Mold Remediation Licensing: Texas, New York and Florida Rules
When a contractor or landlord needs a mold assessment or remediation license in Texas, New York and Florida, the size thresholds and the conflict rules.
By Seayora Editorial Team · Published · Facts checked · 4 min read
Short answer: Texas, New York and Florida license mold work. Texas requires a license for mold assessment and for remediation of 25 contiguous square feet or more, exempts owners of residential properties with fewer than 10 units, bars the same license holder from assessing and remediating one project, and requires a certificate of remediation within 10 days. New York licenses assessors, remediation contractors and abatement workers under Labor Law Article 32. Florida licenses assessment and remediation of more than 10 square feet.
Key takeaways
- Texas: a license is required for mold assessment, and for remediation affecting 25 contiguous square feet or more (Occ. Code §§ 1958.101–1958.102).
- Texas: an owner of a residential property with fewer than 10 units, and its staff, may do the work without a license, unless they do it for the public.
- Texas: no license holder may both assess and remediate the same project, and a certificate of remediation is due within 10 days (§§ 1958.154–1958.155).
- New York: assessors, remediation contractors and abatement workers need a license under Labor Law Article 32.
- Florida: assessment and remediation of more than 10 square feet are regulated, and an assessor may not remediate a structure it assessed within 12 months (Fla. Stat. §§ 468.8411, 468.8419).
Do you need a license to remove mold?
In some states, yes, once the job is big enough or is done for someone else. Licensing laws separate two jobs: assessment (inspecting, sampling and writing the plan) and remediation (removing and cleaning). They also try to keep the two apart, so the company that finds the mold is not the company paid to remove it.
| State | Who needs a license | Size threshold | Conflict rule | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | Mold assessors and mold remediators | Remediation of 25 contiguous square feet or more | No license holder may assess and remediate the same project | Occ. Code ch. 1958 |
| New York | Mold assessors, remediation contractors and abatement workers | Not stated on the state program page | The same individual may not assess and remediate the same property | Labor Law Art. 32 |
| Florida | Mold assessors and mold remediators | More than 10 square feet | An assessor may not remediate a structure it assessed within 12 months (Division I contractors excepted) | Fla. Stat. §§ 468.8411, 468.8419 |
What does Texas require?
“A person may not engage in: (1) mold assessment unless the person holds a mold assessment license; or (2) mold remediation unless the person holds a mold remediation license” (Tex. Occ. Code § 1958.101). No license is needed to remediate “an area in which the mold contamination affects a total surface area for the project of less than 25 contiguous square feet.” An owner or tenant, or their managing agent or employee, may assess or remediate property they own or lease below that size; and an owner, or its managing agent or employee, may do so on a residential property it owns “with fewer than 10 dwelling units.” Neither exemption applies to anyone who does mold work for the public (§ 1958.102).
“A license holder may not perform both mold assessment and mold remediation on the same project,” and no one may own an interest in both the assessing and the remediating company on a project (§ 1958.155). Within 10 days after finishing, the remediator must give the owner a certificate of mold remediation, which includes a mold assessor’s statement that the contamination was remediated; an owner who sells must give the buyer copies of certificates issued in the previous five years (§ 1958.154).
What does New York require?
New York’s Department of Labor enforces Article 32 of the Labor Law. It is unlawful to work, advertise or hold yourself out as a mold assessor, remediation contractor or abatement worker without a valid mold license for that type of work, and violators face civil penalties. The minimum work standards prohibit the same individual from performing both the assessment and the remediation on the same property, and the program describes a limited exception for home or business owners working on their own property (New York State Department of Labor, Mold Program).
What does Florida require?
Florida defines mold assessment and mold remediation by size: remediation is the removal, cleaning or other treatment of “mold or mold-contaminated matter of greater than 10 square feet,” and a remediator may not do work that requires a construction license unless also licensed for it (Fla. Stat. § 468.8411). Assessors and remediators must have documented training and comply with the licensing part, may not use a mold title unless they do, and a mold assessor may not remediate “a structure on which the mold assessor or the mold assessor’s company provided a mold assessment within the last 12 months,” except a Division I certified contractor (Fla. Stat. § 468.8419).
What should a landlord or contractor do?
- Measure the affected area before quoting; the license threshold depends on it.
- Hire separate firms for assessment and remediation where your state requires it.
- Check the license number on the state’s lookup before the work starts, and keep a copy.
- In Texas, file the certificate of remediation with the property records and pass it on at sale.
- Find and fix the moisture source; the Texas certificate states whether the underlying cause was remediated.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a license to remove mold in Texas?
Only if the affected area is 25 contiguous square feet or more, unless an exemption applies, such as an owner of a residential property with fewer than 10 units doing its own work.
Can the same company test for mold and remove it?
Not in Texas, where one license holder may not do both on the same project. New York bars the same individual from doing both, and Florida bars an assessor from remediating a structure it assessed within 12 months.
What size mold job needs a license in Florida?
Florida’s licensing applies to mold assessment and remediation of more than 10 square feet.
Sources
- Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1958, Mold Assessors and Remediators, Texas Legislature
- Mold Program (Labor Law Article 32), New York State Department of Labor
- Florida Statutes § 468.8411, Definitions, The Florida Legislature
- Florida Statutes § 468.8419, Prohibitions; penalties, The Florida Legislature
How Seayora helps
Safety records and certifications: Track each technician’s licenses and certification expiry dates, so a lapsed mold license is caught before the job.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Landlord-tenant law varies by state and city and changes often, so check the current rule for your property and talk to an attorney before acting on a dispute.
How we write and check these guides: editorial standards.
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