- No state contractor license is needed for roofing under $25,000. In Bradley, Davidson, Hamilton, Haywood, Knox, Marion, Robertson, Rutherford and Shelby counties, residential roofing from $3,000 to $24,999 needs a home improvement license.
- Experience is required for BC sub-categories like BC-21, but the board pages do not give a number of years. You need a reference letter from a past client, employer or code official who is not family. Home improvement applicants show remodeling experience.
- Plan for a business and law exam.
- A CPA reviewed financial statement (audited above a $3,000,000 limit) less than 12 months old, or a contractor surety bond equal to at least 50% of the monetary limit requested. Home improvement licensees need a $10,000 surety bond or other financial security.
- Contractor renewal is $200, and the renew option shows up in your online account 90 days before expiration. There is a 12-month grace period with a $20 monthly late fee. Home improvement renewal is also $200, with a 3-month grace period.
Do you need a state license in Tennessee?
Tennessee licenses some roofing work at the state level and leaves the rest alone. Which side of that line a job falls on decides whether you need the state license.
No state contractor license is needed for roofing under $25,000. In Bradley, Davidson, Hamilton, Haywood, Knox, Marion, Robertson, Rutherford and Shelby counties, residential roofing from $3,000 to $24,999 needs a home improvement license.
The home improvement license applies only in Bradley, Davidson, Hamilton, Haywood, Knox, Marion, Robertson, Rutherford and Shelby counties. You also need a business tax license for each city or county where you work.
Tennessee license types for roofing work
Tennessee splits the work into 3 licenses. Pick the one that matches the jobs you take, since working outside its scope is the same as working without one.
| License | What it covers |
|---|---|
| BC-21 | Roofing over $25,000, including gutters and vinyl siding. No trade exam, but the Business and Law exam and experience are required |
| BC-12 | Roof decks |
| Home Improvement | Residential remodeling, including roofing, from $3,000 to $24,999 in counties that adopted the law |
Steps to get licensed in Tennessee
- Check your job sizes and county. Roofing of $25,000 or more needs the contractor license.
- Pass the Tennessee Business and Law exam through Prov.
- Get a CPA reviewed financial statement, or a surety bond of at least half your limit.
- Buy general liability insurance and set up workers comp or an exemption.
- Apply online for the BC-21 classification and pay the $250 fee.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. Experience is required for BC sub-categories like BC-21, but the board pages do not give a number of years. You need a reference letter from a past client, employer or code official who is not family. Home improvement applicants show remodeling experience.
The license to apply for. Contractor license with the BC-21 (roofing) classification, or a home improvement license for $3,000 to $24,999 home jobs in covered counties.
Tennessee roofing exams
Trade exam. No trade exam for up to five building sub-categories such as BC-21.
Business and law exam. Yes. Every contractor license except BC-A/r needs the open-book Tennessee Business and Law exam, given by Prov from July 1, 2026.
What it costs in Tennessee
The board lists 5 fees along the way. These are the state's own numbers. Insurance, any bond, exam prep and your business registration come on top.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Contractor initial application | $250 |
| Contractor renewal | $200 |
| Contractor late renewal penalty | $20 per month, up to 12 months |
| Home improvement initial application | $250 |
| Home improvement renewal | $200 |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. General liability and workers comp (or a valid exemption) are required. Minimum general liability is $100,000 for a monetary limit up to $500,000, $500,000 for $500,001 to $1,500,000, and $1,000,000 above that. Home improvement licensees need general liability and workers comp too.
Bond. A CPA reviewed financial statement (audited above a $3,000,000 limit) less than 12 months old, or a contractor surety bond equal to at least 50% of the monetary limit requested. Home improvement licensees need a $10,000 surety bond or other financial security.
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. Contractor renewal is $200, and the renew option shows up in your online account 90 days before expiration. There is a 12-month grace period with a $20 monthly late fee. Home improvement renewal is also $200, with a 3-month grace period.
Reciprocity. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Good to know in Tennessee
- Roofing is an exception to the usual subcontractor rule. When the roofing portion of a project reaches $25,000, both the prime contractor and the roofing subcontractor may need a license.
After you are licensed
The license lets you take the work. Getting the work is the next job.
- Register the business. If you work under a name other than your own, register it where your state asks (often the Secretary of State, sometimes the county), and keep the name the same on your license, your truck and your invoices.
- Claim your Google Business Profile. It is the listing people see when they search for a roofer near them. Fill in your service area, hours and real photos of your work.
- Put up a website that shows the license. Customers look for it before they call. Koira builds a contractor website for you and keeps it current.
- See where you stand. The free Koira report checks how your business shows up in search and on maps against shops near you.
Where this comes from
Every fact on this page comes from the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance, Board for Licensing Contractors and the official pages below, checked October 8, 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm with the board before you file.
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