Tennessee Code Title 66. Property § 66-34-103

(a) All construction contracts on any project in this state, both public and private, may provide for the withholding of retainage; provided, however, that the retainage amount may not exceed five percent (5%) of the amount of the contract.

(b) The owner, whether public or private, shall release and pay all retainages for work completed pursuant to the terms of any contract to the prime contractor within ninety (90) days after completion of the work or within ninety (90) days after substantial completion of the project for work completed, whichever occurs first. As used in this subsection (b), “work completed” means the completion of the scope of the work and all terms and conditions covered by the contract under which the retainage is being held. The prime contractor shall pay all retainages due any remote contractor within ten (10) days after receipt of the retainages from the owner. Any remote contractor receiving the retainage from the prime contractor shall pay to any lower-tier remote contractor all retainages due the lower-tier remote contractor within ten (10) days after receipt of the retainages.

(c) Any default in the making of the payments is subject to those remedies provided in this part.

(d) If an owner or prime contractor withholds retainage that is for the use and benefit of the prime contractor or its remote contractors pursuant to § 66-34-104(a) and (b), then neither the prime contractor nor any of its remote contractors are required to deposit additional retained funds into an escrow account in accordance with § 66-34-104(a) and (b).