Tennessee · Checked October 22, 2026
License above a job-value threshold. Tennessee licenses by project value, not by a stand-alone roofing license. A Board for Licensing Contractors contractor license — with a roofing classification/monetary limit — is required at $25,000 or more, including for roofing subcontractors whose portion is $25,000 or more. Smaller home roofing in nine counties needs a Home Improvement license from $3,000 to $24,999.
| Item | Tennessee |
|---|---|
| Regime | Contractor license at $25,000+; Home Improvement license $3,000-$24,999 in 9 counties |
| Exam | Tennessee Business & Law exam (PSI) plus trade exam for most contractor classifications — pass mark Not published in Board summary retrieved; PSI bulletin controls. Home Improvement license: no trade exam. Business & Law exam, once passed, does not need retaking per Board materials summarized. |
| Experience | No fixed years stated in Board summary; experience/reference and financial statement determine classification and monetary limit. Qualifying Agent must be full-time employee/owner. |
| Application fee | $250 per business location (contractor and Home Improvement cited at $250) |
| License / registration fee | $250 application |
| Total state cost | $250 application + PSI exam fees (about $55 per exam per secondary summaries) + bond/insurance costs — Renewal $200 every 2 years. |
| Bond | Full contractor license: no flat license bond — financial statement controls; a contractor bond may be used in lieu of guaranty ($500,000 for limits under $3M; $1,000,000 at $3M+ per secondary summary). Home Improvement: $10,000 surety bond or irrevocable letter of credit required. |
| Insurance minimums | Proof of general liability (minimum $100,000 cited) and workers' compensation, or a valid exemption, required with application. |
| Who qualifies | Qualifying Agent — full-time employee or owner who passes exams and is responsible for the license; may serve only one company unless majority owner of others. |
| Timeline | License issuance 4-6 weeks per Board; Board meets Jan, Mar, May, Jul, Sep, Nov; applications due by the 20th of the month before the meeting |
| Renewal | Every 2 years; $200 renewal; updated financial statement and insurance; residential classifications need 8 hours residential continuing education where applicable |
| Credential | Scope | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Contractor License — roofing classification (e.g. BC / specialty roofing) | both | Classification and monetary limit assigned; monetary limit = 10x lesser of working capital or net worth from CPA financial statement. |
| Home Improvement Contractor License | residential | Residential remodeling/repair incl. roofing, $3,000-$24,999, only in Bradley, Davidson, Hamilton, Haywood, Knox, Marion, Robertson, Rutherford and Shelby counties. $10,000 bond/financial responsibility; no trade exam. |
License trigger: $25,000 — Total project cost including materials, labor and profit — Tenn. Code Title 62, Ch. 6; Board guidance. Home Improvement band starts at $3,000 in the 9 listed counties. Below $3,000 / outside those counties for small residential work, no state license from this Board.
Roofing subcontractors must be licensed as contractors when their portion is $25,000 or more; masonry subs at $100,000 or more. A sub to a sub needs licensing when there is more than one subcontractor tier on the project per Board guidance.
Local business licenses and permits apply; Nashville/Davidson is one of the 9 Home Improvement counties. Check county — outside the 9 counties, $3,000-$24,999 residential work has no state Home Improvement license layer.
No specific deductible-waiver statute found. No Tennessee deductible-waiver ban statute was found. Tennessee does impose insurance-paid roofer contract duties under Public Chapter 821 (2012): 3-day cancellation right, contractor contact/license details, and detailed repair description in the contract (Board Home Improvement page).
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