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Handyman License Requirements in Smyrna, TN

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

Town of Smyrna (not City) business tax license ($15) AND Rutherford County Clerk business license ($15/yr) are both required for businesses in Smyrna; Town office 315 S. Lowry St, 615-459-2553. Permits require a TN state contractor/home improvement license or homeowner affidavit.

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Smyrna requirements

Town of Smyrna (not City) business tax license ($15) AND Rutherford County Clerk business license ($15/yr) are both required for businesses in Smyrna; Town office 315 S. Lowry St, 615-459-2553. Permits require a TN state contractor/home improvement license or homeowner affidavit.

Source link: townofsmyrna.org · townofsmyrna.org · rutherfordcountytn.gov · checked November 2, 2026

Local business license

Required

  • Name: Town of Smyrna Business (Tax) License PLUS Rutherford County Business License
  • Office: Town of Smyrna business license office, 315 S. Lowry St, 615-459-2553; Rutherford County Clerk, 615-898-7800 ext. 2
  • Fee: $15 initial; minimal-activity (gross under $100,000) renewed by annual $15 fee to city and county
"All businesses are required to have a Town of Smyrna Business License and must also have a Rutherford County Business License."

Source: townofsmyrna.org · checked November 2, 2026

Local contractor or handyman license

None found on official sources

  • Name: No town contractor license found; Building Safety requires a State of Tennessee Contractor's License (or Home Improvement/LLE/LLP) for permits (state-level)
  • Trigger: Building permit; homeowner permits only with notarized homeowner affidavit
"State of Tennessee Contractor's License (or Home Improvement/LLE/LLP)"

Source: townofsmyrna.org · checked November 2, 2026

County: Rutherford 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)

$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'. 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

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.

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

What to do, in order

  1. 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).
  2. Line up the Smyrna items listed on this page.
  3. 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.