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Illinois Subcontractor License Requirements: What GCs Must Verify Before Work Starts
Illinois has no statewide GC license — but roofing, plumbing, fire suppression, and elevator contractors require state credentials, and Chicago adds a full second licensing layer. The 2022 wage liability law also makes GCs financially responsible for their subs' unpaid wages.
In this guide
How Illinois Contractor Licensing Works
Illinois has no statewide general contractor license. With over 1,300 municipalities in the state, GC licensing authority belongs entirely to local governments. This means a GC must research each jurisdiction where they plan to work — requirements vary from full city-level licensing in Chicago to minimal or no requirements in smaller communities.
But "no statewide GC license" does not mean no compliance obligations. Illinois licenses four specialty trades at the state level — roofing, plumbing, fire suppression, and elevators — and these state credentials are required regardless of where in Illinois the work is performed. Chicago, in addition to enforcing these state requirements, operates its own comprehensive local licensing system for trades including electrical, plumbing contractor, and general contracting.
For GCs, the practical result is that verification must happen on two levels: state credentials for regulated specialty trades (any Illinois project), and Chicago DOB credentials for any work within the city limits.
State-Licensed Trades and the Authorities That Govern Them
The following trades require a state-issued credential in Illinois, regardless of whether the project is in Chicago or downstate.
| Trade | Licensing authority | License classifications / renewal |
|---|---|---|
| Roofing | Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) 225 ILCS 335 |
Limited: residential structures up to 8 units. Unlimited: all roofing work including commercial. Biennial renewal (expires December 31 of odd years). Maximum civil penalty $15,000 per offense (increased August 2025). |
| Plumbing | Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) 225 ILCS 320 |
Registered Apprentice Plumber, Licensed Journeyman Plumber, Plumbing Contractor. Annual renewal; 4 hours CE required per year. Plumbing Contractor registration fee: $150/year. Plumbers in Chicago must also hold a Chicago DOB plumbing contractor license. |
| Fire Suppression / Sprinklers | Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal (OSFM) | Fire Sprinkler Contractor registration. Biennial renewal; $1,500 fee. Required statewide for any contractor installing or modifying fire suppression systems. |
| Elevators | Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal (OSFM) 225 ILCS 312 |
Elevator Contractor license (entity) and Elevator Mechanic license (individual). Required statewide. OSFM transitioned to the GL Solutions platform in September 2025 — verify current status through the updated OSFM online services portal. |
| Asbestos | Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) 77 Ill. Admin. Code 855 |
Asbestos Abatement Contractor. Annual renewal (expires May 15 each year). Required for any contractor performing asbestos abatement in Illinois. |
Trades with no Illinois state license
Electrical contractors, HVAC/mechanical contractors, and general contractors have no state-level license in Illinois. These are regulated at the local/municipal level. For Chicago projects, see the section below on Chicago DOB licensing. For other Illinois municipalities, contact the local building department — requirements range from full contractor licensing to no requirements in many smaller cities.
Chicago-Specific Licensing — What's Different
Chicago operates one of the most comprehensive local contractor licensing regimes in the country through the Chicago Department of Buildings (DOB). For any sub performing work within Chicago's city limits, you need to verify both state credentials (where applicable) and Chicago DOB credentials.
