Which Trades Need a State License, Which Are Licensed Locally, and How to Check
Illinois Contractor Licensing: How to Verify a Contractor
Illinois licenses some trades at the state level and leaves the rest to municipalities. Knowing which is which tells you where to look before you hire.
Last updated: October 2026
Illinois has no single contractor license. A few trades, most importantly plumbing and roofing, are licensed by state agencies under their own statutes. Most other construction trades, including general contractors, remodelers, electricians, and HVAC contractors, are not licensed by the state at all, and any licensing or registration is imposed by the municipality where the work is performed. A homeowner who searches a state database for a general contractor will find nothing, not because the contractor is unlicensed, but because the state does not license that work.
That patchwork is why the Illinois Attorney General advises homeowners to confirm that a contractor meets licensing and registration requirements by contacting the appropriate governmental authority. This guide identifies the right authority for each common trade, explains what the state licensing statutes require, and walks through a practical verification checklist. It is a companion to our guides to the Illinois Home Repair and Remodeling Act and the red flags to watch for when hiring a contractor.
Emalfarb Law LLC advises Illinois contractors on licensing and contract compliance and represents homeowners and contractors in residential construction disputes. Licensing requirements change, and municipal rules vary from town to town, so confirm current requirements with the agency or building department before relying on any summary, including this one.
Does Illinois Require a General Contractor License?
No. General contractors are not required to be licensed or certified by the State of Illinois. The same is true of remodelers, home improvement companies, and handymen. If a general contractor is licensed at all, the license comes from the municipality. The City of Chicago licenses general contractors through its Department of Buildings, with license classes tied to the size of the projects the contractor may perform. Many suburbs require general contractors to register with the village, show proof of insurance, and sometimes post a bond before the village will issue a building permit.
For a homeowner, the practical question is not whether the contractor holds a state license but whether it is properly registered in your municipality and will obtain the permits your project requires. Ask the contractor which municipalities have licensed or registered it, then call your own building department to confirm that the registration is current. A contractor registered in a neighboring town but not in yours cannot pull your permit, and a contractor who suggests that you pull the permit yourself is shifting code responsibility onto you.
A general contractor that is free of state licensing still must use state-licensed trades where the law requires them. If your remodel includes plumbing, the plumbing must be performed by a licensed plumber. If it includes a roof, the roofing must be performed by a licensed roofing contractor. Ask your general contractor who its plumbing and roofing subcontractors will be, and verify their licenses the same way you would if you hired them directly.
Which Trades Are Licensed by the State of Illinois?
The following residential construction trades are licensed or registered by a state agency. For each, the licensing statute sets the qualifications, and the agency maintains a public record. Use the link in each row to search it.
Plumbing
Illinois Department of Public Health
Illinois Plumbing License Law, 225 ILCS 320
Look up a licenseRoofing
Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
Illinois Roofing Industry Licensing Act, 225 ILCS 335
Look up a licenseHome inspection
Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
Home Inspector License Act, 225 ILCS 441
Look up a licenseLead abatement
Illinois Department of Public Health
Lead Poisoning Prevention Act, 410 ILCS 45
Look up a licenseRadon testing and mitigation
Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security
Radon Industry Licensing Act, 420 ILCS 44
Look up a licenseWater wells and pumps
Illinois Department of Public Health
Water Well and Pump Installation Contractor's License Act, 225 ILCS 345
Look up a licenseSeptic systems
Illinois Department of Public Health
Private Sewage Disposal Licensing Act, 225 ILCS 225
Look up a licenseFire sprinklers
Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal
Fire Sprinkler Contractor Licensing Act, 225 ILCS 317
Look up a license| Trade | Licensing Agency | Statute | Verify |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plumbing | Illinois Department of Public Health | Illinois Plumbing License Law, 225 ILCS 320 | Look up a license |
| Roofing | Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation | Illinois Roofing Industry Licensing Act, 225 ILCS 335 | Look up a license |
| Home inspection | Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation | Home Inspector License Act, 225 ILCS 441 | Look up a license |
| Lead abatement | Illinois Department of Public Health | Lead Poisoning Prevention Act, 410 ILCS 45 | Look up a license |
| Radon testing and mitigation | Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security | Radon Industry Licensing Act, 420 ILCS 44 | Look up a license |
| Water wells and pumps | Illinois Department of Public Health | Water Well and Pump Installation Contractor's License Act, 225 ILCS 345 | Look up a license |
| Septic systems | Illinois Department of Public Health | Private Sewage Disposal Licensing Act, 225 ILCS 225 | Look up a license |
| Fire sprinklers | Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal | Fire Sprinkler Contractor Licensing Act, 225 ILCS 317 | Look up a license |
Of these, plumbing and roofing are the licenses most homeowners encounter, and both are discussed in detail below. Lead abatement licensing matters on older homes, because Illinois requires licensed professionals for lead abatement work, and radon mitigation licensing matters in much of northern Illinois, where elevated radon levels are common. If you are buying a home, the home inspector who evaluates it must also hold a state license.
