How to get a contractor license in Illinois.
Chicago licenses GCs; the state handles roofing, plumbing, and electrical. Here is the split and the order to tackle it.
Start freeThe steps, in order
Chicago GCs license through the Department of Buildings with trade exam and insurance requirements scaled to license class.
Roofing, plumbing, and electrical carry state licenses through IDFPR with their own experience and exam tracks.
Suburbs often add municipal registration on top. Register everywhere you pull permits, not just where the shop sits.
Once set up, get found
Show every license and registration on your BuildX Contractor ID profile so customers across the Chicago area verify you instantly.
Questions shops ask
Do I need a state license to be a GC in Illinois?
No statewide GC license exists. Chicago and many suburbs license locally; the state covers specific trades.
How do I handle five different suburb registrations?
Keep copies, renewal dates, and insurance certificates in one file. BuildX job files hold them per job when inspectors ask.
Keep reading