Tennessee roofing: permits, codes and approvals

Tennessee's State Fire Marshal building standards and local opt-outs, the $25,000 contractor license that covers roofing, the $3,000 home improvement license, residential lien notice to owners and the 90-day lien recording deadline.

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1 · Product approvals

Product approvals

Tennessee has no statewide roofing product approval system. Local inspectors rely on the adopted code's labeling and installation requirements and on evaluation reports (ICC-ES, UL, FM) for products.

Code evaluation reports (ICC-ES, UL, IAPMO): 48 roofing reports

2 · Permit forms

City re-roof permits

No statewide re-roof permit rule; cities and counties run their own permit and inspection systems. State law bars a local government from issuing a home improvement permit unless it lists the contractor's state home improvement license number (owner-performed work excepted).

NashvilleMetro Codes requires a permit for a new layer of roofing or replacing more than one-third of the roof, and for replacing more than 64 sq ft of roof decking.Shelby County (Memphis area)Shelby County Construction Code Enforcement's roof policy says a single-family reroof needs no permit unless decking is repaired or altered; new or repaired sheathing needs a permit. The policy doesn't state whether it covers the City of Memphis.

3 · Code rules

Code rules

The State Fire Marshal sets minimum statewide building standards, taken from ICC codes, for one- and two-family homes. A city or county can opt out by a two-thirds vote, or enforce its own adopted IRC that is no stricter than the state minimum. Official adoption page ↗

Local opt-out for one- and two-family homesA county or city can exempt itself from the statewide residential standards by a two-thirds vote resolution; owners in those areas may ask the State Fire Marshal for an inspection.No IECC roof reflectance rulesState law says the IECC roof solar reflectance and thermal emittance requirements don't apply to Tennessee's 2021 ICC code adoption.State code rules updated April 17, 2025The State Fire Marshal's Office lists its adopted codes and the jurisdictions exempt from state residential enforcement on its Codes Enforcement page; the latest rule update took effect April 17, 2025.

5 · License and insurance

License and insurance

Yes. The Board for Licensing Contractors licenses roofing work of $25,000 or more, and a separate home improvement license covers residential jobs over $3,000 where that part of the law applies.

Contractor license at $25,000 (T.C.A. 62-6-102)A state contractor license is required for any project of $25,000 or more. Roofing subcontractors also need one when the roofing portion of the job is $25,000 or more. Roofing work means removing, installing, repairing or maintaining any roof covering.Home improvement license over $3,000 (T.C.A. 62-6-501)Home improvement includes roofing on homes with one to four units; contracts of $3,000 or less are excluded. Counties that were exempt in 2007 can opt in by a two-thirds vote, so check whether your county is covered.No local home improvement licenses (T.C.A. 62-6-503)Cities and counties can't require their own home improvement license, but can still require permits and inspections, and permits must list the contractor's state license number.Home improvement contract contents (T.C.A. 62-6-508)Written contract with names, addresses, license number, work description, start and completion dates, price, a NOTICE TO OWNER above the signature, a statement that contractors must be board-licensed, and no blank spaces.

6 · Lien and contract forms

Lien and contract rules

On residential jobs, give the owner the statutory lien notice before starting work; record the lien within 90 days after the job is finished or abandoned.

Residential notice to owner (T.C.A. 66-11-203)Before starting work or signing a contract to improve residential property, the contractor delivers the owner a written notice in the statutory form that a lien will attach for one year after work is finished.Record the lien within 90 days (T.C.A. 66-11-112)A lienor who hasn't recorded its contract must record a sworn statement of the amount and property description with the county register of deeds within 90 days after the improvement is completed or abandoned.Notice of nonpayment for subs (T.C.A. 66-11-145)Remote (sub) contractors send notice of nonpayment within 90 days of the last day of each month they worked, but this does not apply to one- to four-family residential units.

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Public records, last checked Oct 23, 2026. Always verify on the official source before you permit.