Do I need a licensed contractor for a kitchen remodel in Davidson County?

Davidson County is on the home improvement list. A home repair or remodel job over $3,000 there needs a state home improvement license, unless the worker has a state contractor license. A project of $25,000 or more needs a state contractor license.

Can a handyman fix a leaky faucet in Tennessee?

State law doesn't require the limited plumbing license for small fixture repairs when the labor costs $500 or less. Your city or county may have its own rules, so ask your local codes office.

Can I build my own house in Tennessee?

The State Fire Marshal's Office says an owner may build a single home for their own use once every two years. No contractor license is needed, but it can't be for sale, lease, or rent.

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Who can fix it in Tennessee? Handyman and contractor license rules

Checked October 20, 2026 against Tennessee law and state agency pages · General information, not legal advice

The short answer: In some Tennessee counties, a home repair or remodel job over $3,000 needs a state home improvement license. A worker with a state contractor license can do it too. Elsewhere, only jobs of $25,000 or more need a contractor license.

“Any home improvement for which the contract price is three thousand dollars ($3,000) or less” — 2007 Tenn. Pub. Acts ch. 460, § 62-6-501(5)(B)(ii)

What that means for your job

The counties are Bradley, Davidson, and Hamilton. The list also has Haywood, Knox, and Marion. It ends with Robertson, Rutherford, and Shelby.
In those counties, putting in central heat or AC also counts as home improvement.
In those counties too, a job of $25,000 or more needs a full contractor license.
Paid electrical and plumbing work may need a state limited license or a city or county license. Ask your local codes office.
You can build or fix your own home if it's not for sale, rent, or lease. Permits still apply.

Trades that need a license in Tennessee

General building: A state contractor license is needed when a project's total cost is $25,000 or more. Under a new law, that total counts all labor, materials, and profit, no matter who pays or how many contracts there are. (TN Board for Licensing Contractors, Contractor license page; TDCI news release, Contractor Fraud Awareness Week (May 16, 2025): license rules; 2026 Tenn. Pub. Acts ch. 1039, § 23 (adds "total cost" to T.C.A. § 62-6-102))
Home improvement (some counties): Some counties require a home improvement license for home repair or remodel jobs over $3,000. The board lists Bradley, Davidson, Hamilton, Haywood, and Knox. It also lists Marion, Robertson, Rutherford, and Shelby. Other counties can vote to join. Workers with a state contractor license, or a trade license for the work, don't need it. (2007 Tenn. Pub. Acts ch. 460, § 62-6-501(5)(B)(ii); TN Board for Licensing Contractors, Home Improvement Contractor page; Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0680-07-.14; 2007 Tenn. Pub. Acts ch. 460, § 62-6-505(a)(1)-(2); 2007 Tenn. Pub. Acts ch. 460, § 62-6-505(a)(4))
Electrical: Where the state does the inspections, electricians need a state limited license (LLE) for jobs under $25,000. Some cities and counties have their own license. (TN Board for Licensing Contractors, Limited Licensed Electrician page; 2007 Tenn. Pub. Acts ch. 460, § 62-6-503(a))
Plumbing: Where the state handles permits or inspections, plumbers need a state limited license (LLP) for jobs under $25,000. Small appliance and fixture repairs don't need it when the labor costs $500 or less. (TN Board for Licensing Contractors, Limited Licensed Plumber page; 2007 Tenn. Pub. Acts ch. 54 (general maintenance work); 2007 Tenn. Pub. Acts ch. 460, § 62-6-503(a))
Heating and air conditioning: HVAC work of $25,000 or more needs a state contractor license. Cities and counties may license this work too. In the home improvement counties, a central heat or AC job over $3,000 needs a home improvement license. Installers with a state contractor license, or a state or local trade license, don't need it. (TN Board for Licensing Contractors, Contractor license page; 2007 Tenn. Pub. Acts ch. 460, § 62-6-503(a); 2007 Tenn. Pub. Acts ch. 460, § 62-6-501(5)(A) (home improvement defined); 2007 Tenn. Pub. Acts ch. 460, § 62-6-501(5)(B)(ii); 2007 Tenn. Pub. Acts ch. 460, § 62-6-505(a)(1)-(2); 2007 Tenn. Pub. Acts ch. 460, § 62-6-505(a)(4))
Roofing: A state contractor license is needed when the roofing part of a project is $25,000 or more. In the home improvement counties, home roofing jobs over $3,000 need a home improvement license. A roofer with a state contractor license doesn't need it. (TN Board for Licensing Contractors, Contractor license page; 2007 Tenn. Pub. Acts ch. 460, § 62-6-501(5)(A) (home improvement defined); 2007 Tenn. Pub. Acts ch. 460, § 62-6-501(5)(B)(ii); 2007 Tenn. Pub. Acts ch. 460, § 62-6-505(a)(4))

