Water damage in Frisco, TX: leak credits, permits and hiring

The city's Utility Billing page says to call 972-292-5800 for after-hours water and sewer emergencies. That line is for the public system, such as a main break or a city sewer backup. A pipe that bursts inside your house is on your side of the meter. Shut it off at your own valve first. Frisco's Public Works FAQ says the customer shut-off is usually near the house in the front flower beds, and that you may need a plumber to find the exact spot. Find yours before you need it. Our emergency water damage page covers the next steps.

Yes, within limits. Frisco's Partial Leak Credit page says a leak on the customer's side of the meter is the owner's or tenant's responsibility, including all repair costs, but the city offers a courtesy credit on billed water consumption. The rules:

• The repair must take place within 90 days of the leak being detected.
• The request must be submitted within 90 days of the repair, with a copy of the repair invoice. If you fixed it yourself, a receipt for the parts works.
• The credit is granted one time every 12 consecutive months, and only the two highest bills affected by the leak are evaluated.
• Water lost through theft, vandalism, negligence or construction damage is not covered.
• Keep paying your regular bills; missing payments forfeits eligibility. Processing takes 4 to 6 weeks.

Keep the plumber's invoice even if insurance is handling the restoration. You may need it for both.

Frisco is young. U.S. Census Bureau data for 2024 (ACS table B25034 via Census Reporter) shows about 82 percent of homes built in 2000 or later and fewer than 3 percent built before 1980. Newer homes still flood. Common sources in newer houses include supply lines to sinks and toilets, washing machine hoses, refrigerator ice maker lines and water heaters in attics or garages. Those are typically clean-water losses at first, but water that sits can get worse; see our water categories guide.

Yes. Frisco's Contractor Registration page says contractors must register with the Building Inspections Division before doing work in Frisco. They submit insurance information, a copy of any master's license and fees, and receive an "R-Number" that expires when their general liability insurance expires. Contractors with a state license are verified through the regulating agencies, such as the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners and TDLR. You can check whether a company is currently registered in the city's eTrakit system.

On permits, Frisco's Residential Building Permits page says self-service permits cover replacing water heaters and minor electrical and plumbing projects, while additions and alterations go through electronic review. A restoration job that ends with a new water heater or rebuilt walls may need one of these.

Texas has no state license for drying out a house. Two related trades are licensed, though. Mold assessment and mold remediation are licensed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Its mold FAQ says the same company may not do both the assessment and the remediation on the same project, and only a licensed remediator can issue a Certificate of Mold Damage Remediation. Plumbing repairs need a plumber licensed by the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners, which runs its own license search.

Search any mold company in the TDLR license search before signing. For typical price ranges, see our restoration cost guide.

This site is an independent homeowner guide. We are not a contractor, we do not perform restoration work, and we do not answer phones. To reach a restoration company, call one of the companies listed on this page or see all listed companies. Questions about this guide: email us. We do not take service requests. Please still run the license and permit checks on this page yourself.