Tennessee Code Annotated
Tenn. Code Ann. § 62-6-102 (2026)
Chapter definitions
✓ current as of May 2026
As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:
- (1) "Board" means the state board for licensing contractors created pursuant to § 62-6-104;
- (2) "Commercial building contractors" are those contractors authorized to bid on and contract for every phase of the construction, direction, alteration, repair or demolition of any building or structure for use and occupancy by the general public;
- (3) "Contracting" means any person or entity that performs or causes to be performed any of the activities defined in subdivision (4)(A) or (7);
- (4)
- (A)
- (i) "Contractor" means any person or entity that undertakes to, attempts to or submits a price or bid or offers to construct, supervise, superintend, oversee, schedule, direct or in any manner assume charge of the construction, alteration, repair, improvement, movement, demolition, putting up, tearing down or furnishing labor to install material or equipment for any building, highway, road, railroad, sewer, grading, excavation, pipeline, public utility structure, project development, housing, housing development, improvement or any other construction undertaking for which the total cost is twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) or more; provided, however, with respect to a licensed masonry contractor, such term means and includes the masonry portion of the construction project, the total cost of which exceeds one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000), materials and labor;
- (ii) "Contractor" includes, but is not limited to, a prime contractor, electrical contractor, electrical subcontractor, mechanical contractor, mechanical subcontractor, plumbing contractor and plumbing subcontractor, masonry contractor, and roofing subcontractor where the total cost of the roofing portion of the construction project is twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) or more;
- (iii) If the cost of a project exceeds twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000), "contractor" also includes a construction manager of any kind, including, but not limited to, a residential construction manager, construction consultant, architect or engineer who conducts or provides any activity or service described in this subdivision (4) other than normal architectural and engineering services;
- (B) As used in subdivision (4)(A)(iii), "normal architectural and engineering services" means:
- (i) The preparation of bids, proposals, plans, specifications or other contract documents or the evaluation of contractors, subcontractors or suppliers;
- (ii) The approval of shop drawings, submittals, substitutions, pay requests or other certifications required by contract documents;
- (iii) Conducting representative reviews for progress and quality of construction on behalf of the owner;
- (iv) Interpretations and clarifications of contract documents;
- (v) Preparation and approval of changes in construction; and
- (vi) Preparation of as-built drawings and operation and maintenance manuals;
- (C) "Contractor" does not include an engineer licensed in accordance with chapter 2 of this title who is:
- (i) Managing and supervising the removal, remediation or clean up of pollutants or wastes from the environment;
- (ii) Serving as a corrective action contractor, as defined by the rules and regulations of the department of environment and conservation;
- (iii) Conducting subsurface investigation or testing, or both, by drilling or boring to determine subsurface conditions;
- (iv) Conducting geophysical or chemical testing of soil, rock, ground water or residues; or
- (v) Installing of monitoring detection wells or piezometers for evaluating soil or ground water characteristics;
- (D) "Contractor" does not include:
- (i) Any undertaking, as described in former subdivision (3)(D)(i) [repealed] for the department of transportation; or
- (ii) Subcontractors other than electrical subcontractors, licensed masonry contractors, and roofing subcontractors where the total cost of the roofing portion of the construction project is twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) or more, mechanical subcontractors and plumbing subcontractors defined as a contractor pursuant to subdivision (4)(A);
- (E) "Contractor" does not include a person who erects or installs an on-premises device, as defined in § 54-21-102; digital display, as defined in § 54-21-102; or other improvement to a property or structure that is primarily intended to serve as advertising, and for which compensation is not being received and not intended to be received by the owner or occupant of the property or structure;
- (F) No contractor shall be authorized to perform contracting work as a licensed masonry contractor unless the contractor is licensed as a masonry contractor in accordance with this part;
- (A)
- (5) "Licensed masonry contractor" means a contractor who builds structures from individual units of brick, stone, or concrete and glass block laid in and bound together by mortar, where the total cost of the masonry portion of the construction project exceeds one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000), materials and labor, and who is required to obtain a license as a licensed masonry contractor by the board;
- (6) "Limited licensed electrician" means any person or entity that performs any electrical work that has a total cost of less than twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) and that is required to be registered under § 68-102-150;
- (7) "Prime contractor" is one who contracts directly with the owner;
- (8) "Residential contractor" means one whose services are limited to construction, remodelling, repair or improvement of one (1), two (2), three (3) or four (4) family unit residences not exceeding three (3) stories in height and accessory use structures in connection with the residences; and
- (9) "Roofing work" means the act of removing, installing, repairing or otherwise maintaining any covering to any at- or above-grade structure for the purpose of providing weather proof protection or ornamental enhancement to such structure.
