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Mold laws by state
Texas, New York and Florida license the people who assess and remove mold, and each keeps the inspector and the remover apart. Texas and New York exempt owners working on their own property; Florida's definitions start above 10 square feet. California treats mold as a housing condition. Every rule links to its statute or agency page.
The rules at a glance
One row per state, one sourced rule per column, each dated. A dash means our record for that state has no sourced entry on that topic yet; it is not a statement that no rule exists. Open a state for every rule we recorded, with the source's own words.
| State | Contractor license | Small jobs / doing it yourself | Inspector vs. remover | Renters |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | Texas requires a mold assessment license to perform mold assessment and a mold remediation license to perform mold remediation. (Tex. Occ. Code ch. 1958, §1958.101) | Anyone may perform mold remediation without a license when the mold affects less than 25 contiguous square feet for the project. (Tex. Occ. Code ch. 1958, §1958.102(c)) | A Texas license holder may not perform both mold assessment and mold remediation on the same project. (Tex. Occ. Code ch. 1958, §1958.155(a)) | TDLR does not inspect or test homes for mold and cannot make a landlord or property owner clean up mold. (TDLR, Mold Assessors and Remediators FAQs, Mold in Rental Housing) |
| New York | In New York it is unlawful to work or advertise as a mold assessor, remediation contractor or abatement worker without a valid mold license from the Commissioner for that type of work. (NYSDOL, Mold Program) | Home and business owners working on their own properties are among the limited exceptions to the licensing requirement. (NYSDOL, Mold Program) | The law bars licensed mold companies and their employees from doing both the assessment and the remediation on the same property. (NYSDOL fact sheet P227, Mold Assessment and Remediation in New York State) | Rental property owners must still provide clean and sanitary living conditions to their tenants. (NYSDOL fact sheet P227, Mold Assessment and Remediation in New York State) |
| Florida | Florida's Department of Business and Professional Regulation licenses and regulates mold assessors and mold remediators. (Florida DBPR, Mold-Related Services) | Florida's statutory definition of mold remediation covers mold or mold-contaminated matter greater than 10 square feet. (Fla. Stat. §468.8411(5)) | A person may not perform mold remediation on a structure that the mold assessor or the assessor's company assessed within the last 12 months. (Fla. Stat. §468.8419(1)(d)) | Florida landlords must comply with applicable building, housing and health codes at all times during the tenancy. (Fla. Stat. §83.51) |
| California | — | — | — | As of January 1, 2016, mold is a condition that makes a home substandard in California. (CDPH Indoor Air Quality, Mold) |
Checked 2026-09-23. Each fact is matched word for word to its source and passes a second automated check that the source supports the sentence.
By state
- Texas mold laws: licensing, the 25 sq ft rule, renters: 17 sourced rules.
- New York mold laws: Labor Law Article 32 in plain terms: 16 sourced rules.
- Florida mold laws: licensing, the 12-month rule, renters: 15 sourced rules.
- California mold laws: substandard housing and tenant rules: 12 sourced rules.
Checking a specific company rather than the law? The Texas and New York license records are republished here with their dates: Texas remediation companies, Texas assessment companies, New York remediation contractors and New York assessment contractors, or search one name in the license lookup.
Common questions
Which states license mold remediation?
Of the states recorded here, Texas, New York and Florida license mold remediation and mold assessment: Texas through TDLR, New York through the Department of Labor, Florida through the Department of Business and Professional Regulation. Our California record covers housing and tenant rules, not contractor licensing.
Can the company that inspects mold also remove it?
Not in the three licensing states recorded here. Texas bars one license holder from doing both on the same project, New York bars one company from both on the same property, and Florida bars remediation of a structure the assessor's company assessed within the last 12 months.
Do I need a professional for a small patch of mold?
Not under these laws. Texas lets anyone remediate less than 25 contiguous square feet without a license, Florida's licensing definitions cover growth greater than 10 square feet, and New York's Department of Labor says mold issues can often be fixed by the property owner.
Can a state agency make my landlord remove mold?
It depends on the state. TDLR says it cannot make a Texas landlord clean up mold. In California, visible mold is a substandard-housing condition that local code enforcement can cite, and a cited owner must repair it.
General reference, not legal advice. Laws change; the linked source is the authority.