Mold After Water Damage in Cedar Park, TX
A hired company needs a state license once mold remediation covers 25 contiguous square feet or more; an owner may remediate their own home, under 10 units, without one.
How Mold Risk Starts After Water Gets In
The Federal Emergency Management Agency states that items holding moisture "can develop mold within 24 to 48 hours." Drying wet areas and materials promptly limits that risk. For what to do in the first hour after water gets into your home, see water damage in Cedar Park, TX.
- FEMA: items that hold moisture "can develop mold within 24 to 48 hours."
- Dry out wet materials and standing water as soon as it is safe to do so to limit that risk.
This page is general information, not legal or insurance advice. For a specific situation, talk with a qualified provider, your insurer or an attorney.
How Texas Splits Mold Assessment and Remediation Licensing
Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1958 regulates mold work as two separate licensed activities. Under §1958.101, a person generally needs a license to perform either mold assessment (evaluating and testing) or mold remediation (the cleanup itself), and the same license holder cannot do both roles on one project.
- §1958.101: a license is required to perform mold assessment or mold remediation.
- §1958.155(a): a license holder may not perform both mold assessment and mold remediation on the same project.
This separation means a company you hire to assess mold generally cannot be the same company that later remediates it on that project.
The 25-Contiguous-Square-Foot Threshold
Under §1958.102(c), a person is not required to hold a mold license to perform mold remediation when the contaminated area is less than 25 contiguous square feet. Once a remediation project reaches 25 contiguous square feet or more, a company doing that work generally needs a Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation mold remediation license.
- Under 25 contiguous square feet: a company can generally perform remediation without a mold license.
- 25 contiguous square feet or more: a company doing the work generally needs a mold remediation license.
- This threshold applies to remediation. It does not depend on whether the water came from a plumbing failure, a roof leak or another source.
Doing Mold Work Yourself as the Homeowner
Under §1958.102(e), an owner is not required to hold a license to perform mold assessment or mold remediation on a residential property they own, as long as the property has fewer than 10 dwelling units. Texas law does not set an area limit on this owner exemption.
- A company you hire needs a mold remediation license once the project covers 25 contiguous square feet or more.
- The law lets you work on your own home without a license, with no square-footage limit, as long as it has fewer than 10 dwelling units.
- Whether tackling a large or heavily contaminated area yourself is wise is a separate question from whether it is legally allowed.
For the city's water shut-off numbers and floodplain contacts, see who to call first in Cedar Park.
Certificate of Mold Remediation
Under §1958.154(a), a licensed remediation company must give the property owner a certificate of mold remediation not later than the 10th day after the remediation is completed. Under §1958.154(b), if the owner later sells the property, the owner provides the buyer with certificates covering the preceding five years.
| Requirement | Statute | Detail | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate to owner | §1958.154(a) | Not later than the 10th day after remediation is completed | Checked: September 2026 |
| Certificates at sale | §1958.154(b) | Owner provides buyer certificates from the preceding five years | Checked: September 2026 |
| Assessment vs. remediation | §1958.155(a) | Same license holder may not do both roles on one project | Checked: September 2026 |
- Under §1958.153(a), a licensed remediation company notifies the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation not later than the fifth day before it starts the project.
- Under §1958.153(b), in an emergency the company may instead notify the agency not later than the next business day after the work begins.
The certificate documents that a licensed remediation project was completed under Chapter 1958. It is a record of the work performed, not a statement about the condition of the rest of the house.
Insurance and Mold Coverage
The Texas Department of Insurance describes typical policy treatment this way: mold on a damaged item can be covered when it results from a covered loss, while separate mold cleanup or testing after the item is removed is usually not covered unless the policy adds that coverage. Your specific policy wording controls, so confirm the details with your insurer.
- Mold tied to a covered loss, such as a sudden pipe burst: often covered as part of that claim.
- Standalone mold cleanup or testing, apart from a covered loss: typically not covered without added coverage.
- Confirm the details with your insurer or agent before assuming either way.
A burst pipe is a common example of the kind of sudden, accidental loss that can bring mold under covered-loss treatment — see burst pipe water damage in Cedar Park for how that claim generally works.
If That Did Not Work
If you are unsure whether a job needs a licensed remediator, or a company's paperwork does not match what the law requires, there are a few ways to move forward.
- Try again: ask the company doing the work which role applies — mold assessment or mold remediation — and whether the area meets the 25-contiguous-square-foot threshold that would require a license.
- Try another route: ask the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation whether a specific company or individual holds an active mold license for the role in question.
- Escalate: an insurance dispute over mold coverage can be raised with the Texas Department of Insurance at 800-252-3439.
Frequently Asked Questions
How quickly can mold appear after a leak in my home?
Do I need a licensed mold company for a Cedar Park home?
Can I remediate mold in my own home without hiring anyone?
What is a certificate of mold remediation and who gets one?
Can the same company that assessed the mold also remediate it?
Will my homeowners policy pay for mold cleanup?
Water in your home right now?
See who to call first in Cedar Park, how to reach your water provider, and how to check your flood zone.
Who to Call First in Cedar Park