Handyman License Requirements in Rutherford County, TN
Rutherford County (county): County Clerk business license ($15) for businesses located in the county grossing over $3,000; businesses located in Murfreesboro, Smyrna, La Vergne or Eagleville also need that city's business tax license. No 'City of Rutherford' exists in Rutherford County.
Rutherford County requirements
Rutherford County (county): County Clerk business license ($15) for businesses located in the county grossing over $3,000; businesses located in Murfreesboro, Smyrna, La Vergne or Eagleville also need that city's business tax license. No 'City of Rutherford' exists in Rutherford County.
Source link: rutherfordcountytn.gov · murfreesborotn.gov · checked November 2, 2026
County business license
Required
- Name: Rutherford County Business License (business tax), plus city business tax license if located in Murfreesboro, Smyrna, La Vergne or Eagleville
- Office: Rutherford County Clerk - Business Tax Department
- Fee: $15 initial; minimal activity license $15/yr for gross $3,000-$99,999
"any business located in Rutherford County, Tennessee that has a total gross income of over $3,000.00 in a tax year is required to obtain a Rutherford County Business License"
Source: rutherfordcountytn.gov · checked November 2, 2026
Local contractor or handyman license
Our check could not confirm this from an official page, so we don't state it. Ask the city or county office.
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 Rutherford County 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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