Not yet re-checked against the Tennessee Dept of Commerce and Insurance, Board for Licensing Contractors; verify before relying on it.
Tennessee subcontractor insurance & compliance requirements
If you're a general contractor hiring subcontractors in Tennessee, here are the certificates and documents you should collect and keep current, and how TradeGuard tracks them automatically.
Documents to collect from subcontractors in Tennessee
The core compliance documents a GC should require and keep current for each sub.
Required for work over $25,000. Multiple classification types.
Certificate of Insurance for General Liability coverage.
Certificate showing workers' comp for the sub's employees. Who must carry it depends on the state and the number of employees.
Used to report what you pay the sub on Form 1099-NEC. For payments made in 2026 or later the IRS reporting threshold is $2,000 (it was $600).
Some owners and contracts require it, and some states require it on public projects.
Public owners require one on larger public contracts; the threshold depends on the owner and the state.
Public owners usually require it alongside the performance bond.
Often required with a bid on public work; it backs the bidder's promise to sign the contract at the bid price.
Tennessee requires licensing for commercial/residential work over $25,000. Board for Licensing Contractors handles GC, limited licensed contractor (LLC), and specialty licenses.
Tennessee operates an approved state OSHA plan. Tennessee has an approved state OSHA plan (TOSHA) covering private and public sector
No statewide contractor bond requirement, though projects or public work may still require bonds.
- TDCI-BLC: Tennessee Dept of Commerce and Insurance, Board for Licensing Contractors
- TOSHA: Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration
- TDWFD: Tennessee Dept of Workforce Development
Summary for Tennessee
Tennessee has its own OSHA plan. License required for work over $25,000. Workers comp required for employers with 5+ employees (construction: 1+).
Track all of this automatically in Tennessee
TradeGuard asks each sub for these documents through an upload link and shows what's missing for Tennessee, with alerts before anything expires.
No credit card required · Cancel anytime · See how COI tracking works
Tennessee compliance FAQ
Do subcontractors need a contractor license in Tennessee?+
Tennessee requires licensing for commercial/residential work over $25,000. Board for Licensing Contractors handles GC, limited licensed contractor (LLC), and specialty licenses.
Does Tennessee follow federal OSHA or a state OSHA plan?+
Tennessee runs its own OSHA-approved state plan. Tennessee has an approved state OSHA plan (TOSHA) covering private and public sector
Is a surety bond required for contractors in Tennessee?+
Tennessee does not impose a statewide contractor bond requirement, though individual projects, owners, or public work may still require performance and payment bonds.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Requirements change; confirm current rules with the relevant Tennessee agencies before relying on them.