Illinois General Contractor License Requirements

Official classification: No statewide license — City of Chicago General Contractor License · Issued by the City of Chicago Department of Buildings.

🏗️ General ContractorIL ✔ Verified 2026-07-09

In Illinois, general contractors must hold the No statewide license — City of Chicago General Contractor License, issued by the City of Chicago Department of Buildings, and no state surety bond is required. Full requirements — experience, exams, fees, insurance, renewal and reciprocity — are detailed below.

How to become a licensed general contractor in Illinois

Illinois licenses general contractors at the city level rather than statewide, so the path runs through your local permitting office. Here are the general steps — the verified specifics are detailed further down the page.

Start with your city, not the state. Illinois has no statewide general contractor license — registration, bonds and insurance are set by each municipality, so confirm the rules with your local permitting office first.
Carry the insurance your city requires. By class (City of Chicago): E $1M, D $2M, C $2M, B $3M, A $5M per occurrence; must include bodily injury, personal injury, property damage and completed operations; carrier rated B+ or better by A.M. Best
Post any local bond. None required (City of Chicago)
Register and pay the local fees. —
Renew on your city's schedule. Annual.

For the general path in every state, see the General Contractor guide →

Illinois general contractor license lookup

To confirm a general contractor is properly licensed in Illinois — or to check the status of your own license — search the issuing agency's official license database. The record shows whether the license is active and in good standing.

Verify a license now: Search the official webapps1.chicago.gov database →

License types

Class A — Unlimited project value
Class B — Up to $20,000,000 per project
Class C — Up to $10,000,000 per project
Class D — Up to $4,000,000 per project
Class E — Up to $500,000 per project

Requirements at a glance

Experience required	No formal experience requirement published; the city reviews the firm's background, open complaints and code-violation history during application evaluation
Application fee	—
License fee	$300–$3,500 per year by class (City of Chicago): E $300, D $900, C $1,300, B $1,800, A $3,500
Renewal fee	Same as license fee, annually; reinstatement $100 per lapsed year (City of Chicago)
Renewal period	Annual
Continuing education	None required
Bond required	None required (City of Chicago)
Liability insurance	By class (City of Chicago): E $1M, D $2M, C $2M, B $3M, A $5M per occurrence; must include bodily injury, personal injury, property damage and completed operations; carrier rated B+ or better by A.M. Best
Property damage	Included within the general liability requirement
Workers' comp	Required from the first employee (Illinois state law)
Background check	—
Credit requirement	—
Reciprocity	None · other states' agreements
Processing time	6–12 weeks for most Class E and D applicants; longer for higher classes (City of Chicago)

What an Illinois general contractor license costs

Fees are set per city; the figures on this page are one city's example.

Exams

No state trade exam is required — the No statewide license — City of Chicago General Contractor License is a registration, not an examined license. Local jurisdictions may set their own exam requirements.

Renewing an Illinois general contractor license

Because Illinois licenses general contractors locally, renewal runs through the same city office that issued the credential. The figures below are the City of Chicago General Contractor License rules; other Illinois municipalities set their own.

Renewal period	Annual
Renewal fee	Same as license fee, annually; reinstatement $100 per lapsed year (City of Chicago)
Continuing education	None required
Where to renew	City of Chicago Department of Buildings

Local / municipal notes

These are City of Chicago municipal requirements — Illinois has no statewide general contractor license. Other Illinois municipalities establish their own contractor licensing rules.

Frequently asked questions

How much does an Illinois general contractor license cost?

License: $300–$3,500 per year by class (City of Chicago): E $300, D $900, C $1,300, B $1,800, A $3,500. Renewal: Same as license fee, annually; reinstatement $100 per lapsed year (City of Chicago).

How do I look up a general contractor license in Illinois?

Search the official license database at webapps1.chicago.gov. The record shows whether the license is active and in good standing.

Do general contractors in Illinois need a surety bond?

None required (City of Chicago)

What experience is required for an Illinois general contractor license?

No formal experience requirement published; the city reviews the firm's background, open complaints and code-violation history during application evaluation

Is insurance required for general contractors in Illinois?

Liability: By class (City of Chicago): E $1M, D $2M, C $2M, B $3M, A $5M per occurrence; must include bodily injury, personal injury, property damage and completed operations; carrier rated B+ or better by A.M. Best. Property damage: Included within the general liability requirement. Workers' compensation: Required from the first employee (Illinois state law).

How long does it take to get an Illinois general contractor license?

Processing time: 6–12 weeks for most Class E and D applicants; longer for higher classes (City of Chicago).

How often must an Illinois general contractor license be renewed?

Annual. Continuing education: None required.

Fees and rules change frequently (often annually). This page was last verified on 2026-07-09 — always confirm current requirements directly with the City of Chicago Department of Buildings before applying. This is not legal advice.