Amended by 2021 Tenn. Acts, ch. 198, s 1, eff. 4/22/2021.
Amended by 2013 Tenn. Acts, ch. 355, s 1, eff. 1/1/2014.
Acts 1976, ch. 822, § 2; 1977, ch. 101, § 1; 1977, ch. 406, § 1; 1980, ch. 652, § 3; 1981, ch. 399, § 1; T.C.A., § 62-602; Acts 1982, ch. 737, § 1; 1985, ch. 245, § 1; 1988, ch. 589, § 1; 1989, ch. 336, § 1; 1991, ch. 173, §§ 1-3; 1991, ch. 217, § 1; 1992, ch. 1020, §§ 1-18; 1993, ch. 147, § 1; 1994, ch. 986, § 1; 1998, ch. 645, § 1; 1998, ch. 764, § 1; 1999, ch. 238, §§ 1, 2; 1999, ch. 245, § 1; 2000, ch. 625, § 1; 2002, ch. 772, § 1; 2003 , ch. 409, §§ 1, 2; 2006, ch. 577, § 1; 2009 , ch. 482, § 2; 2010 , ch. 950, §§ 1-5.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 24
cases (4 in the last 5 years), 1995–2026 · leading case: Winter v. Smith, 914 S.W.2d 527 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1995).
Winter v. Smith, 914 S.W.2d 527 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1995). “Winter to perform work at Schandwin Farm, the relevant portions of Tenn.Code Ann. § 62-6-102 defined “contracting” as follows: (1)(A) “Contracting” means undertaking, for a fixed price, fee, commission, or gain of whatever nature, to construct, erect, alter, repair, supervise,…”
Kyle v. Williams, 98 S.W.3d 661 (Tenn. 2003). “See Tenn.Code Ann. § 62-6-102(2). 3 . Act of Feb.”
State of Tennessee, on Relation of v. Calvin Howell v. Jimmy Farris, 562 S.W.3d 432 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2018). “]” Tenn. Code Ann. § 62-6-102 (4)(A)(i). -2- already begun construction on these projects before he requested the building permits.”
McKinnie v. State Farm Fire & Cas. Co., 298 F. Supp. 3d 1138 (M.D. Tenn. 2018). “]" Tenn. Code Ann. § 62-6-102 (4)(A)(ii). Further, "[i]f the cost of a project exceeds twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000), 'contractor' also includes a construction manager of any kind, including, but not limited to, a residential construction manager, construction…”
Medrano v. MCDR, INC., 366 F. Supp. 2d 625 (W.D. Tenn. 2005). “” See Tenn.Code Ann. § 62-6-102. Additionally, Plaintiff submits that having two “general contractors” working on the same project is not unprecedented.”
Clarksville Towers, LLC v. John Straussberger (Tenn. Ct. App. 2021). “Tenn. Code Ann. § 62-6-102 (4)(A)(i). Tennessee Code Annotated § 62-6-102(4)(A) further provides: (ii) “Contractor” includes, but is not limited to, a prime contractor, electrical contractor, electrical subcontractor, mechanical contractor, mechanical subcontractor, plumbing…”
BF 3 Rivers JD SPV, LLC & Bioferm Energy Sys., LLC v. Lynchburg Renewable Fuels, LLC & 3 Rivers Energy Partners, LLC; Lynchburg Renewable Fuels, LLC v. Bioferm Energy Sys., LLC, et al. (E.D. Tenn. 2025). “Here, the Court finds that once Plaintiffs began the contract formation process with Defendants, Plaintiffs engaged in “contracting” as defined in Tenn. Code Ann. § 62-6-102 . Since it is undisputed that Plaintiffs were not licensed at the time they entered the contract with…”
Glen Cruzen v. Ayman Awad (Tenn. Ct. App. 2010). “The trial court granted Appellee’s motion for summary judgment, finding that Appellant was an unlicensed contractor under Tenn. Code Ann. §62-6-102 , and that his recovery was, therefore, limited to actual documented expenses under Tenn.”
Jimmy Wayne Helton v. Earl Lawson (Tenn. Ct. App. 2019). “7 Tennessee Code Annotated section 62-6-103(a)(2)(A & B) recognizes an exemption to state law requiring that licensed contractors be used on all construction projects defined as “contracting” by Tennessee Code Annotated section 62-6-102; however, the exemption only allows a…”
Scott Campbell v. William H. Teague (Tenn. Ct. App. 2010). “Relying upon the 2002 version -12- of Tenn. Code Ann. §62-6-102 (D), which was in effect at the time of the construction of the home at issue in this case, the Teagues argue that they are excepted from the monetary limitation.”
