What Builders Risk Insurance Requirements Apply in Texas?

Texas construction stormwater rules apply to sites disturbing at least an acre that discharge to state waters, and the current permit is scheduled to expire March 5, 2028. For a property in a designated coastal catastrophe area, TDI separately says TWIA windstorm eligibility requires applicable code compliance; since April 1, 2026, WPI-1 applications use the 2024 building codes. Builders risk and later windstorm insurance are different decisions, so coordinate inspections and the handoff without assuming one policy supplies the other.

What Is Builders Risk Insurance?

Builders risk protects the project you are building, including materials meant for it, against physical loss until construction ends. The gaps that cost owners money are materials in storage or transit, the existing building in a renovation, and coverage ending when you occupy early. Read the national Builders risk guide.

What Should You Watch for With Builders Risk Insurance in Texas?

Disturbance and discharge both matter
TCEQ says its construction permit regulates sites disturbing one acre or more that discharge stormwater to state surface waters; the 2023 permit is effective March 5, 2023 and expires March 5, 2028. Confirm the construction footprint and discharge path for phased site work. ¹
TWIA windstorm rules are limited to mapped catastrophe areas
TDI says a structure must be in a designated catastrophe area to be eligible for TWIA windstorm insurance. In Harris County the rule is limited to locations east of Highway 146 within mapped city limits. Do not infer that the project’s location or builders-risk quote establishes TWIA eligibility. ²
Coastal windstorm inspection timing can affect the later handoff
TDI distinguishes WPI-8 certificates for ongoing construction from WPI-8-E certificates for completed construction and says WPI-1 applications use the 2024 IRC or IBC starting April 1, 2026. Ask who will arrange inspections while work is open and how final evidence will be preserved. ²

Which Builders Risk Insurance Providers Have Texas License Records?

No provider in our research has both a state license record and a listing for this coverage line. This does not establish that providers are unlicensed. Check the regulator’s license lookup and confirm availability with a provider when requesting a quote.

Who Regulates Insurance in Texas?

Texas Department of Insurance

TDI licenses agents and insurers, reviews company rate filings, and investigates complaints against insurance companies and people it regulates. Its complaint page states limits on what it can resolve, including disputes outside its regulatory authority. ^3,^4,⁵

Website: Regulator website
License lookup: Search licensed producers
Complaints: File a complaint

Surplus-Lines Tax and Stamping Office in Texas

Reported tax rate. 4.85% of gross premium plus 0.04% SLTX stamping fee ^6,^7,⁸

When Texas is the insured’s home state, the state tax is 4.85% of gross premium; absent a compact allocation agreement, a multistate policy can be taxed on its entire premium. Policies effective on or after Jan. 1, 2024 also carry a 0.04% stamping fee; SLTX invoices the broker and says the insured pays it, and the surplus-lines insurer is not covered by the Texas guaranty association.

Surplus Lines Stamping Office of Texas

What Should You Ask Before Buying Builders Risk Insurance in Texas?

Does the project fall inside TDI’s designated catastrophe area, and who will coordinate the appropriate windstorm inspections while construction remains visible?
Are stored or in-transit project materials included at each actual location and delivery leg, apart from contractor tools?
What agreed completion, acceptance, occupancy, or phased-opening milestone ends builders risk and starts the separate permanent-property arrangement?

Builders Risk Insurance in Texas: Frequently Asked Questions

Does a Texas builders-risk policy satisfy TWIA windstorm eligibility requirements?

TDI describes separate code and inspection requirements for TWIA windstorm insurance in designated catastrophe areas. A builders-risk policy does not establish that a finished structure qualifies; ask about both policies and the construction inspection handoff. ²

What Texas construction sites are described on TCEQ’s current permit page?

The 2023 construction general permit applies to activities disturbing at least one acre that discharge to surface water in the state. TCEQ lists March 5, 2028 as its expiry date and says renewal is underway. ¹

