How to Check a Contractor's License in Illinois

Illinois does not have a statewide general contractor license. If you are hiring someone to build a deck, remodel a kitchen, or put on a new roof, there is no single state database where you can look up their credentials. Instead, Illinois licenses specific specialty trades at the state level and leaves general contracting to cities and counties.

That makes verifying a contractor in Illinois more complicated than in states like California or Florida. This guide walks through exactly which databases to check, how to search them, and what to do when your contractor does not show up.

Does Illinois require a contractor license?

Illinois does not require a statewide general contractor license, but it does license specific trades. Electricians, plumbers, and roofing contractors must register with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). General contractors are regulated at the city or county level only, meaning you need to check local requirements depending on where your project is located.

Illinois splits contractor regulation across multiple levels of government. Here is how it breaks down:

• General contractors - no state license required. Licensing is handled entirely by local municipalities.
• Roofing contractors - must register with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) under the Roofing Industry Licensing Act.
• Electricians - licensed statewide through the IDFPR.
• Plumbers - licensed statewide through the IDFPR.
• HVAC contractors - no separate state license, but many municipalities require local HVAC licensing or registration.
• Other specialty trades - structural pest control operators, lead abatement contractors, and asbestos removal professionals all need state licenses through the IDFPR.

The key takeaway is that if your contractor is doing electrical, plumbing, or roofing work, you can verify them at the state level. For everything else, you need to check with your city or county.

How do I search the Illinois contractor license database?

Go to the IDFPR License Lookup at online-dfpr.micropact.com and search by name, business name, or license number. This free tool covers all state-licensed trades including electricians, plumbers, and registered roofing contractors. For general contractors not listed in the IDFPR system, contact your local municipality's building department, which handles licensing independently.

The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) is the central licensing body for trades that require a state license. Their online license lookup is free and open to the public.

Go to the IDFPR License Lookup to get started. You can search by:

• Last name and first name - works for individual license holders
• Business name - use this if you know the company name but not the individual
• License number - the fastest and most accurate way to search if the contractor has provided it
• City - helpful for narrowing results when you are searching a common name

How do I verify an electrician's license in Illinois?

Search the IDFPR License Lookup and select "Licensed Electrical Contractor" for the business entity or "Electrician" for the individual tradesperson. Both the company and the worker must hold valid credentials. Make sure the name on the license matches exactly who signed your contract, since a company can only perform electrical work if it holds an active electrical contractor license.

On the IDFPR lookup page, select the profession type that matches what you are looking for. For electricians, the relevant categories include:

• Licensed Electrical Contractor - this is the business entity authorized to contract for electrical work
• Electrician - the individual holding a journeyman or master electrician license

Make sure the person or business that signed your contract matches the name on the license. A company can only perform electrical work if it holds a valid electrical contractor license and employs licensed electricians.

How do I verify a plumber's license in Illinois?

Use the same IDFPR License Lookup tool and select the plumbing profession type. Confirm the company holds a Plumbing Contractor license and that the individual doing the work holds a Licensed Plumber credential. According to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, unlicensed plumbing work is a Class A misdemeanor for a first offense in Illinois.

Plumbing is also licensed through the IDFPR. Use the same license lookup tool and search under the plumbing profession type. Illinois issues several plumbing license levels:

• Licensed Plumber - fully qualified to perform plumbing work
• Plumbing Contractor - the business entity licensed to contract for plumbing jobs
• Plumber Apprentice - in training and should be working under direct supervision

For any plumbing project, make sure the company holds a plumbing contractor license and that the individual doing the work holds an active plumber license.

How do I verify a roofing contractor's license in Illinois?

Search the IDFPR License Lookup and select the roofing contractor profession type. Roofing is the only general construction trade Illinois regulates at the state level. Under the Roofing Industry Licensing Act, any contractor performing roofing work must be registered with the IDFPR, regardless of what local permits they may hold. An unregistered roofer is operating illegally in Illinois.

Roofing is the one general construction trade that Illinois regulates at the state level. Under the Roofing Industry Licensing Act, any contractor performing roofing work must be registered with the IDFPR.

Search for roofing contractors on the same IDFPR License Lookup page. Select the roofing contractor profession type and enter the name or license number.

A valid roofing registration means the contractor has met bonding and insurance requirements set by the state. If a roofer is not registered with the IDFPR, they are operating illegally in Illinois, regardless of what local permits they may hold.

Does Chicago have its own contractor licensing system?

Yes. Chicago operates its own contractor licensing system through the Chicago Department of Buildings, independent of the state IDFPR. Contractors working in Chicago need city-issued licenses in addition to any state credentials. This includes a Chicago-specific general contractor license — even though Illinois has no statewide equivalent — plus city-level electrician and other trade licenses.

If your project is in Chicago, the city has its own contractor licensing system that operates independently from the state. The Chicago Department of Buildings requires licenses for a wide range of contractors, including general contractors, electricians, plumbers, iron workers, and more.

You can search for Chicago-licensed contractors through the Chicago Department of Buildings License Search. The database lets you search by contractor name or license number.

