Water damage in Plano, TX: flood coverage, permits and hiring

No. Plano's flood insurance page says standard homeowner policies do not cover damage from floods, and that buying flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program is one of the best ways to protect your home. Key points from the city:

• There is normally a 30-day waiting period when you buy a new policy, so buy before storm season, not during it.
• Flood insurance is available for all properties in Plano, because the city is a member of the NFIP.
• Homeowners in a Special Flood Hazard Area with a mortgage from a federally regulated lender must carry flood insurance.
• Nationally, over 25 percent of structures that flood each year belong to policyholders outside high-risk flood zones.
• Renters can buy NFIP contents coverage, and the city offers a map service to find the flood zone of a property.

The difference between water from a burst pipe and water from outside matters for every claim. The Texas Department of Insurance says most home policies cover sudden and accidental water damage such as a burst pipe or toilet overflow. Our insurance claim guide covers both kinds of claims.

Census Bureau data for 2024 (ACS table B25034 via Census Reporter) shows that about 49 percent of homes were built from 1980 to 1999, about 19 percent before 1980, and about 32 percent in 2000 or later. A leak in a wall, ceiling or under the floor can run for weeks before anyone sees it, so watch the water bill and look for stains, warped flooring and musty odors.

Plano's residential permits page publishes requirement sheets for the jobs that typically follow a water loss: residential under-slab plumbing line replacement, a bathroom or kitchen remodel scope of work permit, residential additions and alterations, and water heater requirements. Drying equipment and removing wet carpet do not need a permit, but rerouting slab plumbing or rebuilding a bathroom generally does. Ask the contractor which permit applies, and get it in writing.

The Building Inspections department runs eTrakit, where you can apply for permits, search projects and search registered contractors. Use it to confirm that the company you are about to hire is registered in Plano and that its permit was actually issued. The fee schedule in effect from January 2, 2026 is posted on the same page.

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.

• What caused the water, and who will fix the source? A slab leak needs a licensed plumber first.
• What water category and damage class did you assign? Our water categories guide explains the terms.
• How will you confirm the house is dry before rebuilding, and will I get the readings?
• If mold is present, what is the TDLR license number, and who wrote the protocol?

Search mold professionals in the TDLR license search. Price ranges are in 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.