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Tennessee Handyman License Requirements

By , Founder of Bulletproof Handyman · Tennessee rules checked November 2, 2026

Tennessee's small-job figure is $25,000. The exact wording below decides whether a job fits.

$25,000
Tennessee job-size figure

Contractor license required prior to contracting/bidding 'projects $25,000 or more' (i.e., under $25,000 = no state contractor license; $25,000 is NOT exempt). Masonry: $100,000 or more. Home Improvement license (in the 9 adopting counties only): residential remodeling 'from $3,000 to $24,999' / '$3,000 to less than $25,000' (Board pages also say 'over $3,000' in a 2026 webinar - whether exactly $3,000 is covered is ambiguous; tn.gov license page says 'from $3,000'). Outside those counties, residential work under $25,000 needs no state general license. Subcontractors bidding to a contractor (not owner) for painting, drywall, carpentry, landscaping need no contractor license; electrical, mechanical, plumbing, HVAC, roofing subs need one over $25,000.

What counts toward it: labor+materials (Board: home improvement range is 'total cost or contract, including materials and labor'; LLP projects 'including materials and labor'; contractor monetary limit/permit value includes cost of land and profit for BC-A/r)

"A Home Improvement license is required for residential remodeling projects from $3,000 to $24,999; however, this only applies to the counties adopting the law. Currently, this applies to the following counties: Bradley, Davidson, Hamilton, Haywood, Knox, Marion, Robertson, Rutherford, and Shelby."

Source: tn.gov · tn.gov · tn.gov · checked November 2, 2026

Who regulates this

Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance - Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors (contractors, home improvement contractors, limited licensed electricians (LLE), limited licensed plumbers (LLP)); Division of Fire Prevention (state electrical permits/inspections where used)

Source: tn.gov · tn.gov · checked November 2, 2026

Does Tennessee license general and residential work?

Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors licenses contractors (incl. residential BC-A) for projects $25,000 or more statewide; a Home Improvement license is required for residential remodeling $3,000 to under $25,000 ONLY in counties that adopted the law (Bradley, Davidson, Hamilton, Haywood, Knox, Marion, Robertson, Rutherford, Shelby).

Source: tn.gov · checked November 2, 2026

When a permit changes the answer

No rule found saying a permit by itself voids the dollar exemption. Board application package: contracting, bidding, or obtaining a permit without a license with proper classification and monetary limit violates T.C.A. 62-6-120 (applies where a license is required). Electrical/plumbing permits under $25,000 may require LLE/LLP or a local license depending on who issues permits.

Source: tn.gov · checked November 2, 2026

Registration

Home Improvement license (adopting counties): $10,000 surety bond (or cash/property bond or irrevocable letter of credit), general liability and workers' compensation insurance, photo ID/SSN, SOS registration if an entity, remodeling experience; initial application fee $250. Contractor license: Business & Law exam (+ trade exam for certain classifications), CPA-reviewed/audited financial statement (or, from July 1, 2026, surety bond of at least 50% of requested monetary limit), GL and workers' comp proof. LLE: trade exam, $50 application fee.

Source: tn.gov · checked November 2, 2026

Trade work

Electrical: Electrical (CE) contractor license for $25,000+; Limited Licensed Electrician (LLE) for work under $25,000 per project, only required in municipalities/counties using the State Division of Fire Prevention for permits/inspections (T.C.A. 62-6-102(d), 68-102-150); otherwise local licensing. Plumbing: CMC-A contractor license for $25,000+; Limited Licensed Plumber (LLP) for projects under $25,000 including materials and labor where state Fire Marshal inspects (T.C.A. 62-6-401). HVAC: CMC-C contractor for $25,000+; under $25,000 local. No handyman carve-out beyond these thresholds.

Source: tn.gov · tn.gov · tn.gov · checked November 2, 2026

Insurance and bond

Contractor: GL and workers' comp proof required; 'Bonding is not required to obtain a contractor's license' except new optional surety bond (>=50% of requested monetary limit) in lieu of financial statement from July 1, 2026.

Source: tn.gov · tn.gov · checked November 2, 2026

City and county rules

Mixed: state licenses $25,000+ contracting; under $25,000 is largely local (cities/counties may require local licenses, permits, and for electrical/plumbing local licensing where the state Fire Marshal does not inspect). Home improvement licensing applies only in counties that opted in under T.C.A. 62-6-516.

Source: tn.gov · checked November 2, 2026

What a handyman should charge in Tennessee

Statewide planning estimate: $70 to $96 an hour. It's an estimate from public data, not the market rate. City pages use local wages when we can match them.

StepLow endHigh end
Your pay (employee wage for this work in Tennessee)$47,240
median		$59,040
top quarter starts here
Overhead ($33,148 national, adjusted to local prices at 91.9)$30,453$30,453
Profit 15% + PTO 10% + warranty 3% + business taxes 12%+40%+40%
Yearly total to cover$108,771$125,291
Billed hours a year (hours on the job × 52)30 × 52 = 1,56025 × 52 = 1,300
Hourly rate$70$96

Run your own numbers in the free calculator.

Tennessee places we cover (61)

Rules change. This page shows what official sources said on the dates above. It is not legal advice.