Plumbers: Illinois Department of Public Health
Plumbing is regulated as a matter of public health in Illinois. Under the Illinois Plumbing License Law, 225 ILCS 320, the Illinois Department of Public Health licenses plumbers and apprentice plumbers, registers plumbing contractors, and maintains the state plumbing code. Outside narrow exceptions, plumbing work must be performed by a licensed plumber or by a licensed apprentice under a licensed plumber's supervision. A plumbing business must also display the license of at least one licensed plumber at its place of business.
The Department publishes an online verification tool for plumbers and plumbing contractors. Its numbering convention helps you read a license quickly: licensed plumber numbers begin with 058, apprentice plumber numbers begin with 056, and plumbing contractor registration numbers begin with 055. Search by name or number, confirm that the license is active, and confirm that the name matches the plumber or company on your contract. If a company gives you only a contractor registration number, ask which licensed plumber will perform or supervise the work on your home.
State licensure is not the end of the inquiry. The City of Chicago and other municipalities impose their own registration and permit requirements on plumbing contractors, and most plumbing work beyond simple fixture replacement requires a permit and inspection. A plumber who offers to skip the permit on a water heater, a sewer repair, or a bathroom remodel is offering to skip the inspection that protects your home.
Roofers: Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
Roofing contractors in Illinois must be licensed by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation under the Illinois Roofing Industry Licensing Act, 225 ILCS 335. The Act creates two classes of license. A limited license covers residential roofing, including residential buildings of eight units or fewer. An unlimited license covers residential, commercial, and industrial roofing. A contractor holding only a limited license may not roof a commercial building.
| Requirement | Limited License | Unlimited License |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Residential, including buildings of 8 units or fewer | Residential, commercial, and industrial |
| Surety bond | $10,000 | $25,000 |
| Insurance | Property damage insurance and workers' compensation coverage (or approved self-insurance) | |
The bond and insurance requirements appear in Section 3 of the Act. 225 ILCS 335/3. A roofing contractor's name and license number must appear on its contracts, bids, and building permit applications, and the Department's consumer guidance advises that a roofing company advertising on trucks or other media should display its license number as well. The Attorney General's home repair guidance likewise directs roofing contractors to include their license name and number on contracts and bids. A proposal without a license number is a reason to stop and verify.
The Act was scheduled for repeal under the Regulatory Sunset Act, but Public Act 104-0427, effective August 15, 2025, extended it through January 1, 2031, increased the maximum disciplinary fine, and added consumer protection requirements for roofing contracts. Roofing licensure therefore remains fully in force.
Verify any roofer through the Department's online license look-up before you sign. Confirm that the license is active, that it is the right class for your building, and that the licensee's name matches the company on the contract. Be especially careful after a hail or wind storm, when crews from out of state solicit door to door. An out-of-state roofer may lawfully work in Illinois only with an Illinois roofing license.
Electricians, HVAC Contractors, and Other Locally Licensed Trades
Illinois does not license the following trades at the state level. Licensing, registration, testing, and insurance requirements for them are set by municipalities, and some towns impose none at all.
General contractors and remodelers
Electricians and electrical contractors
Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning contractors
Carpenters, drywall, flooring, and painting contractors
Masonry, concrete, and paving contractors
Handymen
Electrical work is the most significant of these. The City of Chicago licenses supervising electricians and electrical contractors, and many suburbs license or register electrical contractors and require proof of insurance before issuing a permit. Some municipalities test or register HVAC contractors as well. Because no state database exists for these trades, your building department is the place to verify them.
