What the T-5 report is
The Texas Official Wood Destroying Insect Report is form SPCS/T-5. Its current revision is dated 9/1/2020, and TDA also accepts the 9/1/2019 revision. The form quotes Rule 7.176, which requires this department-prescribed form for real estate transactions in Texas regarding the visible presence or absence of wood destroying insects and conditions conducive to infestation.
TDA says all inspection reports for real estate transactions must be on this form, with no revisions or omissions and no logos. AgriLife's undated Extension publication E-367 calls the report a legal document that must be accurate and complete, based on a visual inspection.
What a pest or termite inspection costs in Texas
Our estimate for a pest inspection in Texas is $40 to $205 per inspection, and the table adds a termite inspection estimate. National ranges, adjusted by Texas's pest control wage ratio of 0.89, are behind both figures, and neither is a quote.
TDA's termite FAQ says the cost of an inspection varies and the fee is usually small. Ask whether the price is for the T-5 report itself or for a general look, and whether the fee is dropped if you hire the company for treatment.
| Item | Figure | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Estimated range, not a quote | $40 to $205 per inspection | Built from one national published range, adjusted by the Texas pest control worker wage ratio (0.89). Four Texas pest control companies publish a price we could count on their own websites; where five or more price the same job, the range is the middle half of their prices, and where two to four do, the estimate is widened to take them in. Coupons, specials and figures a page gives as an average are not counted. Basis: no state company sample (no counted Texas company price for this job), national estimate only. |
| Estimated range for a termite inspection, not a quote | $0 to $255 per termite inspection, often free with treatment | Built from one national published range, adjusted by the Texas pest control worker wage ratio (0.89). Four Texas pest control companies publish a price we could count on their own websites; where five or more price the same job, the range is the middle half of their prices, and where two to four do, the estimate is widened to take them in. Coupons, specials and figures a page gives as an average are not counted. Basis: no state company sample (one counted Texas company price for this job), national estimate only. |
| Pest control worker wage, Texas mean | $19.90 an hour | Pay for the work in Texas (BLS, May 2025); an inspection fee is the company's own. |
| State fee, certified applicator license | $125 to license, $125 to renew | Paid by the person who holds it, and $64 for each category exam. |
| State fee, technician license renewal | $125 | Technicians renew with the business license; an apprentice registration is also $125. |
Estimated range. Built from national published ranges (1 source), adjusted by Texas's pest control worker wage ratio to the US (0.89, BLS May 2025), with no permit fee added because pest control has no city permit. Not a quote. Four Texas pest control companies publish a price we could count on their own websites; where five or more price the same job, the range is the middle half of their prices, and where two to four do, the estimate is widened to take them in. Coupons, specials and figures a page gives as an average are not counted. We have no counted Texas company price for this job, so the range is our national estimate alone. Full method. Prices as of Oct 23, 2026.
What the inspector covers, and what the form says it isn't
The inspection covers only the primary dwelling, multi-family structure or place of business unless other structures are listed in Section 5 of the form, and it is limited to visible and accessible areas. Attics and crawl spaces must be inspected if they are accessible. A diagram must be attached for every structure inspected, and the inspector posts a notice-of-inspection sticker and records where and when.
The form prints its own limit: "THIS IS NOT A STRUCTURAL DAMAGE REPORT OR A WARRANTY AS TO THE ABSENCE OF WOOD DESTROYING INSECTS."
When the report may recommend treatment
The form allows corrective treatment to be recommended only for a visible active infestation, or a visible previous infestation with no evidence of prior treatment. Treatment based only on conducive conditions is preventive. TDA also says a company should not issue the T-5 for a termite-treatment disclosure or a warranty retreatment check, which have their own paperwork, covered on the termite page.
Home sales: what the rules do and don't say
TDA requires the T-5 for any inspection report in a real estate transaction. The form prints no validity period for a finished report, so ask the lender and the buyer how old a report they'll accept.
Who gets the report, and where to complain
The person who buys the inspection, whether seller, agent, buyer or management company, is named on the form, and the purchaser must receive a copy. An apprentice may be present for training and is listed under others present. SPCS takes complaints about incomplete or inaccurate wood destroying insect reports at (866) 918-4481, and an inspector is assigned and contacts the complainant.
Does an inspection finding need a same-day call?
- A T-5 that looks incomplete or inaccurate: SPCS takes those complaints at (866) 918-4481, and its FAQ advises not repairing damage or retreating before the inspector has investigated.
- Deciding on treatment after a report, since the form lets corrective treatment be recommended only for visible active infestation or visible previous infestation with no sign of prior treatment.
Steps before the inspection
- Ask who will complete the T-5 and in which category they hold a license.
- Ask whether the garage, shed or other buildings will be listed in Section 5.
- Clear access to the attic and crawl space, since the form covers them only if accessible.
- Ask for the diagram and your copy of the report.
- Note where the inspection sticker is posted.
License rules for the inspector
Item 1E of the form's instructions says a wood destroying insect report can only be completed by a certified applicator or technician licensed in the termite control category. Ask which license category will appear on the report and the name of the person signing it.
Ask for the company's TDA business license number and the applicator's name, and check both with TDA's Structural Pest Control Service before any work starts.
Questions people ask
What form does a Texas termite inspection use?
TDA's SPCS/T-5, the Texas Official Wood Destroying Insect Report. The current revision is dated 9/1/2020 and the 9/1/2019 revision is also accepted. TDA says reports for real estate transactions must be on this form with no revisions or omissions.
Who can complete a wood destroying insect report in Texas?
Only a certified applicator or technician licensed in the termite control category. Apprentices may be present for training and are listed under others present. The purchaser of the service must receive a copy.
Is the T-5 report a warranty?
No: the form states it is not a structural damage report or a warranty as to the absence of wood destroying insects. It covers visible and accessible areas of the structures listed. Attics and crawl spaces are inspected if accessible.
Does the report cover the garage and the shed?
Only if they are listed in Section 5 of the form. Otherwise it covers the primary dwelling, multi-family structure or place of business. A diagram must be attached for all structures inspected.
Where do I report a bad termite inspection in Texas?
SPCS takes complaints about incomplete or inaccurate reports at (866) 918-4481 or spcs@TexasAgriculture.gov. SPCS cannot compel a company to pay damages.
What does a pest inspection cost in Texas?
Our model's estimate is $40 to $205 per inspection, not a quote. TDA says only that the inspection fee is usually small. Ask each company whether a termite inspection is billed separately.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025: Pest Control Workers (SOC 37-2021), Texas, mean hourly wage Read Oct 23, 2026.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025: Pest Control Workers (SOC 37-2021), United States, mean hourly wage Read Oct 23, 2026.
- PestControlMatch: how we estimate costs, Texas (editorial policy) Read Oct 23, 2026.
- TDA: SPCS Fees Read Oct 23, 2026.
- TDA: Texas Wood Destroying Insect Report SPCS/T-5 (PDF); Termite/Fumigation Applications Read Oct 23, 2026.
- Texas A&M AgriLife Extension: Formosan subterranean termites (E-367) Read Oct 23, 2026.
- TDA: Termite FAQs Read Oct 23, 2026.
- TDA: SPCS Complaint Process; Complaint Resolution Procedures; Termite FAQs Read Oct 23, 2026.