Before you sign with a contractor

In the home improvement counties, a home improvement contract must be in writing. It must list the contractor's license number.
It can't have blank spaces to be filled in after you sign.
A home improvement contractor can't ask for payment before you sign. They also can't take a deposit of more than 1/3 of the price when you sign, with a few exceptions.
The state's advice for any project: don't pay more than 1/3 of the cost up front. Get the payment terms in writing.
State officials say the felony theft law covers a contractor who takes money and doesn't do the work within 90 days. You can report it to local police.

Sources: (2007 Tenn. Pub. Acts ch. 460, § 62-6-508(a)(1)-(2); 2007 Tenn. Pub. Acts ch. 460, § 62-6-508(a)(3); 2007 Tenn. Pub. Acts ch. 460, § 62-6-510(11)-(12); TDCI news release, Contractor Fraud Awareness Week (May 16, 2025): payment tip; TDCI news release, Contractor Fraud Awareness Week (May 16, 2025): theft law)

Doing the work yourself

You can build a single home for your own use without a contractor license once every two years. It can't be for sale, lease, or rent.
Anyone you hire for a part of the job worth $25,000 or more still needs a contractor license.
Where the state handles electrical inspections, you can wire your own home with a homeowner's electrical permit. Only you and your close family may do the work.
You can get one of these permits every 12 months. If fire or a storm destroyed your home, you may get another.
A homeowner doesn't need the state limited plumbing license to do plumbing work on their own home.
Permits and inspections still apply. Ask your city or county codes office.

Sources: (State Fire Marshal's Office, Residential Permit FAQs; Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0780-02-01-.05(2)(a) (rev. July 2025); 2004 Tenn. Pub. Acts ch. 826, § 5 (single residence homeowner); Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0780-02-01-.05(2)(a) (continued))

Check a license in Tennessee

Ask for the license number, then look it up yourself. Check that the name and the license type match the work. See how to check any contractor's license.

Common jobs: who should do them

These are the tool's answers for each job. The Tennessee rules above decide who may do it. Tap a job to see why, where to stop, and what to ask.

Job	Who should do it
Replace a toilet	It depends
Replace a kitchen or bathroom faucet	DIY
Replace a water heater	Pro
Replace a dishwasher	It depends
Replace a light fixture	It depends
Put a ceiling fan where a light was	It depends
Replace an outlet or light switch	It depends
Replace your old thermostat	It depends
Patch a hole in drywall	It depends
Paint a room	It depends
Replace a few cracked ceramic tiles	Handyman
Put in new flooring	It depends
Replace an interior door	It depends
Clean the gutters	It depends
Replace an outside window or door	Pro
Replace the roof	Pro

Common questions

Do I need a licensed contractor for a kitchen remodel in Davidson County?: Davidson County is on the home improvement list. A home repair or remodel job over $3,000 there needs a state home improvement license, unless the worker has a state contractor license. A project of $25,000 or more needs a state contractor license.
Can a handyman fix a leaky faucet in Tennessee?: State law doesn't require the limited plumbing license for small fixture repairs when the labor costs $500 or less. Your city or county may have its own rules, so ask your local codes office.
Can I build my own house in Tennessee?: The State Fire Marshal's Office says an owner may build a single home for their own use once every two years. No contractor license is needed, but it can't be for sale, lease, or rent.

Sources

2007 Tenn. Pub. Acts ch. 460, § 62-6-501(5)(A) (home improvement defined) — Tennessee Secretary of State(A) “Home improvement” means the repair, replacement, remodeling, alteration, conversion, modernization, improvement, or addition to any land or building, or that portion thereof which is used or designed to be used as a residence or dwelling unit for one (1), two (2), three (3), or four (4) dwelling units, and includes the construction, replacement, or improvement of driveways, swimming pools, porches, garages, landscaping, fences, fall-out shelters, roofing, painting and other improvements to structures or upon land which is adjacent to a dwelling house for one (1), two (2), three (3), or four (4) dwelling units. Without regard to the extent of affixation, “home improvement” includes the installation of central heating or air-conditioning systems, storm windows or awnings;
2007 Tenn. Pub. Acts ch. 460, § 62-6-501(5)(B)(ii) — Tennessee Secretary of State(ii) Any home improvement for which the contract price is three thousand dollars ($3,000) or less;
2007 Tenn. Pub. Acts ch. 460, § 62-6-503(a) — Tennessee Secretary of State(a) No county or municipality of this state may require that any person obtain an additional authorization or license to transact home improvement business in such county or city. Nothing contained herein prohibits counties, municipalities or metropolitan governments from requiring licenses for persons performing plumbing work, electrical work or gas and mechanical work.
2007 Tenn. Pub. Acts ch. 460, § 62-6-508(a)(1)-(2) — Tennessee Secretary of State(a) Every home improvement contract shall: (1) Be in legible writing and contain the complete agreement between the owner and the home improvement contractor; (2) State the full names and addresses of all parties, the license number of the home improvement contractor
2007 Tenn. Pub. Acts ch. 460, § 62-6-508(a)(3) — Tennessee Secretary of State(3) Be completed in full without any blank spaces to be filled in after the contract is signed by the owner
2007 Tenn. Pub. Acts ch. 460, § 62-6-510(11)-(12) — Tennessee Secretary of State(11) The demand for or the receipt of any payments prior to the signing of a home improvement contract; (12) Receipt at or before the time of execution of a contract of a deposit of more than one third (1/3) of the contract price, unless:
TN Board for Licensing Contractors, Contractor license page — Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors (Department of Commerce & Insurance)A contractor’s license is required before contracting, including bidding, offering to engage, or negotiating a price, for projects of $25,000 or more when acting as a prime contractor, certain subcontractor, or construction manager/consultant. A prime contractor is one who bids or contracts directly with the owner. Subcontractors must be licensed when contracting directly with a contractor, not the owner, to perform electrical, mechanical, plumbing, HVAC, or roofing work when that portion of the project is $25,000 or more, including materials, equipment, and labor.
TN Board for Licensing Contractors, Home Improvement Contractor page — Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors (Department of Commerce & Insurance)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.
Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0680-07-.14 — Tennessee Secretary of StateThe legislative body of the county may, by two-thirds (2/3) majority vote, adopt the home improvement license law.
2026 Tenn. Pub. Acts ch. 1039, § 23 (adds "total cost" to T.C.A. § 62-6-102) — Tennessee Secretary of State( ) "Total cost" means the aggregate monetary value of all labor, materials, equipment, subcontracted work, overhead, profit, and any other expense associated with a construction project or undertaking, regardless of whether such amounts are paid by the owner, contractor, subcontractor, or any other person, and regardless of whether the work is performed under one (1) or multiple contracts;
TN Board for Licensing Contractors, Limited Licensed Electrician page — Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors (Department of Commerce & Insurance)The Limited Licensed Electrician (LLE) license is only required by electricians performing work in a municipality utilizing the Division of Fire Prevention for permits or inspections and covers work less than $25,000 per project.
TN Board for Licensing Contractors, Limited Licensed Plumber page — Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors (Department of Commerce & Insurance)The Limited Licensed Plumber (LLP) license is only required by plumbers performing work in a municipality utilizing the Division of Fire Prevention for permits or inspections and covers work less than $25,000 per project. Note that general maintenance work that is less than $500 is exempt from the LLP license.
