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Texas: homes, climate zones and who licenses the work

Texas has 12.1 million housing units. 33.2% were built before 1980, and the median year built is 1992. 62.6% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners.

How old the homes are

Texas housing units, by year built

Layers drawn to scale

Texas housing units by year built 33.2% of Texas housing units were built before 1980 and 66.8% in 1980 or later. 2020 or later: 4.0%; 2010–2019: 17.4%; 2000–2009: 17.9%; 1990–1999: 12.8%; 1980–1989: 14.7%; 1970–1979: 13.1%; 1960–1969: 7.7%; 1950–1959: 6.6%; 1940–1949: 2.7%; 1939 or earlier: 3.1%. Before 1980 33.2% 1980 or later 66.8% 2020 or later 4.0% 2010–2019 17.4% 2000–2009 17.9% 1990–1999 12.8% 1980–1989 14.7% 1970–1979 13.1% 1960–1969 7.7% 1950–1959 6.6% 1940–1949 2.7% 1939 or earlier 3.1%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, tables B25034, B25035 and B25003; heating fuel below from B25040.

Age changes what applies to a house. In general, anyone paid to do work that disturbs painted surfaces in a home built before 1978 must be certified in lead-safe work practices under the EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule, which the EPA administers directly in Texas.

How homes are heated

How homes in Texas are heated

Main heating fuel, share of 11.0 million occupied homes

  • Electricity 61.2%
  • Utility gas 34.5%
  • Propane or other tank gas 2.9%
  • No fuel used 0.6%
  • Solar energy 0.3%
  • Wood 0.2%
  • Other fuel 0.2%
  • Fuel oil or kerosene 0.1%
  • Coal or coke <0.1%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, table B25040 (occupied housing units).

Climate and building zones

The 2021 International Energy Conservation Code assigns every county a climate zone from 1 to 8 and a moisture regime: A for moist, B for dry, C for marine. Zones 7 and 8 have no letter. Here is how Texas's residents divide among them, by the county they live in.

IECC 2021 zoneShare of residentsCounties
2A68.7%81
3A15.8%58
3B7.5%70
1A4.5%3
2B1.8%14
4B1.7%28

ENERGY STAR rates windows, doors and skylights for four climate zones of its own. Texas spans 3: Southern (75% of residents), South-Central (23.3% of residents), North-Central (1.7% of residents).

By NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals, counties here average 27 days a year with a low of 32°F or colder, weighted by where people live. The range runs from 1 day in the mildest county to 155 in the coldest.

Flood risk and flood insurance

5.8% of residential structures in Texas carry a National Flood Insurance Program policy: 504,754 policies, in FEMA's count as of August 3, 2026.

In FEMA's National Risk Index, 16 of 254 counties rate high or very high for riverine flooding; 2 of 254 counties rate high or very high for coastal flooding; 17 of 254 counties rate high or very high for hurricanes.

Fire ants and termites

189 of Texas's 254 counties are inside the federal imported fire ant quarantine, home to 94.7% of its residents. The federal quarantine requires a certificate to move soil, sod, nursery plants with soil attached, used soil-moving equipment, and hay or straw stored on the ground out of the quarantined area.

Who licenses the work in Texas

Before anyone starts work, check the license with the agency below. Where the state does not license a trade, cities and counties may; ask the one where the house is.

Checked 2026-09-29. Licensing rules change; the agency's own page is the authority.

Sources

  1. U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, tables B25034, B25035, B25040 and B25003 data.census.gov
  2. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Guide to Determining Climate Zone by County: Building America and IECC 2021 Updates basc.pnnl.gov
  3. U.S. Department of Energy Prototype Building Models (climate zones 1–8 and moisture regimes A, B, C) energycodes.gov
  4. ENERGY STAR Climate zones by county for windows, doors and skylights energystar.gov
  5. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, annual and seasonal ncei.noaa.gov
  6. Federal Emergency Management Agency OpenFEMA NFIP Residential Penetration Rates (as of 2026-08-03) fema.gov
  7. Federal Emergency Management Agency National Risk Index, county ratings fema.gov
  8. USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Imported fire ant quarantine map aphis.usda.gov
  9. Electronic Code of Federal Regulations 7 CFR part 301, subpart P, Imported Fire Ant ecfr.gov
  10. Texas Department of Agriculture (Structural Pest Control Service) texasagriculture.gov texasagriculture.gov
  11. Texas Department of Agriculture (Structural Pest Control Service) texasagriculture.gov texasagriculture.gov
  12. Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation tdlr.texas.gov tdlr.texas.gov
  13. Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation statutes.capitol.texas.gov statutes.capitol.texas.gov
  14. Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation tdlr.texas.gov tdlr.texas.gov
  15. epa.gov epa.gov epa.gov