During Contractor Fraud Awareness Week (May 18–22, 2026), the Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance and the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors published a red-flag checklist for homeowners still rebuilding after Winter Storm Fern or planning a spring renovation. Commissioner Carter Lawrence urged Tennesseans to confirm a contractor is licensed and bonded before handing over money.
This article restates TDCI’s published tips. It is informational only. It does not promise that any contractor is licensed, bonded, or covered, and it does not promise insurance claim outcomes.
By All Seasons Insurance Group
When does Tennessee require a contractor’s license before bidding?
TDCI’s May 18, 2026 release says a contractor’s license is required before bidding or price negotiations when the total project cost is $25,000 or more. For work under $25,000, TDCI says check with the local building codes office about state or local license and permit rules for home improvement, electrical, plumbing, or HVAC work.
How do Tennesseans verify a contractor’s license?
Start at Verify.tn.gov. TDCI also lists Board contacts: (800) 544-7693 or (615) 741-8307, and [email protected] for complaint and disciplinary history questions. Check the Tennessee Secretary of State business search and the county clerk for a local business license—TDCI notes those are separate from a contractor’s license.
What insurance certificates should a homeowner request from a contractor?
| Ask for | Why TDCI flags it |
|---|---|
| Workers’ compensation certificate | Confirms the contractor carries current workers’ compensation with a current effective date |
| General liability certificate | Addresses damage and liability exposure on the job |
| Written contract | Start and completion dates, payment terms, materials, labor, change orders, warranty |
| Multiple bids and references | TDCI says ask for several bids and check references before work begins |
Request copies that show a current effective date. A certificate is not a coverage promise from All Seasons about the contractor’s policy.
How much down payment can a contractor require in Tennessee?
TDCI says state law prohibits requiring more than one-third down payment. Never pay cash for the total amount before the work is complete. Do not turn over your insurance check. Consider credit-card protections when they apply.
What are red flags when hiring a contractor after a storm?
TDCI warns about door-to-door repair pitches, deep discounts that seem too good to be true, and contractors who ask you to pull the permits. The person performing the work should obtain the building permits. Our live Winter Storm Fern tip post covers the insurance-claim side of the same recovery season.
How many contractor complaints did Tennessee’s Board handle in 2025?
TDCI reports the Board received 858 complaints in 2025 and took disciplinary actions totaling $634,036 in civil penalties from 214 of those complaints. Those numbers are TDCI’s published totals, not a prediction about any particular contractor.
Where do Tennesseans file a contractor complaint?
TDCI directs consumers to tn.gov/commerce and the Board contacts above. Insurance claim disputes—denials, delays, settlement disagreements—go through TDCI Consumer Insurance Services, walked in our complaint how-to.
What should a Tennessean do before signing a repair contract this week?
- Check Verify.tn.gov and ask for complaint history.
- Get multiple written bids with start dates, payment terms, and warranty language.
- Request current workers’ compensation and general liability certificates.
- Keep the insurance check in your control and stay under the one-third down-payment rule.
- Bring the contractor certificates and your homeowners declarations to a free policy review at All Seasons Insurance Group, 865-263-1400.
Seasons change. So should your coverage.
All Seasons Insurance Group can help you read a homeowners declarations page next to a repair estimate without promising that a contractor is licensed or that a claim will pay a particular invoice. Call 865-263-1400 or request a review at https://asigtn.com/get-a-quote/.
This article is informational only. It does not promise coverage, price, eligibility, licensing status, or claim payment.
Source links
- TDCI Highlights Consumer Awareness During Contractor Fraud Awareness Week (May 18, 2026)
- Verify.tn.gov — Tennessee professional license lookup
- TDCI Winter Storm Fern claim and contractor tips (January 30, 2026)
- TDCI’s Winter Storm Fern tips on ASIG
- How Tennesseans file an insurance complaint with TDCI
- Get a Quote — All Seasons Insurance Group
