Tennessee Landscaping Contractor License Requirements (2026)

Tennessee requires landscape contractors to hold a Tennessee Contractor License from the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors (TBLC) under the CMC-D (Landscaping) classification for any landscape contracting project valued at $25,000 or more under T.C.A. §62-6. TBLC requires the Business and Law exam, the CMC-D trade exam, an audited financial statement establishing the monetary limit, and proof of liability insurance. Any commercial pesticide application additionally requires a Charter for the Performance of Pest Control Operations from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) Pesticide Section under T.C.A. §43-8.

Governing Authority

This license is issued and enforced by Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors — Department of Commerce and Insurance (TBLC) pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated Title 62 Chapter 6 (Contractors Licensing Act of 1994); Rules of the Board Chapter 0680. TBLC licenses general and specialty contractors statewide, sets monetary limits based on CPA-reviewed financial statements, administers the PSI examination program, and conducts disciplinary proceedings under T.C.A. Title 62 Chapter 6.

Official portal: https://www.tn.gov/commerce/regboards/contractor.html
Address: 500 James Robertson Parkway, Davy Crockett Tower, Nashville, TN 37243
Phone: (615) 741-8307

Eligibility Requirements

At a minimum the applicant has to be 18 years old and supply a valid Social Security Number. No residency requirement.

Good moral character

TBLC reviews fitness, including prior license discipline.

Background investigation

Required disclosure on the application.

Experience & Education Matrix

Eligibility here is not measured in years of experience but by No specific years required, but applicants must demonstrate competency through the TBLC trade exam plus an audited financial statement establishing net worth supporting the desired monetary limit., per the cited materials.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

TBLC application + reference letters + reviewed financial statement (CPA-prepared)

Education substitution

University of Tennessee horticulture coursework strengthens the experience portion.

Examination Structure

Examinations are administered by PSI Services LLC (under contract to TBLC). The applicant must pass the following examination parts before the license can issue:

Tennessee Business and Law exam — 50 questions, 120 minutes, passing score 73%
CMC-D Landscaping trade exam — 100 questions, 240 minutes, passing score 73%

Examination fee: $57 PSI fee per exam.

Retake policy: Failed parts may be retaken every 30 days; new $57 fee.

Insurance & Financial Security

This credential carries no state-level surety bond requirement under the cited sources. Individual jobs may still trigger a permit or public-works bond, which should be verified before bidding.

General liability

TBLC requires minimum $100,000 commercial general liability per occurrence.

Workers' compensation

Mandatory under T.C.A. §50-6 for any employer with five or more employees in non-construction; one or more in construction.

Additional financial requirements

Mandatory CPA-prepared (reviewed or audited) financial statement establishing monetary limit. Limit cannot exceed 10x working capital.

Application and License Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$250
Examination	$114
Initial license	$250
Renewal (every 2 years)	$250

Maintenance & Renewal

Expect to renew the Tennessee Contractor License — CMC-D Landscaping (TBLC) + TDA Charter Pest Control License every 2 years. Renewal currently costs $250. CMC-D Landscaping renews every two years on the licensee anniversary date.

Continuing education: No CE for TBLC CMC-D renewal. TDA Charter requires CEUs separately.

Downloadable Asset

2026 Tennessee Landscaping License Roadmap (PDF) — a printable step-by-step checklist for the application process.

Download the PDF roadmap →

Reciprocity and Endorsement

Tennessee does not accept the NASCLA Accredited Examination for this classification.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
Alabama	Trade exam waived	Bilateral TBLC–AL ALCB reciprocity for matching landscape classification.
Georgia	Not available	Georgia does not license landscape contractors at the state level.
North Carolina	Limited reciprocity	Case-by-case review with NCLCLB.

Business and Law exam is never waived; only the CMC-D trade exam is reciprocal.

Weighing more than one jurisdiction? The national hub compares Landscaping license requirements in every state — exam, bond, fee, and experience thresholds side by side.

Step-by-Step Application Roadmap

Engage CPA to prepare reviewed financial statement. Required to establish monetary limit.
Submit TBLC application with $250 fee. Include financial statement, reference letters.
Pass the PSI Business and Law exam at 73%. Tennessee contracting law and business management.
Pass the CMC-D Landscaping trade exam at 73%. Plant ID, installation, irrigation, hardscape.
Secure $100,000 minimum CGL liability insurance. Required by TBLC.
Obtain TDA Charter for Pest Control Operations (if spraying). Required for any commercial pesticide application.
Pass TDA Category 8 — Ornamental and Turf. Required for landscape pesticide work.
Enroll workers compensation. Mandatory thresholds vary by industry.

Study and Reference Materials

The references below are either cited by the board, used during the application, or standard preparation for the trade. They are listed purely for convenience — CLR earns no commission on any of them.

Tennessee CMC-D Landscaping Reference Bibliography — PSI Services / TBLC. Official open-book references for the CMC-D trade exam.
Tennessee Business and Law Reference Manual — PSI Services / TBLC. Required for the Business and Law exam.
Tennessee Pesticide Applicator Core Manual — University of Tennessee Extension. Required for TDA Charter pesticide certification.

Common Filing Mistakes

Based on the board's own instructions and the sources cited here, the problems below are what most often stall a Tennessee Landscaping application.

Operating without CMC-D over $25,000

T.C.A. §62-6-136 makes unlicensed contracting a Class A misdemeanor; bidding without a license carries automatic civil penalties.

Exceeding monetary limit

Bidding or performing work above the TBLC-approved monetary limit is a separate violation.

Spraying without TDA Charter

Civil penalties up to $1,500 per violation under T.C.A. §43-8-209.

Missing financial statement updates

TBLC requires updated financials at every renewal; expired statements freeze the monetary limit.

Backflow violations on irrigation

TN plumbing code requires annual backflow testing on every potable irrigation tie-in.

Pre-Submission Checklist

The most critical documents or confirmations the applicant should have in hand before filing with TBLC:

☐ CPA-prepared financial statement
☐ TBLC application
☐ PSI Business and Law exam pass at 73%+
☐ PSI CMC-D Landscaping trade exam pass at 73%+
☐ $100,000 CGL liability insurance
☐ TDA Charter for Pest Control Operations (if spraying)
☐ TDA Category 8 exam pass
☐ Workers compensation coverage

Other Tennessee Trade Licenses

CLR covers other Tennessee trades as well — the published guides below may be more relevant:

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the CMC-D required?

For any landscape contracting project valued at $25,000 or more (including labor and materials). Below that threshold, no TBLC license is required, though local rules may apply.

What does CMC-D cover?

Landscape installation, planting, sod, mulch, irrigation, drainage, retaining walls under 4 feet, and incidental hardscape. Larger structural work may require BC-A General Building.

How is the monetary limit calculated?

TBLC sets the monetary limit at 10 times the working capital shown on the CPA-prepared financial statement, capped at the highest applied-for class.

Do I need TDA Charter for pesticides?

Yes, for any commercial pesticide application. T.C.A. §43-8 makes uncertified commercial spraying a misdemeanor.

How often does the CMC-D renew?

Every two years on the anniversary date. Renewal requires updated financial statement and current insurance.

Primary Sources

Regulatory requirements on this page are drawn from the official board, statute, and exam-provider materials listed below.

Verified 2026-05-13 · Next scheduled review 2026-08-11