Contractor license
Can this contractor take on this work?
Search the exact business name or license number. Match active status, expiration date, work classification and monetary limit to the proposed contract.
Open Tennessee license search ↗CLEAR RECORDS. BETTER QUESTIONS.
Check a Builder’s
License.
Get to know the builder behind your project. Review contractor licensing, qualifications and permit history, and understand what the official records tell you.
Independent guide • Sources reviewed October 28, 2026 • Official records open on the agency’s website.
Builder’s legal identity
Does the builder’s legal name match the contract?
Search the entity’s legal name in Tennessee’s TNCaB portal. Review its status, registered agent and filing history. A business record is separate from a contractor license.
Check the builder’s legal name ↗Qualifying agent
Who qualified the contractor for its license?
Use the Board’s contractor and qualifying-agent dashboard. Match the person to the licensed entity; an exam pass alone is not an issued contractor license.
Check qualifying-agent records ↗FOLLOW THE PROPERTY RECORD
Find the permit.
Check where it stands.
Search Nashville / Davidson County construction and trade permits, review activity, and inspections. Public permit searches do not require a contractor login.
Search permits & check active status
Look up a specific property in Metro ePermits. Open the permit record to check its current status, signoffs and inspections.
Open public permit search ↗View issued building permits
Browse Metro’s map and records of issued building permits. Confirm the current status in ePermits; an issued record does not necessarily mean work is still active.
View issued permits ↗View active permit applications
See building-permit applications that have not yet been issued. An active application is still a request, not permission to begin construction.
View active applications ↗How to search in ePermits
- Select Permit above the search bar.
- Choose Address, Permit#, APN (parcel number), Owner or Contractor.
- Enter the details and search. Use Advanced to narrow the results.
- Open the matching permit and review its status, scope, signoffs and inspection results. Look for Available Reports in the Permit Summary for related reports.
Read the current record
Application activity, permit issuance and completed inspections are different stages. For an active job, confirm the record is current and covers the work you are checking. Ask Metro Codes when a status or inspection result is unclear.
The Planning Development Tracker follows planning applications; use these Codes tools for building permits.
Official permit records & help ↗Codes reports moved away from the older document portal in May 2026. Start with ePermits for current permit information.
Official Metro links checked October 28, 2026. Records open at their source; this page does not maintain a separate live permit database.
TENNESSEE LICENSING, EXPLAINED
Yes—$25,000
includes exactly $25,000.
For the standard owner-hired construction contract, the state contractor license is required before bidding, price negotiation or contracting. Include materials and labor, not just the amount of the deposit. State rule ↗
Direct contracts & construction management
Check an active Tennessee contractor license for the appropriate work. Construction management uses the total project value, not merely the manager’s fee.
Residential improvements in Davidson County
Generally require a Home Improvement license or an appropriate state contractor license. This includes covered repairs, alterations and remodeling; the home-improvement rule also applies in eight other adopting counties. County list & scope ↗
Smaller work still needs a scope check
Electrical, plumbing, HVAC and other work may require local or limited licensing and permits. LLE means Limited Licensed Electrician; LLP means Limited Licensed Plumber. Check Metro’s local rules before relying on either. A small budget does not automatically mean “no license needed.” Metro contractor requirements ↗
Subcontractors have their own thresholds
Electrical, mechanical, plumbing, HVAC and roofing portions trigger state contractor licensing at $25,000; masonry at $100,000. Include materials, equipment and labor for that portion. Other subcontract scopes are treated differently. Someone hired directly by the owner is a prime contractor for this purpose. Read the distinctions ↗
A SIMPLE EXAMPLE
$18,000 in labor + $9,000 in materials = a $27,000 project.
Paying separately for materials does not turn the whole job into an $18,000 job. Do not split a project into smaller contracts or phases to avoid licensing requirements. Ask the Board how to count an unusual arrangement.
A QUICK STARTING POINT
Which license should I check?
For a Nashville / Davidson County project. Use the full project cost for a direct contract or construction management, and the full trade portion for a subcontract.
Educational guidance for ordinary hiring situations. Owner-builder exemptions, public highway work and unusual scopes need direct agency review. This tool does not verify anyone’s license.
SIMILAR WORDS. DIFFERENT JOBS.
“Agent” can mean several things.
Licensed contractor
The person or business authorized by the state to contract within an issued scope and monetary limit. Match the license to the name on your agreement.
Registered agent
The designated person or company that receives legal documents for a business. The agent may be a service company or another representative; the listing alone does not establish ownership, building qualifications or day-to-day project responsibility.
Qualifying agent (QA)
The person designated to take the contractor licensing exams for the applicant entity. This may be an owner, officer or full-time employee. The QA and registered agent serve different purposes.
Real estate agent or broker
A separately licensed professional for real estate services. A real estate license does not substitute for a contractor license. Check that credential separately in Tennessee’s license search.
Read more: Secretary of State’s registered-agent explanation · Board’s qualifying-agent explanation. Neither listing is a review of construction quality.
FOLLOW THE RECORD, NOT THE ASSUMPTION
Six checks before you commit.
Match the legal names.
Compare the proposal, contract, license, business record and insurance certificate. Similar names may belong to different entities. Ask the business to explain discrepancies.
Read the scope and dollar limit.
An active license alone does not cover every kind or size of job. “Full BC” is a set of building classifications, not automatically an unlimited budget. Compare classifications ↗
Check the permit and project contact.
Match the address and permit applicant to the actual project. Ask who is managing the job and handling inspections. A registered agent is not automatically that contact. Search permits & check active status ↗
Confirm current insurance.
Request liability coverage and workers’ compensation documentation or an applicable exemption. Confirm the named insured and coverage dates with the insurance provider.
Review history fairly.
Check references, available disciplinary records and the Board’s complaint information. A filed complaint is an allegation, not a finding. A missing search result is a reason to clarify the name and status—not proof of wrongdoing. Board records & help ↗
Keep a dated record.
Save the agency result, written scope, payment schedule, change-order process and warranties. Recheck before signing; records and license status can change.
COMMON POINTS OF CONFUSION
What the records don’t mean.
Does an active LLC mean an active contractor license?
No. Business formation, local business licensing, professional licensing and project permits are separate checks. A Secretary of State control number is not a contractor license number.
Is the registered agent the owner or developer?
Not necessarily. The agent receives legal documents. For project accountability, ask for the property owner, contracting entity and authorized project representative. Use the parcel and deed records to research ownership. County records guide ↗
Can a contractor use another person’s license?
Match the exact licensed entity to the contract. A qualifier’s name, another company’s license or an out-of-state credential does not by itself establish Tennessee contracting authority for the business you are hiring. Ask the Board to resolve the relationship before relying on it.
Has Smart Girl Developments received its full BC license?
Our company-reported status is: state exam passed; remaining licensing steps in progress. Full BC licensure has not yet been issued. Work requiring contractor licensure is handled by appropriately licensed contractors. See our licensing journey ↗
Where can I raise a licensing concern?
Contact the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors at 615.741.8307 or contractors.home-improvement@tn.gov. Official complaint process ↗. Send evidence through the official process; do not assume a record mismatch proves misconduct.
General education, not a legal determination or endorsement. The Board and Metro Codes determine requirements for a particular scope. Tennessee consumer guidance · Metro permit requirements. This guide does not certify builders or collect lookup results.
LET’S DEVELOP.
Build your team on a clearer foundation.
A property address helps. A good question is enough to begin.