Can unpermitted remodel work affect resale?
Yes. Unpermitted work can delay a sale, trigger correction requirements, complicate insurance claims, and require finished walls, fixtures, or concrete to be opened for inspection.
How does CSW reduce permit risk?
CSW plans the scope, identifies trade permits, coordinates licensed plumbing, electrical, and HVAC work, and keeps inspection requirements visible before finished materials cover the work.