How to Verify a Contractor License in Illinois (Roofing, Plumbing & Chicago Rules, 2026)
Illinois licenses two trades statewide — roofers (through IDFPR) and plumbers (through the Illinois Department of Public Health) — but has no statewide general contractor license. GCs are regulated locally: Chicago runs its own general contractor licensing through the Department of Buildings, and most suburbs require contractor registration. Electricians are licensed by municipalities. Here’s exactly who to check for your job.
Who Licenses What in Illinois?
| Trade | Licensed by | Where to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Roofer | State — IDFPR (Roofing Industry Licensing Act) | idfpr.illinois.gov license lookup |
| Plumber | State — IDPH | IDPH plumber license search |
| General contractor | Local — Chicago DOB licenses GCs (Class A–E by project size); suburbs require registration | Chicago: city data portal / DOB; suburbs: village hall |
| Electrician | Local — municipal electrical commissions | Your city/village registration list |
| HVAC | Local registration in most areas | Your municipality |
Two statewide rules worth knowing:
- Roofing licenses have classes: residential, commercial, or unlimited — and the license number must appear on contracts and advertising
- The Illinois Home Repair and Remodeling Act requires written contracts for work over $1,000 and a consumer-rights pamphlet (“Home Repair: Know Your Consumer Rights”) for jobs over $1,000 — a contractor who skips both is ignoring state law on page one
How Do You Verify, Step by Step?
- Roofer: search the IDFPR license lookup — confirm active status, the right class (residential vs. commercial), and a matching business name. Freeze-thaw plus hail makes Chicagoland a roofing-fraud hotspot — pair this with the storm chaser checklist
- Plumber: verify through IDPH’s plumbing license search; Illinois plumbing work must run under a licensed plumber, and Chicago enforces aggressively
- GC in Chicago: confirm the company holds a current City of Chicago general contractor license (searchable via the city’s data portal) — required to pull building permits
- Suburbs: call or check the village/city building department for the contractor’s registration and bond on file
- Everywhere: insurance certificates direct from the insurer, and the universal 5-minute routine
What Should Illinois Homeowners Watch Specifically?
- The pamphlet test: for $1,000+ jobs, state law requires the written contract and consumer-rights pamphlet. It’s the fastest legitimacy filter in the state — pros carry it, fly-by-nights have never heard of it
- Chicago permits: unpermitted structural/electrical/plumbing work in Chicago resurfaces at sale time. A GC who proposes skipping permits is transferring their risk to your closing
- Freeze-thaw economics: winter damage (ice dams, burst pipes, heaved concrete) drives spring repair rushes — and rush seasons attract canvassers. Compare quotes against our Chicago plumber, Chicago electrician, and Chicago window guides
- Where to complain: IDFPR (roofers), IDPH (plumbers), the Illinois AG’s Consumer Fraud Bureau (everything else — and they enforce the Home Repair Act). Full sequence: scammed by a contractor (Illinois small claims limit: $10,000)
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Illinois license general contractors? Not statewide. Chicago licenses GCs through its Department of Buildings (classes by project size), and most suburbs require local registration and bonds. The state only licenses roofers and plumbers directly.
How do I check a roofer’s license in Illinois? Search the IDFPR license lookup for an active roofing license in the right class (residential/commercial/unlimited). The license number must appear on their contract and ads — its absence is your first red flag.
Are Illinois electricians state-licensed? No — electricians are licensed or registered by municipalities (Chicago and many suburbs run their own systems). Verify with the building department where the work happens.
What does the Illinois Home Repair and Remodeling Act require? For jobs over $1,000: a written contract and the state consumer-rights pamphlet. Insurance-funded repairs also carry specific disclosure duties. Violations are enforceable by the Attorney General.
What if my Illinois contractor botched the job or vanished? Roofers → IDFPR complaint; plumbers → IDPH; all home repair → Illinois AG Consumer Fraud Bureau; plus demand letter and small claims up to $10,000. Step-by-step: scammed by a contractor.
Last updated: June 10, 2026. Sources: IDFPR (Roofing Industry Licensing Act, 225 ILCS 335); IDPH plumbing licensure (225 ILCS 320); Illinois Home Repair and Remodeling Act (815 ILCS 513); City of Chicago DOB licensing. This article is consumer information, not legal advice.