Free tool — official IDFPR search

Illinois Contractor License Lookup

Illinois does not license general contractors at the state level — most GC licensing happens at city level (Chicago, for example). But roofing is a state license: every roofing contractor in Illinois must hold an IDFPR license, which you can verify free through IDFPR's official License Lookup.

Good to know: There is no Illinois state general contractor license. Verify what does exist: the IDFPR roofing license (required statewide), the state plumbing license from the Department of Public Health, and any local contractor license or registration the city requires where the work is performed.

The official lookup: Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR)

Search by licensee name, business name, or license number in the IDFPR License Lookup. This is the board's live database — the same record building departments and insurers check.

Open the official IDFPR license search →

https://idfpr.illinois.gov/CheckLicense.asp

What the IDFPR licenses

  • ✓ Roofing contractors — licensed statewide by IDFPR
  • ✓ Home inspectors and other IDFPR-regulated professions
  • ✓ Plumbers are licensed separately by the Illinois Department of Public Health

How to verify a Illinois contractor in 3 steps

  1. 1

    Get the license number

    Ask the contractor for it — in most states it must appear on their contracts, bids, and advertising. No number? The search also works by business or owner name.

  2. 2

    Search the IDFPR database

    Open the official search above and look up the record by licensee name, business name, or license number in the IDFPR License Lookup.

  3. 3

    Read the record like an inspector

    Status must be active, the name must match your contract, the classification must cover your project, and the expiration date must be in the future. Check disciplinary actions before you sign.

Illinois license lookup FAQs

Do Illinois general contractors need a state license?

No — Illinois has no state general contractor license. General contractor licensing and registration is handled by cities and municipalities. The major exception is roofing: Illinois law requires all roofing and waterproofing work to be performed by a state-licensed roofing contractor, verified through IDFPR.

How do I verify an Illinois roofing contractor's license?

Open IDFPR's Check License page linked above, choose the License Lookup for individuals/entities, select "Roofing Contractor" as the license type, and search by name or the nine-digit license number (it usually starts with 104 or 105 and must appear on the contractor's contracts, bids, and ads). The status should be Active with a future expiration date.

What if the contractor isn't in the board's database?

Either the license isn't active, the details were entered differently (try the owner's name, not just the business name), or the contractor isn't licensed. Ask the contractor for their license number and search by number — if it still doesn't appear, do not hire them for work that requires a license.

How often should I re-check a license?

Verify before you sign, and again before final payment on long projects. Licenses can be suspended mid-project, and a lapsed license can void insurance coverage and leave you outside the board's complaint process.

Working in Illinois? You'll also need the permit office.

A license lets a contractor work — a permit lets the project start. Browse Illinois permit portals for the official building department links, or look up a contractor in another state.

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Managing licenses for a whole crew or sub roster?

Permit Warden keeps every license, permit, and renewal date in one place and reminds you before anything expires — across every state you work in.

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