Handyman License Requirements in Chicago, IL
Chicago: residential repair work that needs no building permit requires a BACP Home Repair business license; any work requiring a building permit requires a Department of Buildings General Contractor license instead (2026 fees: Class E $300 up to $500,000 projects with $1M insurance; A $3,500), plus DOB trade licenses for electrical/plumbing/masonry. Permits and inspections from DOB.
Chicago requirements
Chicago: residential repair work that needs no building permit requires a BACP Home Repair business license; any work requiring a building permit requires a Department of Buildings General Contractor license instead (2026 fees: Class E $300 up to $500,000 projects with $1M insurance; A $3,500), plus DOB trade licenses for electrical/plumbing/masonry. Permits and inspections from DOB.
Source link: chicago.gov · chicago.gov · chicago.gov · checked November 2, 2026
Local business license
Required
- Name: City of Chicago Home Repair business license (for residential repair work not requiring a building permit)
- Office: Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP)
"A City of Chicago business license for Home Repair is required to fix, replace, alter, convert, modernize, improve or make an addition to any property primarily designed or used as a residence. Home Repair licensees may not pull building permits. If the work requires a building permit, a General Contractor license is required instead of a home repair license."
Source: chicago.gov · checked November 2, 2026
Local contractor or handyman license
Required
- Name: Department of Buildings General Contractor License, Classes A-E (plus DOB trade licenses: electrical, plumbing, mason, drain layer, etc.)
- Trigger: Work requiring a building permit in Chicago; class by project value: E up to $500,000 ($300/yr, $1M insurance), D $4M ($900), C $10M ($1,300), B $20M ($1,800), A unlimited ($3,500) for 2026
"A City of Chicago general contractor license is required to perform most types of building construction, alteration, repair, and demolition work within the City of Chicago. A general contractor must comply with the consumer protection requirements applicable to licensed home repair companies when performing residential work but is not required to obtain a separate home repair license."
Source: chicago.gov · checked November 2, 2026
County: Cook County
The Illinois rule
Regulator: None for general contracting. Trades: Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) - roofing contractors; Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) - plumbers/plumbing contractors. HRRA enforced via Consumer Fraud Act (Attorney General / private action).
No license threshold. HRRA Sec. 10: definition excludes 'maintenance, service, or repairs under $500'. Sec. 15: written contract/work order required 'Prior to initiating home repair or remodeling work for over $1,000'. Sec. 20: consumer-rights pamphlet for all contracts; signed acknowledgment only for contracts 'over $1,000' ('$1,000 or under' = pamphlet, no acknowledgment).
What counts toward it: other: no licensing threshold. HRRA contract rules: written contract required for work 'over $1,000' (total cost incl. parts and materials); 'home repair and remodeling' definition excludes 'maintenance, service, or repairs under $500'.
""Home repair and remodeling" means the fixing, replacing, altering, converting, modernizing, improving, or making of an addition to any real property primarily designed or used as a residence other than maintenance, service, or repairs under $500."
State registration
No state GC registration. Plumbing contractors register with IDPH under 225 ILCS 320. Roofing contractors licensed by IDFPR (no handyman/small-job carve-out verified).
Source: dph.illinois.gov · checked November 2, 2026
Forming an LLC in Illinois
State filing fee: $150.
Source: ilsos.gov · checked November 2, 2026
What to do, in order
- Read the Illinois rule and confirm with None for general contracting. Trades: Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) - roofing contractors; Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) - plumbers/plumbing contractors. HRRA enforced via Consumer Fraud Act (Attorney General / private action)..
- Line up the Chicago items listed on this page.
- Get your insurance and rate in place before the first paid job.
Nearby places
Rules change. This page shows what official sources said on the dates above. It is not legal advice.
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