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San Antonio Strike Team: Protecting Homeowners - C.S.W. Power Solutions San Antonio
City of San Antonio DSD Enforcement

San Antonio Strike Team: Protecting Homeowners

The Strike Team is the City of San Antonio's enforcement unit that investigates and penalizes unlicensed contractors and unpermitted construction work. Hiring a licensed contractor is your best protection.

Electrical Lic.#TECL31793
Plumbing Lic.#RMP46592
HVAC Lic.#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, this team actively investigates construction sites across San Antonio for unpermitted work, unlicensed contractors, and building code violations. Their mission is to protect public safety by ensuring all construction work meets the standards set by the International Residential Code (IRC) and Chapter 10 of the City of San Antonio Building-Related Codes.

The Strike Team focuses on four critical life-safety areas: electrical, plumbing, mechanical (HVAC), and structural/building. When violations are found, the consequences are severe — for both the contractor and the homeowner.

Strike Team Enforcement: By the Numbers

The following statistics from the City of San Antonio DSD demonstrate the scale of the unlicensed contractor problem in San Antonio and the Strike Team's enforcement activity:

8,645
Locations Visited
6,652
Locations in Violation
77%
Violation Rate
25,090
Inspections Completed

Source: City of San Antonio Development Services Department — Strike Team presentation to the Greater San Antonio Builders Association, January 2023.

What the Strike Team Investigates

Work Without Permits

Contractors who have a building permit but fail to pull the required trade permits for electrical, plumbing, or HVAC work. The Strike Team checks that all required permits are in place for every trade involved in the project.

Work Outside Scope of Permit

Contractors who use a minor repair permit to perform a full remodel or renovation, or a doors-and-windows permit to gut and rebuild an entire home. The Strike Team compares the actual work performed against the scope listed on the permit.

Expired or Missing Licenses

Contractors operating with expired trade licenses or no license at all. Texas requires active state licenses for electrical, plumbing, and HVAC work. The Strike Team verifies license status through TDLR records.

Consequences of Getting Caught

When the Strike Team finds violations, the penalties are serious. Both the contractor and the property owner face consequences that can cost thousands of dollars and months of delays.

Administrative Fines

First CitationEscalating
Second CitationHigher
Third CitationMaximum

Fines escalate with each offense under Chapter 10 of the City of San Antonio Building-Related Codes.

Enforcement Actions

Registration Suspension30–180 Days
Full CancellationPermanent Ban
Removal of Finished WorkAt Owner's Cost

Enforcement can require removal of all fixtures, sheetrock, and concrete to expose and re-inspect underlying work.

Public Record: Under Chapter 10, Article II, Section 10-25 of the City of San Antonio Building-Related Codes, the Building Official maintains a public record of all sanctioned contractors. This record — including contractor names, registration numbers, violations, and sanctions — is available online for anyone to search.

What Happens to Your Home

When the Strike Team discovers unpermitted work at a residential property, the homeowner bears the consequences — even if they were unaware the contractor was unlicensed. The DSD has documented actual cases across San Antonio where homeowners faced devastating outcomes:

  • Occupied homes where finished remodels were torn apart — sheetrock removed, fixtures pulled, concrete broken open — to expose and inspect the underlying electrical, plumbing, and structural work.
  • Homes listed for sale where beautiful renovations were flagged as unpermitted, stalling or killing the sale entirely until all work was brought up to code.
  • Accessory structures (guest houses, ADUs) built without permits that required complete re-permitting and code corrections before they could be legally occupied.
  • Scope violations where contractors used minor repair permits to perform full-scale remodels — kitchen and bathroom renovations discovered during Strike Team inspections.

How C.S.W. Power Solutions Protects You

Hiring a licensed, insured general contractor is the single best way to protect yourself from Strike Team enforcement actions. Here is exactly what C.S.W. Power Solutions does on every project:

Licensed in All Trades

We hold active state licenses in Electrical (#TECL31793), Plumbing (#RMP46592), and HVAC (#TACLA26479R). Every trade on your project is performed by a licensed professional.

