Do you need a general contractor license in Tennessee?
Yes, a license. In Tennessee, a person or business must be licensed by the state board for licensing contractors, with a monetary limit large enough for the job, to engage in or offer contracting on any project costing $25,000 or more, including residential construction. The major classifications include commercial building, residential, mechanical and electrical construction; a residential contractor’s license covers construction, remodeling, repair or improvement of one- to four-family residences up to three stories. An unlicensed contractor who must be licensed can recover only documented expenses in court and has no lien under the mechanics’ lien chapter. Cities and counties can add their own licensing on top of the state’s. This is Tenn. Code §§ 62-6-102, 62-6-103, 62-6-112.
| What | Tennessee |
|---|---|
| General contractors | Contractor license for projects $25,000+ |
Source
Tenn. Code §§ 62-6-102, 62-6-103, 62-6-112
Read the statute in the Tennessee Code (Tennessee General Assembly): capitol.tn.gov.
The linked sections open Justia’s free copy of the code, because the state’s own site has no stable address for each section.
Checked against the statute on November 13, 2026.
This is a summary of a published statute, not legal advice. Rules change, local ordinances can add to them, and the terms of a specific lease may differ. Check the citation and speak to a lawyer before acting.
How Seayora uses this rule
A contractor on Seayora keeps each license with its issuing state, its expiry date and the last four digits of its number, and the business is warned before one lapses — on the website and both phone apps. A customer finding a pro on Seayora sees whether a license is on file.
Guides on this rule
- Contractor License Requirements by State: Every Trade — Which states require a state license for electricians, plumbers, HVAC, general and home improvement contractors, with the statute for each.
Compare this rule in every state
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- Every Tennessee rule on one page
The same question in other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho