{"article":{"id":209639597,"url":"https://tdcihelp.zendesk.com/api/v2/help_center/en-us/articles/209639597.json","html_url":"https://support.commerce.tn.gov/hc/en-us/articles/209639597-Subcontractors-Who-is-Required-to-be-Licensed","author_id":1766604167,"comments_disabled":true,"draft":false,"promoted":false,"position":0,"vote_sum":11,"vote_count":27,"upvote_count":19,"downvote_count":8,"section_id":360009626994,"created_at":"2015-09-10T20:29:33Z","updated_at":"2026-11-10T17:47:10Z","name":"Subcontractors/Who is Required to be Licensed","title":"Subcontractors/Who is Required to be Licensed","source_locale":"en-us","locale":"en-us","outdated":false,"outdated_locales":[],"edited_at":"2026-04-10T20:55:02Z","user_segment_id":null,"permission_group_id":332907,"content_tag_ids":[],"label_names":["Subcontractors","AB.CON"],"body":"<p>NOTICE! A Tennessee contractor's license is required BEFORE bidding or offering a price, for projects $25,000 and up (includes materials and labor), as a prime (general) contractor; and also subcontractors performing electrical, mechanical, plumbing, HVAC, roofing and masonry are also required to be licensed as a contractor, when the total portion on the project is $25,000 or more; masonry, when $100,000 or more. In addition, a sub to a sub would need to be licensed whenever there are more than one (1) subcontractors on the project. Reciprocal agreements do NOT allow using another state's license in Tennessee, but provides a trade exam waiver, only. License issuance takes 4 to 6 weeks.</p><p>A Contractor's license is required prior to contracting (bidding, offering to engage, or negotiating a price) for projects $25,000 or more, when acting as one of the following:</p><p>Prime (General) Contractor - Bidding or contracting directly with the “owner” of the project;<br>Subcontractor – Contracting directly with any contractor (not to the owner) to perform projects when the total cost of that portion on the project is *$25,000 or more, for the following (includes all materials, equipment, and labor):<br>Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing, HVAC, and **Roofing; and<br>Masonry when *$100,000 and up<br>Construction Management – When the value of the total project is $25,000 or more.<br>*Masonry subcontractors must be licensed as a contractor when the project is $100,000 or more.</p><p>**Roofing subcontractors must be licensed as a contractor, effective January 1, 2014, in addition to performing work currently as a prime, for projects $25,000 or more.</p><p>The definition of contractor is found in the statute at T.C.A. § 62-6-102 and covers a very broad area, which includes construction, installation, movement, repair, etc. Other \"subcontractors\"; such as flooring, landscaping, fencing and concrete, are not required to be licensed unless they bid directly to the owner. <em>Those bidding directly to the owner are considered “prime” contractors and are required to obtain a license for projects of $25,000 and more.</em></p><p><strong><span class=\"wysiwyg-underline\">If a licensed prime contractor subcontracts to a licensed electrical contractor, can the electrical subcontractor subcontract to another electrical contractor who is not licensed?</span></strong></p><p>No. All of the electrical subcontractors are required to be licensed, as well as, any subcontractors performing mechanical, plumbing, HVAC, roofing or masonry projects. In other words, a sub to a sub to a sub, all have to be licensed.</p><p> </p>","user_segment_ids":[]}}