How to Check a Contractor's License in Chicago

Chicago homeowners trying to verify a contractor's license quickly discover that Illinois does not have a statewide general contractor license — so there is no single state database to check. Instead, Chicago runs its own licensing system through the city, and the process is different from anything you'll find in most other major cities.

This guide explains exactly what licenses exist for Chicago contractors, where to look them up, and what to do when a contractor doesn't appear in the system.

Does Illinois have a statewide contractor license I can check?

No. Illinois does not require or issue a statewide general contractor license. Unlike California, Florida, or Arizona, there is no state database listing licensed general contractors in Illinois. This is one of the most important things to understand before hiring anyone for home renovation work in Chicago or its suburbs.

What Illinois does regulate at the state level:

• Roofing contractors — licensed through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR)
• Plumbers — licensed through IDFPR
• Structural engineers and architects — licensed through IDFPR
• General contractors — not licensed at the state level

How does Chicago license contractors differently from the state?

The City of Chicago issues its own contractor licenses through the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP). Chicago requires a city license for general contractors, electrical contractors, and plumbing contractors doing work within city limits. You can search these licenses at businesslicenses.chicago.gov.

• General Contractor license — required for construction, renovation, and repair work in Chicago
• Electrical Contractor license — required for electrical work in Chicago
• Plumbing Contractor license — required for plumbing work in Chicago
• All three are issued by Chicago BACP, not the state of Illinois
• Search at businesslicenses.chicago.gov using business name or license number

How do I search the Chicago business license portal?

Go to businesslicenses.chicago.gov and search by business name or license number. The search returns active and inactive licenses, business address, license type, and expiration date. Look specifically for an active Chicago General Contractor license or the relevant trade license. An expired or missing license is a significant red flag for anyone working inside city limits.

• Go to businesslicenses.chicago.gov
• Search by business name — try partial names if the full name returns nothing
• Filter results to confirm the license type matches the work being done
• Confirm the license is “Active,” not expired or revoked
• Note the expiration date — ask for renewal documentation if it's close

What types of Chicago contractor licenses exist and which one do I need?

For most home renovation and remodeling projects in Chicago, you want to see a City of Chicago General Contractor license. Electrical work requires a separate Chicago Electrical Contractor license. Plumbing requires a Chicago Plumbing Contractor license. A contractor may hold more than one license type if they offer multiple trades.

• General Contractor (GC) — kitchens, bathrooms, additions, structural work
• Electrical Contractor — panel work, rewiring, new circuits
• Plumbing Contractor — pipe work, fixture installation, sewer repair
• Roofing in Illinois is state-licensed through IDFPR — check both IDFPR and Chicago BACP for roofers
• If a trade contractor is doing specialty work, verify the specific license type matches

What should I do if a contractor isn't in the Chicago license portal?

If a search returns no results, first try variations of the business name — shorter search strings, with and without LLC, and by the owner's personal name. If the contractor still does not appear, ask them directly for their Chicago license number. A contractor doing legitimate work in the city should be able to produce it immediately. No license number means no Chicago license.

• Try the first 2–3 words of the business name only
• Search without “LLC,” “Inc.,” or “Corp.”
• Ask the contractor directly: “What is your City of Chicago license number?”
• If they can't provide one, they likely do not have a Chicago license
• Working without a required Chicago license is illegal and leaves you unprotected

What is the difference between Chicago city limits and suburban Cook County?

Chicago city licensing applies only within the city limits. Contractors working in suburban Cook County municipalities — Oak Park, Evanston, Naperville, Schaumburg, and others — are subject to those individual municipalities' permit requirements, not Chicago's licensing system. Each suburb may have different rules, and some have no general contractor licensing at all.

• Chicago BACP licenses are not valid for work in suburbs
• Suburban municipalities have their own building permit requirements
• For suburban work, focus on pulling permit history and verifying insurance
• Some suburbs like Evanston have their own contractor registration
• Always ask whether the job requires a permit — legitimate contractors know the answer

Why does it matter if a Chicago contractor is licensed?

In Chicago, a contractor operating without a required city license faces fines and cannot legally pull permits. Work done without permits cannot be legally inspected, creating quality and safety gaps. More importantly, if something goes wrong — structural failure, fire, or injury — an unlicensed contractor leaves you with almost no recourse beyond civil litigation.

• Unlicensed contractors cannot legally pull city building permits
• Unpermitted work in Chicago may need to be disclosed at sale and can affect home value
• No license means no guarantee of minimum insurance or bonding requirements
• Chicago's BACP handles complaints against licensed contractors — no license, no complaint avenue

Is there a simpler way to verify a Chicago contractor's license?

Navigating Chicago's BACP portal and knowing which license type to look for takes time — especially for homeowners who have never done it before. CheckLicensed.com provides instant license verification from official state and city sources, making it easy to confirm a contractor's status without figuring out which government database to use.