Tennessee contractor license lookup
566 contractor profiles · 262 with an active license on file.
HomeProFax lists 566 contractor profiles with Tennessee business addresses; 262 show an active license on file. We have not yet integrated Tennessee's own licensing sources, so these profiles come from other states' board records, the local license sources we hold, or our research sources — a profile without a license here is not evidence the contractor is unlicensed in Tennessee.
Before you hire, read how to check a contractor before you hire and confirm the license with the issuing agency.
On this page: Who must be licensed in Tennessee · Classifications and monetary limits · Bond and insurance · How to run the lookup, step by step · Complaints, discipline and money disputes · Red flags before you sign · Permits in Nashville and elsewhere · HomeProFax data · FAQ · Sources
Who must be licensed in Tennessee
The Board for Licensing Contractors regulates contractors, home improvement contractors, limited licensed electricians and limited licensed plumbers under Tennessee Code Title 62, Chapter 6.
| Project | License needed |
|---|---|
| $25,000 or more | Contractor license, before bidding, offering a price or contracting (prime contractors, construction managers, and electrical, mechanical, plumbing, HVAC or roofing subcontractors whose portion is $25,000 or more) |
| Masonry subcontract of $100,000 or more | Contractor license |
| Residential remodeling $3,000 to $24,999 | Home Improvement license, only in Bradley, Davidson, Hamilton, Haywood, Knox, Marion, Robertson, Rutherford and Shelby counties |
Sources: contractor license and Home Improvement license. For smaller jobs outside those counties, ask your city or county codes office what local license or permit applies.
Classifications and monetary limits
Every Tennessee contractor license has a classification (what work) and a monetary limit (the largest single project allowed). The building construction family (classification outline):
| Classification | Covers |
|---|---|
| BC | All building construction: residential, commercial and industrial |
| BC-A | Residential: one- to four-family homes up to three stories, plus accessory structures |
| BC-A/r | Restricted single-family residential; monetary limit no more than $125,000 |
| BC-B | Commercial, residential over four units, or buildings over three stories |
| BC-b(sm) | Small commercial; monetary limit no more than $1,500,000 |
| BC-C | Industrial buildings |
The board may allow bids up to 10% over a license's monetary limit (T.C.A. 62-6-103); BC-A/r licenses get no such tolerance. Since July 1, 2026, contractors may post a surety bond of at least 50% of their requested monetary limit instead of a CPA-reviewed or audited financial statement (Board).
Bond and insurance
- Home Improvement license: a $10,000 surety bond (or a cash or property bond or irrevocable letter of credit), plus general liability and workers' compensation insurance (Board).
- Contractor license: a CPA-reviewed financial statement for limits of $3,000,000 or less and an audited one above that, or the surety bond option described above (Board).
- Ask any contractor for current certificates of workers' compensation and general liability insurance.
How to run the lookup, step by step
- Open Verify.tn.gov.
- Search the business or individual name, or the license number from the bid.
- Confirm the license is active and the expiration date is after your project ends.
- Check that the classification covers the work (BC-A for a home, for example) and that the monetary limit covers your contract price.
- For a remodel of $3,000 to $24,999 in one of the nine counties, look for a Home Improvement license.
Complaints, discipline and money disputes
For complaint or disciplinary history, contact the Board for Licensing Contractors. To file, use the Board complaint form. The Board's jurisdiction is limited to discipline against the license: it cannot seek refunds or represent you. For money disputes, consider private counsel or the Division of Consumer Affairs mediation program.
Tennessee law limits an unlicensed contractor: one who violates the licensing law can recover in court only actual documented expenses shown by clear and convincing proof, and has no lien rights (T.C.A. 62-6-103).
Red flags before you sign
- A bid of $25,000 or more from someone with no Tennessee contractor license.
- A contract price above the license's monetary limit, or a job split into phases to stay under it.
- A remodel of $3,000 or more in Davidson, Shelby, Knox, Hamilton or the other listed counties with no Home Improvement license.
- A request for more than one-third down; TDCI says state law prohibits requiring it (TDCI).
Permits in Nashville and elsewhere
Permits are local. In Nashville and Davidson County, the Metro Codes Department issues building permits. Elsewhere, ask your city or county building codes office.
What HomeProFax shows for Tennessee
HomeProFax lists 566 contractor profiles here, 262 with an active license on file. We have not integrated Tennessee board data. The profiles below come from other sources, so a profile without a license is not evidence the contractor is unlicensed in Tennessee. Confirm every license on Verify.tn.gov.
Cities with the most profiles: Nashville (108), Memphis (93), Knoxville (29), Chattanooga (19), Franklin (19), Jackson (15), Murfreesboro (11), Cordova (10).
Profiles show public-record facts with their source; they are not a rating of workmanship. HomeProFax is a free contractor license, permit and complaint check from public records.
Frequently asked questions
How do I look up a Tennessee contractor license?
Search the contractor on Verify.tn.gov, Tennessee’s free license lookup. Check the status, expiration, classification and monetary limit.
When does a Tennessee contractor need a license?
Before bidding, offering a price or contracting on a project of $25,000 or more, including materials, equipment and labor.
What is a Tennessee Home Improvement license?
A license for residential remodeling of $3,000 to $24,999, required only in Bradley, Davidson, Hamilton, Haywood, Knox, Marion, Robertson, Rutherford and Shelby counties. It requires a $10,000 surety bond and liability and workers’ compensation insurance.
What is a monetary limit?
The largest single project the license allows. The board may allow up to a 10% bid tolerance, except for BC-A/r licenses, which are capped at $125,000.
What does BC-A mean on a Tennessee license?
Residential building construction for one- to four-family homes up to three stories, plus accessory structures.
Will the Tennessee Board get my money back?
No. The Board can only seek discipline against the license. For money disputes, consider private counsel or the Division of Consumer Affairs mediation program.
How much can a Tennessee contractor ask for up front?
TDCI says state law prohibits requiring more than one-third down.
Does HomeProFax show Tennessee board data?
Not yet. Confirm every Tennessee license on Verify.tn.gov.
Sources, last checked 2026-10-29
- Verify.tn.gov
- TN Board for Licensing Contractors
- Contractor license requirements
- Home Improvement license
- Classification outline
- File a complaint
- TDCI consumer tips (2025)
- T.C.A. 62-6-103
- Nashville Metro Codes