Tennessee Home Improvement Contractor License Requirements
Official classification: Home Improvement Contractor License · Issued by the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors (Department of Commerce & Insurance).
🔨 Home Improvement ContractorTN ✔ Verified 2026-09-19
In Tennessee, home improvement contractors must hold the Home Improvement Contractor License, issued by the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors (Department of Commerce & Insurance), and a $10,000 surety bond is required. Full requirements — experience, exams, fees, insurance, renewal and reciprocity — are detailed below.
How to become a licensed home improvement contractor in Tennessee
Follow these steps to earn your Home Improvement Contractor License. Every figure is verified against the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors (Department of Commerce & Insurance); full detail for each step is further down the page.
- Build the required experience. No fixed statutory years of experience are published by the Board for this license; applicants must show experience performing remodeling/home-improvement work as part of the application.
- Confirm exam requirements. Tennessee sets no state trade exam for this license, though your city or county may require one.
- Secure your surety bond. Tennessee requires $10,000 surety bond or irrevocable letter of credit (Tenn. Code Ann. § 62-6-506 — if the bond ceases to be in effect the license becomes invalid). The Board's Home Improvement page also lists a cash bond or property bond as accepted alternatives.
- Line up insurance. You'll need liability insurance (Proof of general liability insurance required), and workers' compensation coverage.
- Clear the background check. No fingerprint-based background check published by the Board; a valid photo ID and Social Security number are required with the application
- Submit your application and fees. Apply through the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors (Department of Commerce & Insurance) — $250 (initial application, filed online through core.tn.gov) application fee, plus a Included in the application fee license fee. Processing time: Not published by the Board.
- Keep the license active. Renew every 2 years — the license expires the last day of the 24th month after issuance (Tenn. Code Ann. § 62-6-506).
Tennessee home improvement contractor license lookup
To confirm a home improvement contractor is properly licensed in Tennessee — or to check the status of your own license — search the issuing agency's official license database. The record shows whether the license is active and in good standing.
License types
- Home Improvement Contractor License — Required for residential remodeling, repair, replacement, alteration, or addition projects priced from $3,000 to $24,999, but only in the nine counties where the Board applies the law: Bradley, Davidson, Hamilton, Haywood, Knox, Marion, Robertson, Rutherford and Shelby. If the project is $25,000 or more, the separate full Contractor (BC) license is required instead — this license does not cover that tier.
Requirements at a glance
| Experience required | No fixed statutory years of experience are published by the Board for this license; applicants must show experience performing remodeling/home-improvement work as part of the application. |
|---|---|
| Application fee | $250 (initial application, filed online through core.tn.gov) |
| License fee | Included in the application fee |
| Renewal fee | Not published |
| Renewal period | Every 2 years — the license expires the last day of the 24th month after issuance (Tenn. Code Ann. § 62-6-506) |
| Continuing education | None required by the Board |
| Bond required | $10,000 surety bond or irrevocable letter of credit (Tenn. Code Ann. § 62-6-506 — if the bond ceases to be in effect the license becomes invalid). The Board's Home Improvement page also lists a cash bond or property bond as accepted alternatives. |
| Liability insurance | Proof of general liability insurance required |
| Property damage | Covered under the general liability policy |
| Workers' comp | Proof of workers' compensation coverage required if the applicant has employees |
| Background check | No fingerprint-based background check published by the Board; a valid photo ID and Social Security number are required with the application |
| Credit requirement | None — no financial statement or credit report is required for this license (unlike the full Contractor license's monetary-limit financial statement) |
| Reciprocity | None |
| Processing time | Not published by the Board |
Exams
No state trade exam is required — the Home Improvement Contractor License is a registration, not an examined license. Local jurisdictions may set their own exam requirements.
Renewing a Tennessee home improvement contractor license
The Home Improvement Contractor License renews on a fixed cycle set by the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors (Department of Commerce & Insurance). Late and lapsed renewals are handled differently by every board, so check the renewal page linked below before the deadline passes.
| Renewal period | Every 2 years — the license expires the last day of the 24th month after issuance (Tenn. Code Ann. § 62-6-506) |
|---|---|
| Renewal fee | Not published |
| Continuing education | None required by the Board |
| Where to renew | Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors (Department of Commerce & Insurance) |
Local / municipal notes
Required only in the nine counties listed by the Board: Bradley, Davidson, Hamilton, Haywood, Knox, Marion, Robertson, Rutherford and Shelby. In all other Tennessee counties, no state Home Improvement license applies to $3,000–$24,999 residential remodeling work (local permits may still apply). Where the license does apply, Tenn. Code Ann. § 62-6-503 bars counties and cities from requiring an additional home-improvement license on top of it.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Tennessee home improvement contractor license cost?
Application: $250 (initial application, filed online through core.tn.gov). License: Included in the application fee. Renewal: Not published.
How do I look up a home improvement contractor license in Tennessee?
Search the official license database at search.cloud.commerce.tn.gov. The record shows whether the license is active and in good standing.
Do home improvement contractors in Tennessee need a surety bond?
$10,000 surety bond or irrevocable letter of credit (Tenn. Code Ann. § 62-6-506 — if the bond ceases to be in effect the license becomes invalid). The Board's Home Improvement page also lists a cash bond or property bond as accepted alternatives.
What experience is required for a Tennessee home improvement contractor license?
No fixed statutory years of experience are published by the Board for this license; applicants must show experience performing remodeling/home-improvement work as part of the application.
Is insurance required for home improvement contractors in Tennessee?
Liability: Proof of general liability insurance required Workers' compensation: Proof of workers' compensation coverage required if the applicant has employees
How often must a Tennessee home improvement contractor license be renewed?
Every 2 years — the license expires the last day of the 24th month after issuance (Tenn. Code Ann. § 62-6-506).
Which counties require a Tennessee Home Improvement license?
The Board lists nine counties where the Home Improvement license is required: Bradley, Davidson, Hamilton, Haywood, Knox, Marion, Robertson, Rutherford and Shelby. Outside those counties, a $3,000–$24,999 residential remodeling project does not require this state license.
What if my remodeling project is $25,000 or more?
The Home Improvement license only covers projects priced from $3,000 to $24,999. At $25,000 or more you need the full Tennessee Contractor (BC classification) license instead.
What are the accepted alternatives to the $10,000 surety bond?
The statute (Tenn. Code Ann. § 62-6-506) names two forms: a $10,000 surety bond or an irrevocable letter of credit. The Board's Home Improvement page additionally lists a cash bond or a property bond. Whichever form you use, the license becomes invalid if the bond ceases to be in effect.
What happens if I do home improvement work without this license in a covered county?
Tenn. Code Ann. § 62-6-503 prohibits performing licensable home improvement work without the license in an adopting county and exposes an unlicensed contractor to treble-damages liability; consult the statute or an attorney for how it applies to your situation.
Does the Home Improvement license cover roofing and painting?
Yes — Tenn. Code Ann. § 62-6-501(4)(A) defines home improvement to include repair, replacement, remodeling, alterations or additions such as driveways, swimming pools, porches, garages, landscaping, fences, roofing and painting, among other residential improvements.
Is there an exam for the Home Improvement license?
No exam is listed by the Board for this license, unlike the full Contractor (BC) license, which requires a PSI trade exam and the Business and Law exam.
Official sources
tn.gov/commerce/regboards/contractors/license/get/home-improvement.html
law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/title-62/chapter-6/part-5/section-62-6-501
law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/title-62/chapter-6/part-5/section-62-6-503
law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/title-62/chapter-6/part-5/section-62-6-506