Contractor and Trades Insurance in Tennessee

Business types with their own guide

• General Contractor Insurance Injuries to the public or visitors on an active job site, and more. Read the general contractor insurance guide.
• Electrician Insurance Fire or property damage tied to wiring you installed or repaired, and more. Read the electrician insurance guide.
• Plumber Insurance Water damage from a leak at a joint, fitting, or appliance you installed, and more. Read the plumber insurance guide.
• HVAC Contractor Insurance Gas leaks, fires, or carbon monoxide issues tied to an install or repair, and more. Read the hvac contractor insurance guide.
• Roofing Contractor Insurance Falls from roofs and ladders, and more. Read the roofing contractor insurance guide.
• Painting Contractor Insurance Paint spills on flooring, furniture, or countertops, and more. Read the painting contractor insurance guide.
• Carpenter Insurance Saw and nail gun injuries to you or employees, and more. Read the carpenter insurance guide.
• Flooring Contractor Insurance Damaged cabinets, walls, or trim during removal and install, and more. Read the flooring contractor insurance guide.
• Handyman Insurance Damage to a client&rsquo, and more. Read the handyman insurance guide.
• Drywall Contractor Insurance Stilt and ladder falls, and more. Read the drywall contractor insurance guide.
• Concrete Contractor Insurance Cracking or settling claims after a pour, and more. Read the concrete contractor insurance guide.
• Masonry Contractor Insurance Scaffold falls and lifting injuries, and more. Read the masonry contractor insurance guide.
• Fence Contractor Insurance Hitting buried gas, water, or cable lines while digging, and more. Read the fence contractor insurance guide.
• Excavation Contractor Insurance Striking underground utilities, and more. Read the excavation contractor insurance guide.
• Paving and Asphalt Contractor Insurance Burns from hot asphalt, and more. Read the paving and asphalt contractor insurance guide.
• Siding Contractor Insurance Falls from ladders and scaffolding, and more. Read the siding contractor insurance guide.
• Insulation Contractor Insurance Falls through ceilings while working in attics, and more. Read the insulation contractor insurance guide.
• Solar Contractor Insurance Falls from roofs while mounting panels, and more. Read the solar contractor insurance guide.
• Welding Business Insurance Fires caused by sparks or slag, and more. Read the welding business insurance guide.
• Remodeling Contractor Insurance Damage to existing parts of the home during demolition, and more. Read the remodeling contractor insurance guide.
• Appliance Repair Insurance Water damage from washer or ice-maker lines, and more. Read the appliance repair insurance guide.
• Landscaping Insurance Rocks thrown by mowers or trimmers that break windows or hurt people, and more. Read the landscaping insurance guide.
• Lawn Care Insurance Thrown rocks breaking windows or hitting cars, and more. Read the lawn care insurance guide.
• Junk Removal Insurance Damage to walls, doors, and floors while carrying items out, and more. Read the junk removal insurance guide.
• Locksmith Insurance Damage to doors, frames, or car doors during lockouts, and more. Read the locksmith insurance guide.
• Window and Door Installer Insurance Water leaks around new windows or doors, and more. Read the window and door installer insurance guide.

More contractors and trades businesses

These business types share many of the same risks. Each has a short overview below.

Snow plowing and ice removal

Snow and ice work is seasonal in Middle Tennessee, but slip-and-fall claims after a storm can be serious. Many general liability policies limit snow removal, so ask before you sign a parking lot contract. Commercial auto for plow trucks and clear contract wording about who handles salting matter too.

Septic tank cleaning and pumping

Septic pumpers face spills, damage to yards and drain fields, and heavy truck exposure. Pollution-related claims are often excluded from standard general liability, so ask about pollution coverage along with commercial auto for your pump truck.

Wallpaper hanging (paperhangers)

Paperhangers work in finished rooms with ladders, adhesives, and expensive materials. General liability for damage to client property, tools coverage, and workers’ comp under Tennessee’s construction rules are the usual starting points.

Porch and deck building

Porches are specifically named in Tennessee’s home improvement definition, so licensing may apply in adopting counties. Completed operations coverage matters most, since a railing or stair failure can injure someone long after the job.

Coverages common in contractors and trades

• General liability Helps if your business is blamed for injuring someone or damaging their property, and usually pays for a legal defense.
• Workers’ compensation Pays medical bills and lost wages if an employee is hurt on the job, and includes employer’s liability.
• Tools and equipment (inland marine) Covers tools and gear that travel to job sites or customer locations, or sit in your truck.
• Commercial auto Covers vehicles used for the business. Personal car insurance policies often exclude or limit business use.
• Commercial umbrella Adds higher liability limits above your general liability, auto, and employer’s liability.
• Surety bonds Guarantee you’ll meet license rules or finish a job. Some licenses and contracts require them.

All coverage is subject to underwriting and policy terms. Not every business needs every coverage.

Tennessee rules to know

Contractor licensing. A Tennessee contractor’s license is generally required before bidding or contracting on projects of $25,000 or more, and the Board for Licensing Contractors requires general liability insurance and workers’ compensation (unless exempt) to get licensed, according to the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors.

Home improvement license. For residential remodeling projects from $3,000 to $24,999, a Tennessee home improvement license is required in counties that adopted the law, including Davidson, Rutherford, and Robertson. It requires general liability, workers’ compensation, and a $10,000 surety bond or other approved security, per the Board for Licensing Contractors.

Workers’ comp for construction. Tennessee requires construction employers to carry workers’ compensation for their employees even if they have only one, including part-time and family workers, according to the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Some construction business owners can apply to exempt themselves (not their employees) through the state’s exemption registry.

We can review your requirements and help you shop workers’ compensation and other coverages, subject to underwriting.

Certificates of insurance

Landlords, clients, venues, and general contractors often ask for a certificate of insurance before you start. If they want to be an additional insured, the policy usually needs an endorsement. Our certificate of insurance checklist explains what to check.

Related guides

• All business types
• Business insurance in Middle Tennessee
• General liability insurance
• Small business insurance checklist (PDF)
• Starting a business in Tennessee
• Tennessee contractor license insurance requirements