2007 Tenn. Pub. Acts ch. 54 (general maintenance work) — Tennessee Secretary of State“General maintenance work” means installing home appliances and making minor repairs to home appliances and kitchen and bathroom fixtures where the labor cost related to such installation or minor repairs does not exceed five hundred dollars ($500);
State Fire Marshal's Office, Residential Permit FAQs — Tennessee Department of Commerce & InsurancePursuant to TCA § 62-6-103, an owner of property may construct a single residence once every two years for his/her own use, as long as it is not for resale, lease or rent without being a licensed contractor. However, anyone hired by the homeowner whose portion is $25,000 or more would not be exempt from the contractors’ licensing requirements.
Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0780-02-01-.05(2)(a) (rev. July 2025) — Tennessee Secretary of State(a) Any person may perform electrical work (for which an inspection is required) upon his/her own residence provided he/she first applies for and obtains a residential property owner’s electrical permit. This permit shall only extend to the applicant and the immediate members of the applicant’s family. The permit shall not authorize assistance by any other person not duly licensed in accordance with T.C.A. Title 62, Chapter 6. A residential property owner’s permit shall automatically expire upon completion of the work for which the permit was issued. All work done under such permit shall be subject to regular inspection requirements and fees and other applicable laws and regulations. Only one (1) property owner’s permit may be obtained within a twelve (12) month
2004 Tenn. Pub. Acts ch. 826, § 5 (single residence homeowner) — Tennessee Secretary of State(2) Any single residence homeowner is exempt from the limited licensed plumbing requirements of this act for purposes of performing plumbing work on such homeowner’s own residence.
TDCI news release, Contractor Fraud Awareness Week (May 16, 2025): license rules — Tennessee Department of Commerce & InsuranceIn Tennessee, a contractor’s license is required before bidding or price negotiations when the total cost of the project is $25,000 or more.
TDCI news release, Contractor Fraud Awareness Week (May 16, 2025): payment tip — Tennessee Department of Commerce & InsuranceGenerally, do not pay more than 1/3 of the cost of a project upfront. Make sure you have the terms of payment in writing.
TDCI news release, Contractor Fraud Awareness Week (May 16, 2025): theft law — Tennessee Department of Commerce & InsuranceConsumers should remember that Tennessee's felony theft law covers consumers whenever a contractor takes money and fails to perform work within 90 days. Pursuant to T.C.A. § 39-14-105, consumers may contact local law enforcement and file charges to prosecute the contractor for theft.
2007 Tenn. Pub. Acts ch. 460, § 62-6-505(a)(1)-(2) — Tennessee Secretary of State(a) No home improvement contractor's license may be required of any person when acting in the particular capacity or particular type of transaction set forth in this section: (1) An individual who performs labor or services for a home improvement contractor or subcontractor, for wages or salary; (2) A plumber, electrician, architect or any other such person who is required by state or local law to attain standards of competency or experience as a prerequisite to engaging in such craft or profession, and who is acting exclusively within the scope of the craft or profession for which such person is currently licensed pursuant to such other law. The installation of central heating or air-conditioning systems by such a person shall be deemed within the scope of such person's craft or profession;
2007 Tenn. Pub. Acts ch. 460, § 62-6-505(a)(4) — Tennessee Secretary of State(4) Any residential or commercial contractor who holds a valid license issued pursuant to this chapter and is engaged in contracting within the terms and conditions of such license;
Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0780-02-01-.05(2)(a) (continued) — Tennessee Secretary of Stateperiod unless the property owner can establish loss of his/her home by fire, windstorm, etc.;

Checked October 20, 2026. We used AI-assisted research, then separate review passes that tried to prove each claim wrong against the law and agency pages above. This is general information, not legal advice. Rules can change; confirm with the state board or your local building department before you hire or start work. See a mistake? Email [email protected].

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