State of Tennessee v. Virgil Calvin Howell (Tenn. Crim. App. 2014). “To expand T.C.A. § 62-6-102 to declare that the owner of a building who seeks to supervise its improvement is a “contractor” is beyond its intended scope.”
Cecil McNatt v. Jane Vestal (Kanizar) Henderson Villa Inc. v. Cecil McNatt (Tenn. Ct. App. 2016). “Tenn. Code Ann. § 62-6-102 (3); Id. § 62-6-102(4)(a)(i).”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 62-6-102(1) — 1 case
Winter v. Smith, 914 S.W.2d 527 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1995). “Winter to perform work at Schandwin Farm, the relevant portions of Tenn.Code Ann. § 62-6-102 defined “contracting” as follows: (1)(A) “Contracting” means undertaking, for a fixed price, fee, commission, or gain of whatever nature, to construct, erect, alter, repair, supervise,…”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 62-6-102(1)(A) — 1 case
Jimmy Wayne Helton v. Earl Lawson (Tenn. Ct. App. 2019). “7 Tennessee Code Annotated section 62-6-103(a)(2)(A & B) recognizes an exemption to state law requiring that licensed contractors be used on all construction projects defined as “contracting” by Tennessee Code Annotated section 62-6-102; however, the exemption only allows a…”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 62-6-102(2) — 3 cases
Kyle v. Williams, 98 S.W.3d 661 (Tenn. 2003). “See Tenn.Code Ann. § 62-6-102(2). 3 . Act of Feb.”
Winter v. Smith, 914 S.W.2d 527 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1995). “Winter to perform work at Schandwin Farm, the relevant portions of Tenn.Code Ann. § 62-6-102 defined “contracting” as follows: (1)(A) “Contracting” means undertaking, for a fixed price, fee, commission, or gain of whatever nature, to construct, erect, alter, repair, supervise,…”
Jimmy Wayne Helton v. Earl Lawson (Tenn. Ct. App. 2019). “7 Tennessee Code Annotated section 62-6-103(a)(2)(A & B) recognizes an exemption to state law requiring that licensed contractors be used on all construction projects defined as “contracting” by Tennessee Code Annotated section 62-6-102; however, the exemption only allows a…”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 62-6-102(3) — 2 cases
State of Tennessee, on Relation of v. Calvin Howell v. Jimmy Farris, 562 S.W.3d 432 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2018). “]” Tenn. Code Ann. § 62-6-102 (4)(A)(i). -2- already begun construction on these projects before he requested the building permits.”
State of Tennessee v. Virgil Calvin Howell (Tenn. Crim. App. 2014). “To expand T.C.A. § 62-6-102 to declare that the owner of a building who seeks to supervise its improvement is a “contractor” is beyond its intended scope.”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 62-6-102(3)(A) — 5 cases
Kyle v. Williams, 98 S.W.3d 661 (Tenn. 2003). “See Tenn.Code Ann. § 62-6-102(2). 3 . Act of Feb.”
Winter v. Smith, 914 S.W.2d 527 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1995). “Winter to perform work at Schandwin Farm, the relevant portions of Tenn.Code Ann. § 62-6-102 defined “contracting” as follows: (1)(A) “Contracting” means undertaking, for a fixed price, fee, commission, or gain of whatever nature, to construct, erect, alter, repair, supervise,…”
State of Tennessee v. Virgil Calvin Howell (Tenn. Crim. App. 2014). “To expand T.C.A. § 62-6-102 to declare that the owner of a building who seeks to supervise its improvement is a “contractor” is beyond its intended scope.”
Natalie Hagan v. Michael Phipps (Tenn. Ct. App. 2010).