Permits Pulled Correctly

We pull the correct permits for every aspect of your project — building, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical. The scope of work listed on each permit matches exactly what we perform.

Inspections Scheduled & Passed

We schedule and pass all required city inspections at every stage of construction. No shortcuts, no skipped steps. Your project has a complete inspection record.

Fully Insured

We carry general liability insurance and workers' compensation coverage. If anything goes wrong on your property, you are protected — not personally liable.

Code Compliance Guaranteed

All work meets or exceeds the International Residential Code (IRC) and City of San Antonio building codes. Your project will pass inspection the first time.

Unpermitted Work Corrections

If a previous contractor left you with unpermitted work, we can assess the situation, pull the correct permits, bring everything up to code, and coordinate all required inspections.

Keys to Staying Compliant

The City of San Antonio DSD recommends these steps for every construction project. When you hire C.S.W. Power Solutions, we handle all of this for you:

Pull permits for every aspect of the project
Verify permits are pulled by the owner, GC, and all trades
Be detailed and accurate on the scope of work
Call for inspections at every required stage
Verify your contractor's license through TDLR
Use the City's Contractor Connect tool to verify registration

DSD Customer Service: 210-207-1111 · View the Official Strike Team Presentation (PDF)

Licensed In-House Trades

Unlike unlicensed contractors who subcontract trade work to unverified workers, C.S.W. Power Solutions performs all electrical, plumbing, and HVAC work in-house with our own licensed technicians. Whether your project involves a full remodel, damage restoration, or insurance claim repair, every trade is covered under one roof with proper licensing and permits.

Strike Team & Licensing FAQ

The Strike Team is an enforcement unit within the City of San Antonio Development Services Department (DSD). Led by the Strike Team Building Chief, this team investigates construction sites for unpermitted work, unlicensed contractors, and code violations. They have visited over 8,645 locations and found 77% in violation. Their enforcement powers include issuing escalating citations, ordering work to be torn out and re-inspected, suspending contractor registrations for 30 to 180 days, and permanently canceling a contractor's ability to do business in San Antonio.
If the Strike Team discovers unpermitted work at your property, they can issue a stop-work order immediately. The contractor may be required to remove all finished materials — including sheetrock, fixtures, and even concrete — to expose the underlying work for inspection. You may need to hire a licensed contractor to bring everything up to code, pull the correct permits, and pass all required inspections before the work can continue. This can cost thousands of dollars on top of what you already paid the original contractor.
Yes. While the primary enforcement targets are the unlicensed contractors themselves, homeowners can face stop-work orders on their property and be required to pay for all corrective work. If unpermitted work is discovered during a home sale, it can delay or kill the transaction entirely. Insurance companies may also deny claims related to work performed without proper permits and licenses.
You can verify contractor licenses through the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) website at tdlr.texas.gov. Search by the contractor's name, company name, or license number. The City of San Antonio also maintains a Contractor Connect program where you can verify that contractors are registered with the city. A legitimate contractor will provide their license numbers upfront. C.S.W. Power Solutions holds active licenses in Electrical (#TECL31793), Plumbing (#RMP46592), and HVAC (#TACLA26479R).
Under Chapter 10 of the City of San Antonio Building-Related Codes, fines escalate with each offense. Beyond fines, the Building Official can impose 30-day to 180-day suspensions of a contractor's registration, or a full cancellation — meaning the contractor can no longer legally do business in San Antonio. The public record of all sanctioned contractors is available online.
The Strike Team investigates three main categories: work performed without permits (having a building permit but no trade permits for electrical, plumbing, or mechanical), work performed outside the scope of the permit (using a minor repair permit for a full remodel or addition), and expired or missing contractor licenses. They check all four life-safety trades: electrical, plumbing, mechanical (HVAC), and building/structural.
The keys to staying compliant are straightforward: pull the correct permits for every aspect of your project, verify that all permits have been pulled by the owner, general contractor, and individual trades, be detailed and accurate on the scope of work listed in your permit application, and call for inspections at every required stage. When you hire C.S.W. Power Solutions, we handle all permitting, scheduling, and inspections — you never have to worry about compliance.
Yes. If you have received a code violation notice or stop-work order due to unpermitted work performed by another contractor, C.S.W. Power Solutions can help. We assess the situation, determine what corrective work is needed, pull the proper permits, bring everything up to code, and coordinate all required inspections. Our licensed electricians, plumbers, and HVAC technicians handle multi-trade corrections in-house without subcontracting.
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Chris Howard
8 months ago
General Contracting

