Tennessee Contractor License Lookup

The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance (TDCI) maintains a public database where anyone can verify a contractor's license status, classification, monetary limit, and expiration date. Property owners use it before hiring. General contractors use it to verify subcontractors. And bidding authorities use it to confirm credentials before awarding contracts.

How to Search the Database

The TDCI license verification system is accessible through the Board for Licensing Contractors section of tn.gov. You can search by:

• Company name — the exact legal name on the license (not a DBA unless separately registered)
• License number — the fastest lookup if you have the number from a bid document or contract
• Individual name — searches for the Qualifying Agent associated with a license

The database returns the license status (active, expired, revoked, retired), the classification codes, the monetary limit, and the expiration date.

What the Results Tell You

License Status

Active means the contractor is legally authorized to bid and contract at their stated monetary limit. Expired means they have missed their renewal deadline — they cannot legally contract for projects at $25,000 or above, even if they are in the 12-month grace period. Revoked means the Board has taken disciplinary action.

Monetary Limit

This is the maximum value for any single project the contractor can take. It is calculated at 10 times the lesser of working capital or net worth, based on their most recent financial documentation. Licensed contractors receive a 10% bidding tolerance above this number; unlicensed individuals do not.

Classification Codes

Each code maps to a specific type of work — BC-A (residential), BC-B (commercial), CMC (mechanical), CE (electrical), and others. A contractor can hold multiple classifications on a single license. The classification must cover at least 60% of the total project value for the work they are bidding on.

Why Verification Matters

Tennessee law requires contractors to list their license number, classification, and expiration date on bid envelopes and within digital bid portals. Bidding authorities check these against the TDCI database — a mismatch or an expired license disqualifies the bid immediately.

For property owners, hiring an unlicensed contractor for work above $25,000 creates real problems. Unlicensed contractors cannot enforce contracts in Tennessee courts to recover unpaid balances — but that also means the property owner has limited legal recourse if the work goes wrong, since the contract itself may be unenforceable.

General contractors need current license details for subcontractors working on projects at the $25,000 threshold, including the applicable classification and monetary limit. Failing to check those credentials can create bid and compliance problems.

Checking Local Credentials Separately

The TDCI database covers state-level contractor licenses only. It does not show:

• Home Improvement licenses (required in nine counties for residential work between $3,000 and $24,999)
• Local business licenses or tax registrations
• Municipal building permits
• Limited Licensed Electrician (LLE) or Limited Licensed Plumber (LLP) credentials in jurisdictions that issue their own

Nashville's Metro Codes and Memphis's Develop 901 portal maintain separate contractor registration databases for their local permit requirements.

If you are navigating the licensing process yourself, the Tennessee General Contractor License Guide includes a verification checklist for confirming that your application materials, insurance, and entity registration all match before you submit — the mismatches the Board catches most often.

See more Tennessee guides →