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.

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

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.

Preparing for the General Contractor exam? State-specific contractor exam-prep courses help you pass the first time. Start exam prep →

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?

Application: —. 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 Workers' compensation: Required from the first employee (Illinois state law)

How often must an Illinois general contractor license be renewed?

Annual.

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.