A few things to know about Chicago licensing:

• Chicago requires its own general contractor license. Even though Illinois does not license general contractors statewide, Chicago does. If someone is doing construction work in Chicago, they need a Chicago general contractor license.
• State licenses do not replace Chicago licenses. An electrician working in Chicago needs both a state electrician license from the IDFPR and a Chicago electrician license from the Department of Buildings.
• Specialty trades have separate Chicago categories. Chicago licenses mason contractors, iron workers, general contractors, and other trades that are not regulated at the state level.

What about contractor licensing in other Illinois cities?

Many Illinois suburbs and municipalities beyond Chicago have their own contractor registration or licensing requirements. Cities like Naperville, Evanston, Springfield, Aurora, Joliet, and Rockford each set their own rules by trade. If your project is outside Chicago, contact your city's building department directly to confirm what credentials your contractor needs before work begins.

Chicago is not the only city in Illinois that licenses contractors. Many suburbs and municipalities have their own registration or licensing requirements. Some examples:

• Naperville- requires contractor registration through the city's building services department before pulling permits
• Evanston - contractors must register with the city and provide proof of insurance and bonding
• Springfield - has its own contractor licensing for various trades
• Aurora, Joliet, Rockford - each has local registration or licensing requirements that vary by trade

If your project is outside Chicago, contact your city's building department to find out what local licenses or registrations your contractor needs. Most cities will tell you over the phone or have information on their website.

What should I look for in the Illinois license search results?

When reviewing an IDFPR license record, focus on four key fields: license status (must say "Active"), expiration date (should extend past your project end date), license type (must match the work being performed), and any discipline history. The IDFPR tracks complaints and enforcement actions, so a note in the discipline section warrants careful review before you sign anything.

• License status- should say "Active" or "Active, No Discipline." If it says "Expired," "Revoked," "Suspended," or "Not Renewed," that contractor should not be performing licensed work.
• Expiration date - confirm the license will not expire before your project is expected to finish.
• License type - make sure it matches the work they are doing. A licensed plumber cannot legally do electrical work under that license.
• Discipline history - the IDFPR tracks complaints and enforcement actions. If there are disciplinary notes on the record, read them carefully before hiring.

Check insurance and complaints separately

The IDFPR license lookup confirms whether a license exists and its current status, but it does not show insurance details. You should verify insurance separately:

• Ask for a Certificate of Insurance (COI)- any legitimate contractor should be able to provide this on request. It should show general liability insurance and workers' compensation coverage.
• Call the insurance company - verify the policy is active by calling the insurer listed on the COI. Certificates can be forged or outdated.
• File complaints through the IDFPR - if you have issues with a state-licensed contractor, you can file a complaint through the IDFPR complaint process. For Chicago-licensed contractors, complaints go through the Chicago Department of Buildings.

What if I can't find my contractor in the Illinois database?

If a contractor does not appear in the IDFPR system, do not panic immediately. General contractors, painters, and many remodelers are legitimately absent because Illinois does not require a state license for those trades. However, if your contractor claims to be a licensed electrician, plumber, or registered roofer and does not appear, that is a serious red flag. Ask for their license number directly and verify it yourself.

1. They do work that does not require a state license. General contractors, painters, landscapers, and many remodeling contractors are not in the IDFPR database because Illinois does not require a state license for those trades. Check with your local municipality instead.
2. The license is under a different name.Sole proprietors sometimes register under their personal name while doing business under a different name. Try searching both the business name and the individual's name.
3. Spelling variations. Try partial name searches or different spellings. The IDFPR search can be sensitive to exact name matches.
4. They hold a local license only. Some municipalities issue their own trade licenses that are separate from the IDFPR system. Contact the city directly.

However, if the contractor claims to be a licensed electrician, plumber, or registered roofer and does not appear in the IDFPR database, that is a serious red flag. These are state-mandated credentials. A legitimate professional should be able to give you their license number immediately.

Why this matters in Illinois

Hiring an unlicensed contractor for work that requires a license creates real risks:

• No state recourse. The IDFPR can investigate complaints and take enforcement action against licensed professionals. If your contractor is unlicensed, the state cannot help you.
• Insurance gaps. Unlicensed contractors are far less likely to carry proper insurance. If a worker gets injured on your property or the work causes damage, you could be personally liable.
• Permit and inspection problems. Work done without proper licenses often means permits were skipped too. That can cause problems when you try to sell your home or file an insurance claim.
• Code violations. Electrical, plumbing, and roofing work done by unlicensed individuals is more likely to fail inspections or create safety hazards down the road.
• Difficulty recovering damages. If something goes wrong, suing an unlicensed contractor is harder. They often lack business assets, bonding, or the insurance that would make you whole.

The bottom line

Checking a contractor's license in Illinois takes a few extra steps because the state does not have a single, unified licensing system for all contractors. But for the trades that matter most, the tools are free and available online.

For electricians, plumbers, and roofing contractors, search the IDFPR License Lookup. For projects in Chicago, also check the Chicago Department of Buildings. For general contractors and other trades, contact your local municipality's building department.

Ask every contractor for their license number before signing a contract, verify it yourself in the relevant database, and confirm their insurance is active. It takes 15 minutes and can save you from a costly mistake.