| Trade | Chicago DOB license required | Also requires IL state license? |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical | Supervising Electrician and Electrical Contractor (Chicago DOB) | No (no IL state electrician license exists) |
| Plumbing Contractor | Plumbing Contractor (Chicago DOB) | Yes — state IDPH Plumbing Contractor registration AND Chicago DOB license both required |
| General Contractor | General Contractor License Class A–E (Chicago DOB) | No (no IL state GC license exists) |
| Boiler / Steam | Stationary Engineer license (Chicago DOB) — required to operate steam/hot water boilers within Chicago | No (no statewide boiler contractor license) |
| Elevator (Chicago) | Supervising Elevator Mechanic and Elevator Mechanic Contractor (Chicago DOB) | Yes — OSFM elevator contractor license required statewide AND Chicago DOB credentials required in Chicago |
| Roofing (Chicago) | No separate Chicago roofing license | Yes — IDFPR state roofing license applies in Chicago |
What GCs Are Responsible for Verifying
Illinois's multi-authority structure means your verification checklist depends on both the trade and the project location:
For all Illinois projects
- Roofing subs: verify IDFPR license (Limited or Unlimited) — the Unlimited classification is required for commercial roofing work
- Plumbing subs: verify IDPH Plumbing Contractor registration and confirm the individual plumbers on the job hold active IDPH journeyman or master plumber licenses
- Fire suppression subs: verify OSFM fire sprinkler contractor registration is current (annual renewal)
- Elevator subs: verify OSFM Elevator Contractor license for the entity
- Asbestos subs: verify IDPH asbestos abatement contractor license
For Chicago projects — add these checks
- Electrical subs: verify Chicago DOB Supervising Electrician and Electrical Contractor credentials (no state license to verify)
- Plumbing subs: verify BOTH the state IDPH registration AND the Chicago DOB Plumbing Contractor license
- GC subs / prime subs: verify Chicago DOB General Contractor license if they are acting as a prime on any Chicago project
- Boiler-related work: verify Stationary Engineer license through Chicago DOB
Penalties for Hiring Unlicensed Subcontractors in Illinois
Wage liability — Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act (effective July 2022)
Under 820 ILCS 115, GCs are jointly and severally liable for unpaid wages and fringe/benefit payments owed by subcontractors at any tier. Interest accrues at 60% per year on unpaid amounts while the debt remains outstanding. The sub must indemnify the GC, but workers can look directly to the GC if the sub fails to pay. This is the most significant recent legal development for Illinois GCs and applies to all private construction projects statewide.
Roofing penalties — up to $15,000 per offense (2025)
Public Act 104-0427 (August 2025) increased the maximum civil penalty for violations of the Illinois Roofing Industry Licensing Act from $5,000 to $15,000 per offense. Failure to display a license number on contracts, bids, or permits is a Class A misdemeanor plus a $1,000/day fine. Contracts with unlicensed roofers can be voided, leaving work uncompensated. Homeowner's insurance may deny claims for work performed by unlicensed roofers.
Workers' compensation exposure
Illinois workers' compensation is mandatory for any employer with even one employee, and construction is classified as "extra-hazardous." If an unlicensed sub lacks workers' comp and a worker is injured, the GC's insurance carrier will add the sub's payroll to the GC's policy at audit — significantly increasing premiums and creating direct liability exposure.
Employee misclassification
The Illinois Employee Classification Act presumes that persons performing services for a construction contractor are employees unless specific statutory criteria are met. GCs face DOL penalties, back taxes, and benefit liability for subs who are improperly classified as independent contractors. Unlicensed subs are a marker that often accompanies misclassification issues.
How to Look Up a Contractor License in Illinois
Illinois has no single lookup database. The portal you use depends on which trade and which licensing authority issued the credential.
Roofing contractors (IDFPR) — use the IDFPR license lookup at online-dfpr.micropact.com/lookup/licenselookup.aspx. Select "Roofing Contractor" as the license type. Confirm Limited vs. Unlimited classification matches the project scope.
Plumbers and plumbing contractors (IDPH) — use the IDPH plumber license verification portal at dph.illinois.gov. Verify both the individual journeyman or master plumber license AND the plumbing contractor registration separately.
Fire suppression contractors (OSFM) — use the OSFM online services portal at sfm.illinois.gov/onlineservices.html. Annual renewal is required — confirm the registration is current, not just that the sub was registered in a prior year.
Elevator contractors (OSFM) — use the OSFM elevator safety portal at sfm.illinois.gov/about/divisions/elevators.html. OSFM migrated to the GL Solutions platform in September 2025; verify through the updated portal URL.
Chicago DOB trade licenses — use the Chicago Licensed Trade Contractors database at webapps1.chicago.gov/licensedcontractors. Covers Supervising Electrician, Electrical Contractor, Master Plumber, Plumbing Contractor, General Contractor, Stationary Engineer, Elevator Mechanic Contractor, and all other Chicago DOB credentials. Annual renewal required.
Log all verifications with timestamps. Record the license number, authority, status, and date of each check for each sub. TrackMyVendor stores this automatically and alerts you before upcoming renewal deadlines.
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Start free →Frequently Asked Questions
Does Illinois require a state general contractor license?
Are Illinois GCs liable for their subcontractors' unpaid wages?
What is the Illinois IDFPR roofing license?
Does Chicago require separate licenses from Illinois state licenses?
How do I verify a contractor license in Illinois?
Does a COI confirm that a sub is licensed in Illinois?
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