Tennessee Roofer License Requirements

Official classification: Contractor License, BC classification (Roofing is building category 21, includes gutters and vinyl siding) · Issued by the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors (Department of Commerce & Insurance).

🏠 RooferTN ✔ Verified 2026-09-30

In Tennessee, roofers must hold the Contractor License, BC classification (Roofing is building category 21, includes gutters and vinyl siding), issued by the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors (Department of Commerce & Insurance), and no state surety bond is required. Full requirements — experience, exams, fees, insurance, renewal and reciprocity — are detailed below.

How to become a licensed roofer in Tennessee

Follow these steps to earn your Contractor License, BC classification (Roofing is building category 21, includes gutters and vinyl siding). Every figure is verified against the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors (Department of Commerce & Insurance); full detail for each step is further down the page.

Build the required experience. Tennessee sets no fixed statutory number of years; experience is evaluated with the financial statement to set the monetary limit.
Pass the Building (BC) trade exam covering the roofing category and Tennessee Business and Law exam exams. Providers, passing scores and fees are in the Exams section below.
Check the insurance rules. Liability: General liability insurance required (proof at application and each renewal); no fixed minimum dollar amount is published for the full Contractor license. Property damage: Covered under the general liability policy. Workers' compensation: Required if you have employees; a certificate of coverage or an approved exemption is required at renewal.
Clear the background check. No statewide fingerprint-based background check for the Contractor license.
Meet the credit / financial requirement. Monetary-limit financial statement required: the limit is the lesser of 10x net worth or 10x working capital. A self-prepared statement is accepted for monetary limits up to $1,500,000; above $1,500,000 a CPA/LPA reviewed statement is required (acceptable up to $3,000,000) and an audited statement above $3,000,000 (an unlimited license also requires $300,000+ in both working capital and net worth).
Submit your application and fees. Apply through the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors (Department of Commerce & Insurance) — $250 (application and initial license; Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0680-01-.20) application fee, plus a Included in the application fee license fee. Processing time: Variable; the Board reviews applications at its scheduled meetings.
Keep the license active. Renewal: Every 2 years.

Tennessee roofer license lookup

To confirm a roofer is properly licensed in Tennessee — or to check the status of your own license — search the issuing agency's official license database. The record shows whether the license is active and in good standing.

Verify a license now: Search the official search.cloud.commerce.tn.gov database →

License types

Contractor License - BC (Building Construction), Roofing category — Roofing is not its own classification code; it is a building category under the BC classification (category 21: 'Roofing - includes gutters and vinyl siding'). A Contractor license is required before bidding or contracting roofing work where the total cost is $25,000 or more.

Requirements at a glance

Experience required	Tennessee sets no fixed statutory number of years; experience is evaluated with the financial statement to set the monetary limit.
Application fee	$250 (application and initial license; Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0680-01-.20)
License fee	Included in the application fee
Renewal fee	$200
Renewal period	Every 2 years
Continuing education	None if the roofing license is held under the BC-B, BC-C or full BC classification. If it is held under the residential BC-A, BC-A/r or BC-A,b(sm) classification, 8 hours of Board-approved Residential Continuing Education are required every 2 years before renewal (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0680-09-.02).
Bond required	No statewide contractor surety bond is required for the full Contractor license.
Liability insurance	General liability insurance required (proof at application and each renewal); no fixed minimum dollar amount is published for the full Contractor license
Property damage	Covered under the general liability policy
Workers' comp	Required if you have employees; a certificate of coverage or an approved exemption is required at renewal
Background check	No statewide fingerprint-based background check for the Contractor license.
Credit requirement	Monetary-limit financial statement required: the limit is the lesser of 10x net worth or 10x working capital. A self-prepared statement is accepted for monetary limits up to $1,500,000; above $1,500,000 a CPA/LPA reviewed statement is required (acceptable up to $3,000,000) and an audited statement above $3,000,000 (an unlimited license also requires $300,000+ in both working capital and net worth).
Reciprocity	Tennessee's trade-exam waiver for Building (BC), which covers the roofing category, applies with Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina and West Virginia, and with South Carolina for commercial work only. The waiver covers only the trade exam, not the Business and Law exam, and does not replace a Tennessee license. · compare all states
Processing time	Variable; the Board reviews applications at its scheduled meetings.

