Does a Tennessee LLC need a registered agent?

Fact-checked by the LegalGlass editorial team against primary sources · Published Aug 20, 2026 · Last updated Aug 20, 2026

Yes. Under Tenn. Code section 48-249-109, every Tennessee LLC must continuously maintain a registered agent and a registered office at the same Tennessee street address. The agent can be an individual resident or a qualified entity.

Quick facts

Form: Form SS-4270, Articles of Organization (Limited Liability Company)
Filing fee: $50 per member - $300 minimum, $3,000 maximum (2026)
Agency: Tennessee Secretary of State, Division of Business Services
Registered agent: Required - a Tennessee resident or qualified entity
Ongoing: Annual report (April 1) + franchise & excise tax (Form FAE 170)
State income tax: No tax on wages or salaries

The same question in every other state

This requirement is set at state level, so the answer changes when you cross a state line. Below is how 45 other states answer the same question, each linked to the page that cites the agency it came from. The full breakdown is on How to Form an LLC.

State	Answer
Alabama	Yes. Under Ala.
Alaska	Yes. Every Alaska LLC must continuously maintain a registered agent and a physical Alaska street address (registered office).
Arkansas	Yes. Every Arkansas LLC must continuously maintain a registered agent and a physical Arkansas street address.
California	Yes. Every California LLC must name an agent for service of process - the state's term for a registered agent.
Colorado	Yes. Every Colorado LLC must continuously maintain a registered agent with a physical Colorado street address.
Connecticut	Yes. Every Connecticut LLC must continuously maintain a registered agent with a physical street address in Connecticut.
Delaware	Yes. Section 18-104 of the Delaware LLC Act requires every LLC to continuously maintain a registered agent with a physical Delaware business office.
Florida	Yes. Under Fla.
Georgia	Yes. Every Georgia LLC must maintain a registered agent with a physical Georgia street address who is available during business hours.
Hawaii	Yes. Every Hawaii LLC must appoint and maintain a registered agent with a physical Hawaii address who can accept service of process.
Idaho	Yes. Every Idaho LLC must continuously maintain a registered agent with a physical Idaho street address who has consented to serve.
Illinois	Yes. Every Illinois LLC must continuously maintain a registered agent and a physical Illinois registered office.
Indiana	Yes. Indiana Code 23-0.5-4-1 requires every domestic LLC to continuously maintain a registered agent with a physical Indiana registered office.
Iowa	Yes. Iowa Code section 489.113 requires every Iowa LLC to continuously maintain a registered agent with an Iowa registered office address.
Kansas	Yes. Under K.S.A.
Kentucky	Yes. Every Kentucky LLC, corporation, and limited partnership must name and continuously maintain a registered agent with a physical Kentucky registered office.
Louisiana	Yes. Louisiana Revised Statute 12:1308 requires every LLC to continuously maintain a registered office in Louisiana and at least one registered agent, who must be a resident citizen or a qualified entity authorized to act as agent for service of process.
Maine	Yes. Every Maine LLC must maintain either a commercial registered agent identified by its CRA public number or a noncommercial registered agent with a Maine address.
Massachusetts	Yes. Under M.G.L.
Michigan	Yes. Michigan calls it a resident agent.
Minnesota	Minnesota requires every LLC to list a registered office with a Minnesota street address on its Articles of Organization. Naming an agent for service of process at that office is optional under Chapter 322C, but most LLCs designate one so legal papers reach a known person.
Mississippi	Yes. Every Mississippi LLC must continuously maintain a registered agent and a physical Mississippi street address (registered office).
Missouri	Yes. Under RSMo Chapter 347, every Missouri LLC must continuously maintain a registered agent and a registered office in Missouri.
Montana	Yes. Every Montana LLC must continuously maintain a registered agent with a physical Montana address.
Nebraska	Yes. Every Nebraska LLC must continuously maintain a registered agent and a physical Nebraska registered office.
Nevada	Yes. NRS 86.231 requires every Nevada LLC to continuously maintain a registered agent with a physical Nevada street address.
New Hampshire	Yes. Every New Hampshire LLC must continuously maintain a registered agent and a physical New Hampshire street address (registered office).
New Jersey	Yes. Under N.J.S.A.
New Mexico	Yes. Every New Mexico LLC must continuously maintain a registered agent with a physical New Mexico street address who accepts service of process.
New York	No. New York does not require an LLC to appoint a registered agent.
North Carolina	Yes. Under G.S.
North Dakota	Yes. The Secretary of State requires the name and address of a registered agent in North Dakota as part of the registration.
Oklahoma	Yes. Every Oklahoma LLC must continuously maintain a registered agent and a physical Oklahoma registered office.
Oregon	Yes. Under ORS 63.111, every Oregon LLC must appoint and continuously maintain a registered agent and a registered office at a physical Oregon street address.
Pennsylvania	Not in the way most states mean it. Pennsylvania does not require a registered agent.
South Carolina	Yes. Under S.C.
South Dakota	Yes. A South Dakota LLC or corporation must appoint and maintain a registered agent with a physical South Dakota address to receive legal and state documents.
Texas	Yes. Every Texas LLC must continuously maintain a registered agent and a physical Texas registered office.
Utah	Yes. Utah's Model Registered Agents Act (Title 16, Chapter 17) requires every LLC to continuously maintain a registered agent with a Utah street address.
Vermont	Yes. Vermont requires every registered entity to maintain a registered agent with a physical street address in Vermont who can accept service of process during business hours.
Virginia	Yes. Under Va.
Washington	Yes. Under RCW 23.95.410, every Washington LLC and corporation must designate and continuously maintain a registered agent with a physical street address in Washington.
West Virginia	Yes. West Virginia Code section 31B-1-105 requires every LLC to designate and continuously maintain a registered agent with an office in West Virginia to receive service of process and official notices.
Wisconsin	Yes. Every Wisconsin LLC must continuously maintain a registered agent with a Wisconsin street address under Wis.
Wyoming	Yes. Every Wyoming LLC must continuously maintain a registered agent and a physical Wyoming registered office.

Full context for Tennessee

This page answers one question. The complete Tennessee guide -- covering the surrounding requirements, the forms, the agency, and what happens if you get it wrong -- is at How to Form an LLC in Tennessee: Steps & Cost (2026).

Sources

LegalGlass provides general information for educational purposes and is not a law firm or a substitute for advice from a licensed attorney or tax professional. Laws and fees change; verify current requirements with the relevant government agency before acting.