Illinois General Contractor License: How to Get Certified

Do you need a general contractor license in Illinois?

Yes, for the most part, you need a general contractor license to work as a general contractor in Illinois. But, unlike most parts of the country, Illinois doesn’t actually license general contractors at the state level. So, while a particular city or county may not require a full license, you will still need to fill out some form of registration and meet the municipal requirements.

In Illinois, almost all trades are regulated by cities and counties. Only plumbing and roofing are regulated at the state level. So, to find out the specifics of any licensing exemptions and exceptions, you need to get in touch with your local government.

Though the definition can change slightly from region to region, a general contractor license typically lets you take on construction, demolition, and building rehabilitation work that is carried out by your business and any subcontractors you may need.

In this guide, we’ll look at the general contractor licensing process for the following cities and counties in Illinois:

• Chicago
• Aurora
• Rockford
• DuPage County

Types of contractor licenses in Illinois

The type of general contractor license you need will vary depending on where in Illinois you apply. Here are the license types for some major cities and counties in the state:

Chicago

In the city of Chicago, general contractor licenses are issued by the city’s Department of Buildings. The Department has five different classes of general contractor license that vary in terms of project value, type of demolition involved, and minimum insurance requirements.

License Classification	Description
Class A	• Unlimited project value • Both ordinary and complex demolition allowed • Minimum insurance requirement of $5 million per occurrence
Class B	• $10 million maximum project value • Both ordinary and complex demolition allowed • Minimum insurance requirement of $3 million per occurrence
Class C	• $5 million maximum project value • Ordinary demolition allowed • Minimum insurance requirement of $1 million per occurrence, $2 million overall
Class D	• $2 million maximum project value • Ordinary demolition allowed • Minimum insurance requirement of $1 million per occurrence, $2 million overall
Class E	• $500,000 maximum project value • No demolition allowed • Minimum insurance requirement of $1 million per occurrence

Aurora

Aurora, IL only has one type of general contractor license, and all license holders also need to register with the city. 

Rockford

Rockford, IL does not require licenses for general contractors. Instead, the city requires that anyone conducting a construction project uses permits for different types of general contracting projects: 

• Commercial building
• Demolition
• Residential remodeling and alterations

DuPage County 

DuPage County ordinance requires anyone overseeing a construction project that requires one or more tradesmen for completion to register as a general contractor.

How to get a general contractor license in Illinois

Now let’s take a look at the steps and requirements involved in getting your general contractor license in different parts of the state.

Chicago 

Here’s what you need to submit to the City of Chicago’s Department of Buildings in order to get your Class A, B, C, D, or E general contractor license:

• Completed general contractor application
• Statement of your financial standing
• Proof of insurance coverage in the amount matching your license class
• Copies of the necessary government-issued ID

Submit it to the Continental Testing Services for processing at the following address:

P.O. Box 100
LaGrange, IL 
60525

Aurora 

To get your general contractor license in Aurora, you need to do the following:

• Submit your license application, including all relevant information and proof that you meet the insurance requirements for general contractors:
  • $1,000,000 total in general liability
  • $500,000 per occurrence
  • Workers’ compensation 
  • The city of Aurora as a primary, non-contributory additional insured
• Submit your contractor registration application, including the $200 fee and insurance certificates
• Secure the necessary permits for your building

Submit your completed forms to the city’s Division of Building and Permits online or at the following address:

77 S Broadway
Aurora, IL 
60505

Rockford

Unlike the first two major cities, Rockford does not require a general contractor license for you to work on residential and commercial building projects. However, you still need to have a permit for any construction work if the building in question is over 120 square feet. 

To get your construction permit in Rockford, fill out the application that corresponds to your project:

• Commercial, industrial, or multi-family dwelling
• Building demolition
• Residential remodel and alteration

Submit your completed forms to the city’s Department of Construction and Development Services at the following address:

425 East State Street
Rockford, IL 
61104

DuPage County

To work as a general contractor in DuPage County, you need to do the following: 

• Register as a contractor with the county Building & Zoning Department
• Secure a building permit

Submit your completed forms to the DuPage County Building Office online or at the following address:

421 N. County Farm Road
Wheaton, IL 

Illinois general contractor exam

There are no exams for general contractors in Chicago, Aurora, Rockford, or DuPage County. If you’re applying from outside these areas, you should check with your regional authority to confirm whether a test is needed.

Does Illinois reciprocate general contractor licenses?

Reciprocal license agreements let professionals from out of state apply directly for a general contractor license. Chicago, Aurora, Rockford, and DuPage County do not have reciprocity agreements.

Because licensing is not conducted at the state level, you will need to check with your regional authority to determine if reciprocity is possible.

How much does an Illinois general contractor license cost?

You can expect to pay between $200 and $2,000 for permission to work as a general contractor in Illinois, depending on the region and type of work you want to perform:

City/County	License, Registration, or Permit Fee
Chicago	• Class A: $2,000 • Class B: $1,000 • Class C: $750 • Class D: $500 • Class E: $300
Aurora	• License application fee: $200 • Registration fee: $200 • Building permit fees depend on project size and scope
Rockford	• Permit processing fee: $50 • Building permit fees depend on project size and scope
DuPage County	• Registration fee for general contractors with employees: $300 • Registration fee for general contractors without employees: $200

Renewing your Illinois general contractor license

Here’s some key information about renewing your general contractor license, registration, or permit in Illinois: 

City/County	Renewal Process
Chicago	Licenses are valid for one year from the date they are issued Note that the license is automatically inactivated if the attached insurance policy expires
Aurora	Licenses are valid for one year from the date they are issued
Rockford	Permits last for the duration of the project
DuPage County	Licenses are valid for one year from the date of registration

How to start a contracting business in Illinois

The licensing requirements for starting a general contractor business in Illinois also change depending on where in the state you want to operate. Some areas require business information on the permit or registration application, others have additional requirements for general contractors operating as business owners, and some don’t have any requirements. 

In Chicago, you need to follow some steps in order to start your business, including: 

• Determine your type of legal entity
• Register your business federally and get an EIN
• Get an Illinois Department of Revenue account number
• Apply for your business license

In other cities, like Aurora, general contractors aren’t required to have a business license. It’s always good to check in with your local authority before you start operating to make sure everything’s above board. 

Regardless of where you are in the state of Illinois, there are also some practical considerations for starting a contracting business that you should consider, like: 

• Pricing your services appropriately
• Securing financing and setting up an accounting system
• Finding the necessary equipment and product suppliers
• Setting up general contracting business software
• Creating a sales strategy
• Generating leads for your general contractor business 

Does a general contractor license in Illinois increase your earning potential?

In general, yes, getting a license, registration, or permit for working as a general contractor increases your earning potential. But it depends on where exactly in Illinois you want to work as a general contractor. 

While the average salary for a general contractor in Illinois is around $135,000, you stand to make even more than that, depending on the municipality and the type of projects you want to take on. Plus, you can increase your earning potential even more by starting your own contracting business.