What a Tennessee roofer license costs

Application fee	$250 (application and initial license; Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0680-01-.20).
License fee	Included in the application fee.
Building (BC) trade exam covering the roofing category	$53 per exam, whether a first attempt or a retake.
Tennessee Business and Law exam	$53.
Surety bond	No statewide contractor surety bond is required for the full Contractor license.
Renewal fee	$200.
Renewal period	Every 2 years.

Exams

Building (BC) trade exam covering the roofing category	Provider: Prov (took over from PSI on July 1, 2026) · Passing: 73% (the Board's published passing standard for every contractor exam) · Fee: $53 per exam, whether a first attempt or a retake
Tennessee Business and Law exam	Provider: Prov (took over from PSI on July 1, 2026) · Passing: 73% · Fee: $53

Renewing a Tennessee roofer license

The Contractor License, BC classification (Roofing is building category 21, includes gutters and vinyl siding) renews on a fixed cycle set by the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors (Department of Commerce & Insurance). Late and lapsed renewals are handled differently by every board, so check the renewal page linked below before the deadline passes.

Renewal period	Every 2 years
Renewal fee	$200
Continuing education	None if the roofing license is held under the BC-B, BC-C or full BC classification. If it is held under the residential BC-A, BC-A/r or BC-A,b(sm) classification, 8 hours of Board-approved Residential Continuing Education are required every 2 years before renewal (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0680-09-.02).
Where to renew	Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors (Department of Commerce & Insurance)

Local / municipal notes

Roofing under $25,000 may instead fall under a local Home Improvement license in the 9 Home Improvement counties. Confirm the building-category designation with the Board when applying.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Tennessee roofer license cost?

Application: $250 (application and initial license; Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0680-01-.20). License: Included in the application fee. Renewal: $200.

How do I look up a roofer license in Tennessee?

Search the official license database at search.cloud.commerce.tn.gov. The record shows whether the license is active and in good standing.

Do roofers in Tennessee need a surety bond?

No statewide contractor surety bond is required for the full Contractor license.

What experience is required for a Tennessee roofer license?

Tennessee sets no fixed statutory number of years; experience is evaluated with the financial statement to set the monetary limit.

Is insurance required for roofers in Tennessee?

Liability: General liability insurance required (proof at application and each renewal); no fixed minimum dollar amount is published for the full Contractor license. Property damage: Covered under the general liability policy. Workers' compensation: Required if you have employees; a certificate of coverage or an approved exemption is required at renewal.

How long does it take to get a Tennessee roofer license?

Processing time: Variable; the Board reviews applications at its scheduled meetings.

Is a background check required for roofers in Tennessee?

Background check: No statewide fingerprint-based background check for the Contractor license.

Is there a credit or financial requirement for a Tennessee roofer license?

Credit requirement: Monetary-limit financial statement required: the limit is the lesser of 10x net worth or 10x working capital. A self-prepared statement is accepted for monetary limits up to $1,500,000; above $1,500,000 a CPA/LPA reviewed statement is required (acceptable up to $3,000,000) and an audited statement above $3,000,000 (an unlimited license also requires $300,000+ in both working capital and net worth).

How often must a Tennessee roofer license be renewed?

Every 2 years. Continuing education: None if the roofing license is held under the BC-B, BC-C or full BC classification. If it is held under the residential BC-A, BC-A/r or BC-A,b(sm) classification, 8 hours of Board-approved Residential Continuing Education are required every 2 years before renewal (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0680-09-.02).

Fees and rules change frequently (often annually). This page was last verified on 2026-09-30 — always confirm current requirements directly with the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors (Department of Commerce & Insurance) before applying. This is not legal advice.