Where a town does not license a trade, the permit and inspection process becomes the homeowner's main safeguard. A municipal inspector reviewing electrical or mechanical work is checking it against the code your town has adopted. That is why a contractor's suggestion to skip the permit is one of the most important red flags in home repair.
How to Find and Verify an Illinois Contractor
Finding a good contractor starts with referrals from friends, neighbors, and coworkers who have had similar work done, and with at least three written estimates from contractors who have visited your home and priced the same scope of work. Once you have a candidate, the following checks take less than an hour and prevent most of the disputes we see.
- 1
Identify the trade and its licensing authority
Use the tables on this page to determine whether the work requires a state license, local licensing or registration, or both. A kitchen remodel may involve a general contractor licensed by the city, a plumber licensed by the state, and an electrician licensed by the city.
- 2
Look up the license
Search the state agency's online look-up using the exact business name and license number from the contractor's proposal. Confirm that the license is active and unexpired, that the name matches the contract, and that no discipline appears on the record.
- 3
Call your building department
Ask whether your municipality licenses or registers the trade, whether this contractor is currently registered, and what permits and inspections the project requires. Confirm that the contractor will pull the permit in its own name.
- 4
Confirm insurance
Request a certificate of insurance showing at least the liability minimums in 815 ILCS 513/25, and workers' compensation where the contractor has employees. Confirm that the policy dates cover your project.
- 5
Check complaint history and references
Search complaint records with the Illinois Attorney General and the Better Business Bureau, review court records in your county for lawsuits and liens, and speak with recent customers about similar projects. The Attorney General also suggests asking the contractor's suppliers whether it pays on time.
- 6
Get it in writing
Insist on a written contract that complies with the Home Repair and Remodeling Act and shows the contractor's license number where its trade requires one.
Official Look-Up Resources
Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
License look-up for roofing contractors, home inspectors, and other regulated professions.
Visit official siteIllinois Department of Public Health
Plumber and plumbing contractor license verification.
Visit official siteIllinois Attorney General, Consumer Protection
Home repair guidance and consumer complaints, including cooperative mediation.
Visit official siteYour Municipal Building Department
Local contractor licensing and registration, permit requirements, and inspection records for your property.
What If Your Contractor Is Not Licensed?
If you discover before work begins that a plumber or roofer lacks the required state license, do not proceed. Performing licensed work without a license violates the applicable licensing statute and exposes the contractor to discipline and fines by the licensing agency. You can report unlicensed plumbing to the Illinois Department of Public Health and unlicensed roofing to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.
If the work is already under way or complete, the analysis is more involved. A contractor who falsely claimed to be licensed may have committed a deceptive practice under the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act, 815 ILCS 505/2, which can support a claim for actual damages and, in the court's discretion, attorney fees. Unlicensed or unpermitted work may also need to be inspected, corrected, or redone before a municipality will sign off. Preserve the contract, proposals, advertisements, and any representation the contractor made about its license.
Before you withhold payment from a contractor over a licensing issue, speak with an attorney. The consequences depend on the trade, the statute, what the contractor represented, and the quality of the work. A homeowner who stops paying on a misunderstanding of the law may face a mechanic lien and a collection lawsuit.
Licensing Guidance for Contractors
For contractors, licensing and registration are the foundation of the right to work and the right to be paid. A remodeler working across the Chicago area must track the registration, insurance, and bond requirements of every municipality where it pulls permits, and must renew each on its own schedule. A roofer must keep its state license, bond, and insurance current and display its license number on every contract, bid, and permit application.
Register in each municipality before you bid work there, and calendar every renewal date.
Subcontract plumbing and roofing only to licensed trades, and keep copies of their licenses in the project file.
Show your license number on contracts and bids wherever your trade requires it.
Pull permits in your own company name, never the homeowner's.
Use a residential contract that complies with the Home Repair and Remodeling Act.
A licensing lapse discovered in the middle of a payment dispute hands the homeowner leverage it would not otherwise have. Keeping licenses, registrations, and contract forms in order protects your mechanic lien deadlines and collection rights when a customer will not pay.