What it means when a fire protection license lapses

Why a fire protection contractor's license drops out of state records, whether it can keep working, and what to do about it. Data as of October 26, 2026.

The short answer

A lapsed license means the company no longer appears among active licensees in the state's own records. Until it's reinstated, treat the company as not licensed for that work: don't sign new contracts with it, and confirm the current status with the regulator before any more work happens.

On Plumb Registry, "lapsed" means a company we listed before was missing from the state's active records at a weekly refresh. Its page stays up with a red LAPSED banner, so links and past citations still lead somewhere accurate, and it drops out of every list and count.

Why licenses lapse

• Not renewed. The license reached its expiration date without a renewal. Often a paperwork delay, sometimes a company winding down.
• Insurance not on file (Texas). The Texas State Fire Marshal's Office lookup doesn't show a company whose required insurance has expired or isn't on file, so a lapse in coverage removes it from active records.
• Bond or workers' compensation (California). CSLB suspends licenses when the contractor's bond or workers' comp coverage isn't on file. If proof was filed but not yet processed, CSLB lifts the suspension retroactively.
• Discipline. A regulator can suspend or revoke a license after a complaint or violation.
• A new legal entity. A company that reorganizes, merges or sells may be licensed again under a different name and number. The old record lapses while the business carries on.

Can a company keep working with a lapsed license?

Generally, no. In Texas, fire alarm, fire sprinkler and fire extinguisher work each require a State Fire Marshal's Office registration; for fire alarms, the Insurance Code (Chapter 6002) makes doing that business without a registration an offense. In California, CSLB marks expired licenses as unable to contract until they're renewed or reactivated, which can require a bond, workers' comp coverage and a qualifying person.

General information, not legal advice. The regulator's official record is the final word.

What to do if your vendor's license lapsed

1. Check the official record today. We refresh weekly, so the state may already show a renewal. Use the official lookup linked on the company's page.
2. Ask the vendor directly. A renewal in progress, an insurance filing or a new company name are common, fixable explanations. Ask for the current license number.
3. Pause new work and contracts until you can confirm an active license for the type of work you're buying.
4. Compare dates. If inspections or installs were done after the lapse date shown on our page, ask your local fire marshal whether they need to be redone.
5. Keep checking. Use the vendor license checker to recheck your whole vendor list at once.

Lapsed in the latest refresh (October 26, 2026)

So far 12 companies have lapsed since we began tracking. See Fire protection licensing by the numbers for the weekly trend.

Frequently asked questions

What does LAPSED mean on Plumb Registry?

The company's license no longer appears among active licensees in the state's records as of our latest weekly refresh. We keep its page, clearly marked, so links still work.

Is a lapsed license the same as a revoked license?

No. Most lapses are expirations or missing insurance, bond or workers' comp filings, which a company can fix. Revocation is a disciplinary action. Either way, the company isn't currently licensed until the state shows it active again.

My vendor says its license is active, but your page says lapsed. Who's right?

Check the regulator's official lookup, which every company page links to. If the state shows it active, it was renewed after our last weekly refresh, and our page will update at the next one.