Tennessee Masonry Insurance
From Nashville to Memphis, Tennessee licenses masonry as its own contractor classification with an elevated $100,000 threshold, requires workers’ comp from your first construction employee — stricter than the state’s general 5-employee rule — and enforces job-site safety through its own state plan, TOSHA. Coverage built for Tennessee masonry has to fit all three.
Carriers We Represent
Why Tennessee Masonry Contractors Need Specialized Coverage
Masonry carries a jobsite risk most other trades don’t: an unbraced wall under construction can overturn or collapse before permanent supports go in, and a completed wall that later cracks or lets water in is a genuine delayed liability exposure.
Tennessee licenses masonry as a distinct contractor classification with a $100,000 threshold, workers’ comp applies to construction employers from employee one, and TOSHA enforces its own state OSHA plan. We build the program around those specifics.
Tennessee Licensing, Compliance & Requirements for Masonry Contractors
Tennessee licenses masonry through the Board for Licensing Contractors as a Licensed Masonry Contractor (LMC) classification. The state’s general contractor license threshold is $25,000+, but masonry’s own classification carries an elevated threshold, reported at $100,000+.
Workers’ comp is required for construction employers starting at just 1 employee — unlike Tennessee’s general 5-employee threshold that applies to most other industries. Tennessee is not monopolistic; coverage runs through the private market. Under Tenn. Code Ann. §47-18-703, customers can cancel a home-solicitation masonry contract until midnight of the 3rd business day. Tennessee runs its own OSHA-approved state plan, TOSHA, which generally adopts federal Construction (1926) standards.
- Licensed Masonry Contractor (LMC) classification through the TN Board for Licensing Contractors, elevated threshold reported at $100,000+
- General contractor license threshold is $25,000+ for other trades, but masonry has its own elevated classification
- Construction employers must carry workers’ comp starting at 1 employee — no 5-employee grace period unlike other industries
- In-home masonry contracts give customers a cancellation right until midnight of the 3rd business day (§47-18-703)
- TOSHA, Tennessee’s own state OSHA plan, generally adopts federal Construction standards
- Tennessee's own contracting class-code list explicitly references NCCI code 5022 (Masonry NOC)
Core Coverages for Tennessee Masonry Contractors
Most Tennessee masonry contractors build a program around general liability and workers’ comp, then layer in the coverages below that address the trade’s specific structural and completed-operations risk.
- General liability for property damage and bodily injury during construction, repair, or demolition
- Completed-operations coverage for cracking, water intrusion, or structural settling discovered after the job is done
- Workers’ compensation, mandatory for Tennessee construction employers from employee one
- Tools and equipment (inland marine) covering mixers, saws, scaffolding, and lifts on the job or in transit
- Builder’s risk or installation floater coverage for brick, block, and stone staged on site before install
- Commercial auto for trucks and trailers hauling masonry materials and equipment
- Contractor’s errors & omissions for disputes over structural quality or spec compliance
- LMC license bond tied to your Board for Licensing Contractors classification
What Drives Masonry Insurance Costs in Tennessee
There is no verified Tennessee-specific rate filing for the masonry class code from a primary government source. The ranges below are a realistic national benchmark, not a quote.
| Business Size | General Liability (Annual) | Workers’ Comp (Annual) | Est. Total Annual Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solo / owner-operator | $700 – $1,250 | $1,700 – $3,100 | $2,400 – $4,350 |
| Small crew (2–5) | $1,250 – $2,400 | $3,500 – $6,400 | $4,750 – $8,800 |
| Established (6+) | $2,400 – $4,400 | $7,100 – $12,300 | $9,500 – $16,700 |
Estimated ranges based on national masonry GL/WC benchmarks (NCCI code 5022). Because Tennessee requires workers’ comp for construction from your first employee, even a two-person crew carries a WC premium. Actual premiums vary by payroll, claims history, and carrier appetite.
- Whether your project crosses the elevated masonry licensing threshold
- Payroll and crew size, since Tennessee requires workers’ comp for construction from employee one
- Wall height and scope of work, since masonry-specific bracing rules scale with height
- Vehicle count and radius of operation for the commercial auto line
- Claims history, including any prior structural-settling or water-intrusion claims
- Whether a commercial contract requires a surety bond in addition to insurance
Why Tennessee Masonry Contractors Choose The Allen Thomas Group
As an independent, family-owned agency, we place Tennessee masonry contractors across more than fifteen A-rated carriers rather than pushing one company’s product.
- Independent access to 15+ A-rated carriers, matched to your crew size and structural-work exposure
- Family-owned guidance since 2003 with an A+ BBB rating
- Hands-on help navigating Tennessee’s LMC licensing and 1-employee workers’ comp rule for construction
- Coordinated programs across general liability, tools, materials, auto, and bonds with no gaps
- Certificates of insurance and additional-insured endorsements issued fast for GCs and property managers
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a state license to do masonry work in Tennessee?
Yes. Tennessee's Board for Licensing Contractors issues a Licensed Masonry Contractor (LMC) classification, with an elevated project-cost threshold reported at $100,000+, higher than the state's general $25,000 contractor threshold.
Is workers’ comp required for a one-person masonry crew in Tennessee?
Yes. Construction employers must carry workers’ comp starting at just 1 employee, unlike Tennessee’s general 5-employee threshold for most other industries.
Can a customer cancel a masonry contract signed at their home in Tennessee?
Yes. Under Tenn. Code Ann. §47-18-703, customers can cancel until midnight of the 3rd business day after signing.
What insurance covers a masonry wall that cracks or fails after completion?
Products-completed-operations coverage, typically written within general liability, responds when a completed masonry job later causes structural settling, cracking, or water intrusion.
What insurance covers brick, block, or stone staged at a jobsite before installation?
A builder’s risk or installation floater policy, not general liability, typically covers masonry materials staged on-site or left in a truck before install.
Are my mixers, saws, and scaffolding covered between jobs?
Not automatically under general liability. They’re covered under inland marine (tools & equipment) coverage, which follows the property to the jobsite, in transit, and in storage.
Does Tennessee have its own OSHA program?
Yes. TOSHA, Tennessee’s own state OSHA plan, generally adopts federal Construction standards.
What drives the cost of masonry insurance in Tennessee?
Whether your project crosses the elevated masonry licensing threshold, payroll and crew size, wall height and scope of work, vehicle count, and claims history.
Protect Your Tennessee Masonry Business
We compare more than fifteen A-rated carriers to build masonry coverage around your crew, your equipment, and your Tennessee jobsites.