Guy Varnadoe v. Shelton McGhee Jr. (Tenn. Ct. App. 2001).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 62-6-102(4) — 1 case
Winter v. Smith, 914 S.W.2d 527 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1995). “Winter to perform work at Schandwin Farm, the relevant portions of Tenn.Code Ann. § 62-6-102 defined “contracting” as follows: (1)(A) “Contracting” means undertaking, for a fixed price, fee, commission, or gain of whatever nature, to construct, erect, alter, repair, supervise,…”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 62-6-102(4)(A) — 2 cases
Clarksville Towers, LLC v. John Straussberger (Tenn. Ct. App. 2021). “Tenn. Code Ann. § 62-6-102 (4)(A)(i). Tennessee Code Annotated § 62-6-102(4)(A) further provides: (ii) “Contractor” includes, but is not limited to, a prime contractor, electrical contractor, electrical subcontractor, mechanical contractor, mechanical subcontractor, plumbing…”
Robert McCollum v. Darrell Peters (Tenn. Ct. App. 2015).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 62-6-102(4)(A)(i) — 2 cases
BF 3 Rivers JD SPV, LLC & Bioferm Energy Sys., LLC v. Lynchburg Renewable Fuels, LLC & 3 Rivers Energy Partners, LLC; Lynchburg Renewable Fuels, LLC v. Bioferm Energy Sys., LLC, et al. (E.D. Tenn. 2025). “Here, the Court finds that once Plaintiffs began the contract formation process with Defendants, Plaintiffs engaged in “contracting” as defined in Tenn. Code Ann. § 62-6-102 . Since it is undisputed that Plaintiffs were not licensed at the time they entered the contract with…”
Timothy Williams v. Lee Ann Sikes (Tenn. Ct. App. 2026).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 62-6-102(4)(a)(i) — 1 case
Cecil McNatt v. Jane Vestal (Kanizar) Henderson Villa Inc. v. Cecil McNatt (Tenn. Ct. App. 2016). “Tenn. Code Ann. § 62-6-102 (3); Id. § 62-6-102(4)(a)(i).”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 62-6-102(6) — 1 case
Kyle v. Williams, 98 S.W.3d 661 (Tenn. 2003). “See Tenn.Code Ann. § 62-6-102(2). 3 . Act of Feb.”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 62-6-102(7) — 2 cases
Clarksville Towers, LLC v. John Straussberger (Tenn. Ct. App. 2021). “Tenn. Code Ann. § 62-6-102 (4)(A)(i). Tennessee Code Annotated § 62-6-102(4)(A) further provides: (ii) “Contractor” includes, but is not limited to, a prime contractor, electrical contractor, electrical subcontractor, mechanical contractor, mechanical subcontractor, plumbing…”
Robert McCollum v. Darrell Peters (Tenn. Ct. App. 2015).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 62-6-102(D)(2002) — 1 case
Scott Campbell v. William H. Teague (Tenn. Ct. App. 2010). “Relying upon the 2002 version -12- of Tenn. Code Ann. §62-6-102 (D), which was in effect at the time of the construction of the home at issue in this case, the Teagues argue that they are excepted from the monetary limitation.”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 62-6-102(a)(1) — 1 case
BF 3 Rivers JD SPV, LLC & Bioferm Energy Sys., LLC v. Lynchburg Renewable Fuels, LLC & 3 Rivers Energy Partners, LLC; Lynchburg Renewable Fuels, LLC v. Bioferm Energy Sys., LLC, et al. (E.D. Tenn. 2025). “Here, the Court finds that once Plaintiffs began the contract formation process with Defendants, Plaintiffs engaged in “contracting” as defined in Tenn. Code Ann. § 62-6-102 . Since it is undisputed that Plaintiffs were not licensed at the time they entered the contract with…”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 62-6-102(l)(A) — 1 case
Winter v. Smith, 914 S.W.2d 527 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1995). “Winter to perform work at Schandwin Farm, the relevant portions of Tenn.Code Ann. § 62-6-102 defined “contracting” as follows: (1)(A) “Contracting” means undertaking, for a fixed price, fee, commission, or gain of whatever nature, to construct, erect, alter, repair, supervise,…”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 62-6-102(l)(B)(ii) — 1 case
Winter v. Smith, 914 S.W.2d 527 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1995). “Winter to perform work at Schandwin Farm, the relevant portions of Tenn.Code Ann. § 62-6-102 defined “contracting” as follows: (1)(A) “Contracting” means undertaking, for a fixed price, fee, commission, or gain of whatever nature, to construct, erect, alter, repair, supervise,…”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 62-6-102(l)(B)(iii) — 1 case
Winter v. Smith, 914 S.W.2d 527 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1995). “Winter to perform work at Schandwin Farm, the relevant portions of Tenn.Code Ann. § 62-6-102 defined “contracting” as follows: (1)(A) “Contracting” means undertaking, for a fixed price, fee, commission, or gain of whatever nature, to construct, erect, alter, repair, supervise,…”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 62-6-102(l)(BXi)(a) — 1 case
Winter v. Smith, 914 S.W.2d 527 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1995). “Winter to perform work at Schandwin Farm, the relevant portions of Tenn.Code Ann. § 62-6-102 defined “contracting” as follows: (1)(A) “Contracting” means undertaking, for a fixed price, fee, commission, or gain of whatever nature, to construct, erect, alter, repair, supervise,…”
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