Does Tennessee license water damage restoration companies?

Not as a separate trade. The Board for Licensing Contractors has no water damage classification. What matters is the size of the job: a contractor's license for $25,000 or more, and in Knox County a home improvement license for residential remodeling from $3,000 to $24,999.

Does Tennessee license mold remediation?

Mold remediation is one of the board's specialty classifications, listed as S-F Mold Remediation. A contractor's license, with that classification for mold work, is required once a project reaches $25,000.

Does a public adjuster need a license in Tennessee?

Yes. Since July 1, 2007, no person or business may act as a public adjuster in Tennessee without a public adjuster license.

Tennessee Contractor License Lookup for Water and Mold Jobs

Updated November 12, 2026

The short version

Tennessee doesn't license water damage work as its own trade, and it licenses mold remediation as a contractor specialty. The license a company needs depends on the price of the job. In Knox County: $3,000 to $24,999 of residential remodeling needs a home improvement license; $25,000 and up needs a contractor's license. Look either one up on the state's Verify search.

This is the Tennessee licensing guide for this site. It explains which state license applies to water damage and mold jobs, how the rules change with the size of the job and the county, and how to check a license yourself. Because the company a call reaches is chosen by a call network, checking it is up to you.

Which license a job needs

Job	Tennessee license
Residential remodeling or repair, $3,000 to $24,999, in Knox County	Home improvement license, backed by a $10,000 surety bond, with general liability and workers' compensation insurance
Any project of $25,000 or more	Contractor's license, required before bidding or negotiating a price
Mold remediation of $25,000 or more	Contractor's license with the S-F Mold Remediation specialty classification
Handling an insurance claim for you, for a fee	Public adjuster license from the Department of Commerce and Insurance

Sources: Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors, contractor license, home improvement license and classification outline; TDCI public adjuster requirements. Opened November 12, 2026.

The home improvement license, county by county

The home improvement license only applies in counties that adopted the law. The board lists nine: Bradley, Davidson, Hamilton, Haywood, Knox, Marion, Robertson, Rutherford and Shelby. State law defines home improvement broadly (T.C.A. 62-6-501(4)(A)) to include repair, replacement, remodeling, alterations or additions to a residential building, which is what most rebuilding after water damage is. Blount, Loudon, Anderson and Sevier counties around Knoxville are not on the list, so for a job there only the $25,000 contractor threshold applies.

How to check a license

Ask the company for its Tennessee license number and the exact business name on the license.
Open the Tennessee Verify license search from the Department of Commerce and Insurance.
Search by the license number or the business name.
Check that the license is active, that the name matches the estimate and contract, and for a contractor's license, that its classification and monetary limit fit your job.
Ask for a certificate of liability insurance as well. The license search doesn't show current coverage.

What this site can and can't tell you

We can tell you the rules. We can't tell you whether a particular company follows them, because we don't vet the companies that buy calls. That's why every page lists what to check, and why the About page explains how calls are connected and how MetaBloom Ventures LLC is paid.

General information, not legal advice. Licensing rules change; confirm with the board.

Questions people ask

Does Tennessee license water damage restoration companies?: Not as a separate trade. The Board for Licensing Contractors has no water damage classification. What matters is the size of the job: a contractor's license for $25,000 or more, and in Knox County a home improvement license for residential remodeling from $3,000 to $24,999.
Does Tennessee license mold remediation?: Mold remediation is one of the board's specialty classifications, listed as S-F Mold Remediation. A contractor's license, with that classification for mold work, is required once a project reaches $25,000.
Which counties require the home improvement license?: The board lists Bradley, Davidson, Hamilton, Haywood, Knox, Marion, Robertson, Rutherford and Shelby counties as of November 2026.
Does a public adjuster need a license in Tennessee?: Yes. Since July 1, 2007, no person or business may act as a public adjuster in Tennessee without a public adjuster license.