"From the initial estimate to scheduling the work, this company has been very accommodating and professional. The patio extension has been a great added value to our home. A big thank you to the crew and all their hard work!!"

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T Green
3 months ago
Home Renovation

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8 months ago
General Contracting

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3 months ago
Plumbing

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8 months ago
Damage Restoration

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1 year ago
Home Renovation

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6 months ago
Plumbing

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2 months ago
General Contracting

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Shirley McKinney
7 months ago
Electrical

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Katalina
11 months ago
Home Renovation

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David Martinez
4 months ago
Kitchen Remodel

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Rachel Thompson
5 months ago
Bathroom Remodel

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Michael Reyes
2 months ago
HVAC

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Linda Garza
6 months ago
Bathroom Remodel

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James Wilson
3 months ago
HVAC

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Sandra Flores
7 months ago
Kitchen Remodel

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Robert Trevino
5 months ago
Water Heater

"CSW replaced our old water heater with a tankless unit. The installation was clean, they pulled the permit, and passed inspection first try. Hot water is instant now. Great crew, very respectful of our home."

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Maria Gonzalez
4 months ago
Plumbing

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Kenneth Brown
2 months ago
Electrical

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Patricia Ruiz
3 months ago
Generator

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Daniel Herrera
1 month ago
EV Charger

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Angela Davis
6 months ago
General Contracting

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Marcus Johnson
4 months ago
Plumbing

"CSW replaced all the plumbing in our 1960s home. Copper to PEX throughout, new water heater, and updated all the fixtures. No more low pressure, no more rusty water. Worth every penny."

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Teresa Morales
5 months ago
HVAC

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William Clark
3 months ago
Bathroom Remodel

"CSW did a complete bathroom gut and remodel for my mother-in-law. ADA compliant — grab bars, walk-in shower, comfort height toilet. They were patient, explained everything, and the finished product is beautiful and safe."

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M.R., Stone Oak
2 months ago
Kitchen Remodel

"C.S.W. handled a full kitchen remodel for us — one licensed team, one clear estimate, finished on schedule."

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D.L., Boerne
3 months ago
Electrical

"Replaced our 100-amp panel with a 200-amp service and installed a whole-home generator transfer switch. Inspectors passed first try."

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K.A., Schertz
1 month ago
Plumbing

"Needed a tankless water heater and drain repairs. Scheduled quickly, pulled permits, no upsell pressure."

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George Rivera
2 months ago
General Contracting

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Diane Mitchell
8 months ago
Electrical

"We needed our entire electrical panel replaced after a surge. CSW came out, assessed the damage, and had the new 200-amp panel installed within two days. They also added whole-house surge protection. Very thorough work."

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Frank Salazar
1 month ago
Home Renovation

"CSW remodeled our master suite — new flooring, paint, crown molding, recessed lighting, and a completely new bathroom. The attention to detail was impressive. Everything was done right the first time."

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Lisa Ramirez
4 months ago
Electrical

"We had CSW install recessed lighting throughout our living room and kitchen. They also added under-cabinet lights in the kitchen. The difference is night and day. Clean work, no drywall damage, and they cleaned up after themselves."

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Plumbing Lic. #RMP46592HVAC Lic. #TACLA26479RElectrical Lic. #TECL31793

Hire a Licensed Contractor — Protect Your Home

Don't risk a Strike Team violation. Contact C.S.W. Power Solutions at 210-504-9796 for a free estimate from a licensed, insured, veteran-owned contractor.

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