Handyman License Requirements in Knoxville, TN
Business located in Knoxville: City of Knoxville business license (Business Tax Office, 400 Main St Ste 453, 865-215-2083) + Knox County business license (County Clerk, 865-215-2392), $15 each; minimal activity license if gross < $100,000. To pull permits: register with City Plans Review & Inspections (permits.knoxvilletn.gov/Register-To-Pull-A-Permit); electrical/gas/mechanical/plumbing work needs a City trade license.
Knoxville requirements
Business located in Knoxville: City of Knoxville business license (Business Tax Office, 400 Main St Ste 453, 865-215-2083) + Knox County business license (County Clerk, 865-215-2392), $15 each; minimal activity license if gross < $100,000. To pull permits: register with City Plans Review & Inspections (permits.knoxvilletn.gov/Register-To-Pull-A-Permit); electrical/gas/mechanical/plumbing work needs a City trade license.
Source link: cdnsm5-hosted.civiclive.com · knoxcounty.org · knoxcounty.org · checked November 2, 2026
Local business license
Required
- Name: City of Knoxville business license (standard or minimal activity) AND Knox County business tax license
- Office: City of Knoxville Business Tax Office, 400 Main St Ste 453, (865) 215-2083; Knox County Clerk Business Tax Division, (865) 215-2392
- Fee: $15 application fee each (city and county); minimal activity license if sales < $100,000/yr ($15 renewal)
"A business located inside the city limits will require both a City of Knoxville and a Knox County business license. Based on your expected yearly gross receipts, either a standard business license or a minimum activity license should be obtained. The application fee for each is $15.00."
Source: cdnsm5-hosted.civiclive.com · checked November 2, 2026
Local contractor or handyman license
Required
- Name: City of Knoxville permit registration / City trade license (Plans Review & Inspections)
- Trigger: Anyone applying for a permit in the City must be associated with a registration; sub-trade permits (electrical, gas, mechanical, plumbing, low-voltage) require a City trade license first
"The City of Knoxville requires anyone who applies for a permit to be associated with a registration based on their qualifications. Different types of work will require particular registration types, occasionally in conjunction with a State of Tennessee license. ... In order to obtain sub-trade permits for properties located within the City of Knoxville, you must first obtain a City trade license."
Source: permits.knoxvilletn.gov · checked November 2, 2026
County: Knox County
The Tennessee rule
Regulator: 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)
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'. 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."
State 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
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.
What to do, in order
- Read the Tennessee rule and confirm with 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).
- Line up the Knoxville items listed on this page.
- Get your insurance and rate in place before the first paid job.
Nearby places
Rules change. This page shows what official sources said on the dates above. It is not legal advice.
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