TradeGuardTennessee 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 of Insurance for Workers Compensation coverage, required for any sub with employees
Required for tax reporting on payments over $600
Required on many public and private commercial projects
Required on public works projects over threshold
Required alongside performance bond on public projects
Required when bidding on public construction contracts; guarantees contractor will honor the bid if awarded
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 collects every subcontractor's COI, license, and OSHA docs, flags Tennessee compliance gaps, and warns you before anything expires. Stop tracking it in a spreadsheet.
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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.