Sources for Builders Risk Insurance in Texas

1
Stormwater General Permit for Construction Activities. Texas Commission on Environmental Quality; 2023 CGP scope, effective date, expiry and 2028 renewal notice, lines 9–36; accessed current 2026-09-28. Accessed 2026-09-28.
2
Adopted Building Codes. Texas Department of Insurance; 2024 codes for WPI-1 from 2026-04-01; catastrophe areas and Harris County exception; site wind/debris requirements, lines 29–48; accessed current 2026-09-28. Accessed 2026-09-28.
3
texas insurance regulator. State insurance regulator; TDI regulator page outlines licensing, financial oversight, compliance/enforcement, and rate review. Accessed 2026-09-28.
4
How to Find a Licensed Insurance Agent or Adjuster. State insurance regulator; TDI says search by agent name or license number and links to the state license search. Accessed 2026-09-28.
5
Get Help with an Insurance Complaint. State insurance regulator; Direct complaint page explains covered entities, exclusions and online filing; Help Line 800-252-3439. Accessed 2026-09-28.
6
Texas Insurance Code §§225.002–225.004. Texas Legislature; §225.002 limits chapter to Texas-home-state insured; §225.004(a) 4.85%; (a-1) NRRA home-state limitation; (c) entire premium where Texas is home state and no compact agreement. Accessed 2026-09-28.
7
Stamping Fees & Taxes. Surplus Lines Stamping Office of Texas; Current policy-date table lists 0.04% for inception 1/1/2024 and after; stamping fee invoices go to brokers; site says fee is paid by insured. Accessed 2026-09-28.
8
Texas Surplus Lines Companies. Texas Department of Insurance; TDI says surplus-lines insurers are not licensed in Texas and its guaranty association member; eligibility/disclaimer and broker financial-responsibility details. Accessed 2026-09-28.
9
Licenses. At-Bay; Current producer introduction and state table; At-Bay Insurance Services LLC; P&C and surplus-lines identifiers. Accessed 2026-09-21.
10
Licenses and Carriers. Coalition; Licenses and Carriers, re-read 22 September 2026: Insurance Licenses table for Coalition Insurance Solutions, Inc., national producer number 18419475, with producer and surplus-lines numbers for all 50 states and DC including California 0L76155, Georgia 196479, Texas 2199630 and 2205589, Pennsylvania 815731 and 817452, Colorado 539028 and Wisconsin 3000108852. Insurance Carriers table naming, with NAIC numbers, Allianz Underwriters Insurance Company 36420, Arch Specialty Insurance Company 21199, Ascot Specialty Insurance Company 45055, Ascot Insurance Company 23752, Aspen Specialty Insurance Company 10717, Chaucer Insurance Company DAC, Coalition Insurance Company 29530, Fireman's Fund Indemnity Corporation 11380, Fortegra Specialty Insurance Company 16823, Lloyd's of London, MSIG Specialty Insurance USA Inc. 34886, MS Transverse Specialty Insurance Company 41807, Steadfast Insurance Company 26387, Vantage Risk Specialty Insurance Company 16275 and Zurich American Insurance Company 16535. Accessed 2026-09-22.
11
Insurance Producer Licenses. Corgi Insurance; Current complete Insurance Producer Licenses table for Corgi Insurance Services, Inc.; 50 rows covering 49 states and DC (DC 3003091619); no New Mexico row; no NPN or as-of date shown. Accessed 2026-09-28.
12
About Hiscox US Insurance. Hiscox; Hiscox Insurance Company Inc. NAIC 10200 as Chicago, IL domiciled insurer admitted or licensed in all 50 states and D.C.; Hiscox Inc. as general agent and Lloyd’s coverholder for Syndicates 33 and 3624; surplus-lines placements through licensed surplus-lines brokers; A.M. Best rating statement. Accessed 2026-09-16.
13
Licenses. ERGO NEXT Insurance; Current entity-by-state license table reopened 28 September 2026: 50 rows under Next First Insurance Agency, Inc., including Washington, DC; New York rows instead list Next Insurance Services PC-1423070 and AP Intego BR-1198885. Accessed 2026-09-28.
14
About Risklytics. Risklytics; What we do; Who we insure; Licensing; Agency licenses table dated 2026-09-10. Accessed 2026-09-16.
15
Insurance Licenses by State. TechInsurance; Current state table; identifies TechInsurance as a division of Specialty Program Group LLC d/b/a SPG Insurance Solutions; lists DC 3000041536 and labels Rhode Island “Individual licenses,” without an agency license number. Accessed 2026-09-28.
16
Licenses. Vouch; Effective 16 January 2025: Vouch Specialty Insurance Services, LLC, NPN 19926463; P&C table (50 states and DC); surplus-lines table includes Idaho 870820; footnote says Georgia and Idaho do not issue agency-level surplus-lines licenses; Idaho retained as producer-only due to conflict. Accessed 2026-09-15.

What Builders Risk Insurance Requirements Apply in Texas?

What Is Builders Risk Insurance?

What Should You Watch for With Builders Risk Insurance in Texas?

Disturbance and discharge both matter

TWIA windstorm rules are limited to mapped catastrophe areas

Coastal windstorm inspection timing can affect the later handoff