How to Check a Mold Company in Tennessee Before You Hire

What license does a mold remediation company need in Tennessee?

Tennessee does not have a separate mold license the way some states do. Mold work falls under the state's contractor rules, run by the Board for Licensing Contractors inside the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance (TDCI). Three points matter for most homeowners:

• The mold remediation classification. TDCI's classification outline lists Mold Remediation (S-F) as an environmental specialty classification. Specialty applicants submit the training certifications of the company's qualifying agent.
• The $25,000 line. TDCI's bidding rules require a Tennessee contractor's license before a company bids or offers a price on a project of $25,000 or more, counting materials and labor. A project cannot be broken into phases to stay under that amount.
• The Home Improvement license. For residential projects from $3,000 to under $25,000, a state Home Improvement license is required in nine counties: Bradley, Davidson, Hamilton, Haywood, Knox, Marion, Robertson, Rutherford and Shelby. TDCI says Home Improvement license holders must show $10,000 in proof of financial responsibility.

Do not overread this. A small job may legally need no state license at all, and a license does not by itself prove skill with mold. It is a floor, not a guarantee, which is why the rest of this guide matters.

How do you check a license in Tennessee?

Search the company and the individual on TDCI's Verify a License search at verify.tn.gov, or call the Board at 1-800-544-7693. The Board's tips for hiring a contractor add a few practical checks:

• Ask to see the license pocket card and confirm the license type and name match the person in front of you.
• The written contract should be in the exact name that appears on the license.
• Look at the contractor's complaint and discipline history, and check references.
• Ask who will actually do the work, and get references for any subcontractors.
• Ask for proof of coverage. The Board notes workers' compensation is required once a contractor has one employee.

Should the company that tests for mold also remove it?

Tennessee has no rule that the tester and the remover must be different companies. Angi still recommends using separate companies for testing and remediation, and the reasoning is simple: the person who decides how big the job is should not be the one paid to do it. An independent Nashville mold inspection gives you a written scope you can hand to several remediation companies, so their bids describe the same work.

Lab sampling is not always part of that. EPA says that in most cases, if mold is visible, sampling is unnecessary, and no federal limits exist for mold or mold spores. Sampling has a place in specific situations, which our guides on inspection versus testing and whether testing is worth paying for explain. Be wary of any company whose only evidence that you need a big job is a lab report it collected and interprets for you.

What should a written mold estimate include?

TDCI's contractor brochure says a written contract should list the company's name, address and phone number along with expected start and completion dates, and the Board's tips add payment terms, change orders and warranty information. For mold work, also look for:

1. The moisture source and who will fix it. EPA is blunt that mold comes back if the water problem is not fixed.
2. The rooms or areas involved and the approximate square footage.
3. How the work area will be contained and kept under negative air.
4. What will be removed and what will be cleaned. EPA notes that porous materials like carpet and ceiling tiles may have to be thrown away.
5. How the HVAC system will be handled if it serves the affected area.
6. Drying targets and how they will be measured.
7. How the job will be judged finished, and who does that check. Post-remediation testing in Nashville by a separate company is one option.
8. Whether permits are needed and who pulls them.

If you want a picture of the full sequence before you compare bids, read what happens during mold remediation.

What are the red flags?

• Door-to-door offers. TDCI's brochure lists a person going door to door selling services as a warning sign, which is common after storms and floods.
• Cash only, or large deposits. The Board says never pay cash and do not pay the full amount before the work is done. Tennessee law prohibits requiring more than one-third down.
• Asking you to sign over an insurance check. The Board's tips say never do this.
• Covering instead of removing. EPA says not to paint or caulk over mold. A plan built around coatings, with no removal or drying, is a problem.
• Scare talk. Pressure based on mold color or dramatic health claims. EPA's guidance is that mold can irritate the eyes, skin, nose, throat and lungs, and people with asthma or weakened immune systems should stay away from moldy areas; color does not tell you how risky a mold is.
• No name on paper. A bid that lacks a company name, address or license number.

How do you compare prices fairly?

TDCI recommends getting more than one estimate. For context, Angi reports a national typical range of $1,223 to $3,758 for mold remediation in 2026, with a national average of $2,369 and most pros charging $10 to $25 per square foot. Mold inspections run $303 to $1,075 nationally, per Angi. These are national ranges, not Nashville prices, and Middle Tennessee quotes vary with the size of the area, access, how much material comes out and how much repair follows. Compare bids line by line against the same scope rather than by the total alone. Our Nashville cost guide covers what drives the price.

Does a mold job need a permit?

Often not, but sometimes. Metro Codes in Nashville says repairs beyond normal maintenance, such as replacing supporting walls or altering load-bearing members, require a permit, while painting and similar minor repairs do not. If moldy framing has to be replaced, ask the company whether a permit is needed. The Board's tips say the contractor, not the homeowner, should obtain the permit. Outside Davidson County, the local office handles it, such as the City of Franklin's Building and Neighborhood Services, so companies serving Franklin homeowners or mold remediation in Murfreesboro deal with different codes offices than those in Nashville.

What if you are hiring for a business or rental property?

The same license checks apply, and commercial projects cross the $25,000 line more often. EPA's schools and commercial buildings guidance is the reference most companies work from for larger jobs. A company that handles commercial mold remediation in Nashville should be able to explain how it will contain the work around occupants.

What if something goes wrong?

Talk to the company first and keep everything in writing. If that fails, the Board's Complaint Section can be reached at 1-800-544-7693 or (615) 532-3996, and it also handles questions about a contractor's status. If the job is tied to an insurance claim, our guide on whether homeowners insurance covers mold in Tennessee covers what to document. When you are ready to compare companies, a call through this site can connect you with mold remediation companies serving Nashville.