How mold work is regulated in Texas
Texas regulates mold assessment and remediation through the Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) under the Texas Mold Assessment and Remediation Rules. The rules apply once a project involves more than 25 contiguous square feet of mold contamination, and they draw a hard line between the two sides of the job:
- A licensed mold assessment consultant assesses the contamination and writes a project-specific remediation protocol, which must be provided before remediation begins.
- A licensed mold remediation contractor performs the work under a written work plan and notifies TDLR before starting.
- The same company may not do both on the same project. The assessor who found the problem cannot be the one paid to fix it.
- After the work, a post-remediation assessment confirms the protocol was met, and the property owner receives a Certificate of Mold Damage Remediation within 10 days of completion — the document insurers, lenders, and buyers ask for.
TSEC is licensed by TDLR as a mold assessment company (ACO1193). We do assessments, protocols, and clearances — never remediation — so our findings are never shaped by a remediation contract. Read more: why your mold assessor and remediator must be different companies.
What an assessment includes
- Interview and history: when the water came in, what's been done, who's affected
- Visual assessment of the affected areas and adjacent spaces, including concealed spaces where warranted
- Moisture mapping with meters and, where useful, infrared imaging to find the source and the true extent
- Air, surface, and bulk sampling with analysis by an accredited laboratory — sampled where it will change the conclusion, not by the pound
- A written report with findings, photos, lab data, and a plain-language conclusion
- A remediation protocol that defines the areas, materials, containment, methods, and clearance criteria a contractor must meet
When to call
After a roof leak, plumbing failure, or flood; when a tenant reports mold or odors; when a buyer's inspector flags moisture; when an insurer needs documentation; or when a remediation contractor needs an independent clearance to close out a job. Along the Gulf Coast and in the Valley, hurricane and flood seasons keep this work steady; in DFW and Central Texas it's mostly slab leaks and storm damage; in El Paso it's flat roofs and evaporative coolers.
Frequently asked
Do I always need a licensed assessor?
Texas requires licensing once contamination exceeds 25 contiguous square feet, and homeowners doing their own work in their own residence are exempt. Below that threshold an assessment is still the fastest way to know whether you have a moisture problem or a surface issue.
How long does it take?
Assessment visits typically take one to three hours. Lab results and the written report and protocol follow within a few business days; rush turnaround is available.
Can you recommend a remediation contractor?
We'll share names of licensed contractors we've worked alongside. We don't take referral fees, and we don't perform the remediation ourselves.