Check Roofing, Plumbing and Local Contractor Records Before Work Starts
An Illinois contractor license lookup is not one single statewide search for every trade. Roofing is checked through IDFPR, plumbing is checked through the Illinois Department of Public Health, and many general contractor or trade contractor records are handled locally by Chicago, Cook County or the municipality where the job is located.
This guide is built for Illinois homeowners, property managers, remodelers and contractors who need the practical answer first: which official search to use, which license type matters, and what still needs a permit or local registration check.
Quick Answer: Illinois Uses Different Searches for Different Contractor Work
Use IDFPR License Lookup for Illinois roofing contractor licenses. Use the Illinois Department of Public Health plumbing verification system for plumbers and plumbing contractors. For general contractors, electrical contractors, mason contractors, elevator contractors, local registrations and permit professionals, check the city or county where the project is located.
Official Illinois Contractor Lookup Links
Use the official links below after you identify the work type. Illinois has state-level systems for roofing and plumbing, while many building and general contractor checks are local.
Roofing contractor search
IDFPR licenses Illinois roofing contractors. The official IDFPR lookup is the right place to check the roofing contractor license number, license status, expiration and professional record details shown by the department.
Plumber and plumbing contractor search
IDPH regulates plumbers and the plumbing trade in Illinois. Use the IDPH verification tool for plumber records and confirm plumbing contractor registration when the business is contracting for plumbing work.
Chicago contractor search
The City of Chicago Department of Buildings licenses contractors involved in construction, maintenance, rehabilitation and demolition of buildings and building systems inside the city.
Unincorporated Cook County search
Cook County requires contractors performing work in unincorporated Cook County to register with the Department of Building and Zoning. This is separate from state roofing or plumbing licensure.
How to Search an Illinois Contractor Record Correctly
The safest Illinois lookup starts with the trade. A roofing job, plumbing job and Chicago general contractor job can require three different official systems.
Identify the work before opening a database
Start with the project type: roof replacement, plumbing, sewer or water service, electrical, HVAC, demolition, general remodeling, masonry, elevator work, lead work or local permit work. The correct search depends on the trade.
Search by license number when possible
For roofing, Illinois consumer guidance tells homeowners to make sure the roofing company license number starts with 104 and appears on the contract. A license-number search is cleaner than a broad business-name search.
Match the legal name to the contract
The name in the state or local record should make sense against the estimate, contract, invoice, payment account and permit application. A DBA or corporate structure can be legitimate, but the contractor should explain it clearly in writing.
Check status, expiration and scope
Open the exact record and review current status, expiration date, license type, qualifying party when shown, and any discipline or complaint path provided by the official agency.
Recheck before signing or paying
License status can change. A screenshot from a contractor or a saved search result is useful for your file, but the current official database should be checked again before signing, paying a deposit or approving final payment.
Illinois Roofing Contractor License Lookup
Roofing is the clearest statewide contractor license category for many Illinois homeowners. IDFPR licenses roofing contractors under the Illinois Roofing Industry Licensing Act.
Residential roofing license
A limited roofing license is for roofing business limited to residential properties consisting of eight units or less.
Residential, commercial and industrial
An unlimited roofing license covers roofing business that includes residential, commercial and industrial properties.
Qualifying party
A roofing contractor business must have a qualifying party who is legally qualified to act for the business and actively engaged in the roofing operation.
| Roofing item | What Illinois checks | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| License type | Limited or unlimited roofing contractor license. | Residential-only and broader commercial/industrial roofing authority are not the same. |
| Qualifying party | A qualifying party tied to the roofing contractor business. | The qualifying party is central to the licensed roofing business record. |
| Exam category | Residential roofing exam for limited; residential, commercial and industrial scope for unlimited. | The license category must fit the work being sold. |
| License number | Illinois roofing license numbers commonly start with 104. | The number should appear on the contract and match the official record. |
Illinois Plumbing License and Plumbing Contractor Search
Plumbing is not handled by the same state agency as roofing. The Illinois Department of Public Health regulates plumbers and the plumbing trade under the Illinois Plumbing License Law.
Plumber license verification
Use IDPH plumbing verification to check plumber license information. This is the right state-level route for plumber status, not the IDFPR roofing lookup.
Plumbing contractor registration
Plumbing contractor registration is tied to the business and requires information such as the business name, address, FEIN where applicable and plumber-of-record information.
Certificate of insurance
Illinois plumbing contractor registration and renewal require a certificate of insurance submitted in the name of the registered plumbing contractor.
| Plumbing record | What to compare | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed plumber | Name, license number and expiration where shown. | Plumbing work is regulated separately from general contracting. |
| Plumbing contractor registration | Business name, contact information and plumber of record. | The business contracting for plumbing work must line up with the person and project. |
| Insurance certificate | Insured name, policy details, coverage type and IDPH certificate-holder requirement. | Insurance proof should match the registered plumbing contractor, not a random related company. |
| Local plumbing permit | Permit number, address, contractor, inspection status and scope. | A state license does not replace the project permit or inspection process. |
Illinois Local Contractor Search: Chicago, Cook County and Cities
Illinois does not give homeowners one statewide general-contractor lookup that covers every local project. For many building, electrical, masonry, elevator, demolition and general contractor checks, the city or county record is the practical search.
Chicago
The City of Chicago Department of Buildings administers licenses for contractors involved in construction, maintenance, rehabilitation and demolition of buildings and building systems.
Unincorporated Cook County
Cook County requires contractors performing work in unincorporated Cook County to register with the Department of Building and Zoning. Permit review can involve architectural, electrical, plumbing, zoning and contractor registration checks.
Aurora
Aurora requires the appropriate contractor license to build, construct, alter, repair, add to, demolish or move a building or structure in the city. The city also connects contractor records to its permit dashboard.
Other Illinois municipalities
For Naperville, Rockford, Peoria, Springfield, Joliet, Elgin or a smaller village, search the city name plus “contractor license,” “building permit,” “licensed contractors” or “contractor registration.” Always use the municipality where the property is located, not only the mailing address.
Illinois Contractor Credential Map
Use this resolver before hiring. It keeps the state license, local license, permit, business record and consumer complaint path separate.
| Work or record | What to check | Why it matters | Official place to start |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roofing | IDFPR limited or unlimited roofing contractor license. | Illinois has a specific statewide roofing contractor license system. | IDFPR License Lookup |
| Plumbing | IDPH plumber license and plumbing contractor registration. | Plumbing is handled through IDPH, not the roofing contractor page. | IDPH Plumbing Program |
| Chicago general contractor work | Chicago Department of Buildings contractor license. | Chicago has its own licensed contractor search and local license categories. | Chicago General Contractors |
| Unincorporated Cook County work | Cook County contractor registration and permit record. | Unincorporated Cook County has a separate registration and permit process. | Cook County Contractor Search |
| Business identity | Illinois Secretary of State business entity record. | A corporation or LLC record helps identify the legal business, but it is not a contractor license. | Illinois Business Entity Search |
| Lead, asbestos or environmental work | Separate state or federal environmental credentials and notifications. | Ordinary contractor licensing does not automatically authorize lead or asbestos work. | IDPH, Illinois EPA, local building department or federal EPA, depending on the work. |
Illinois Permits and Business-Name Checks
A contractor license and a building permit are not the same thing. The license or registration is about who is allowed to perform or offer the work. The permit is tied to one property, one scope of work and one local inspection process.
Before the permit is pulled
- Confirm the contractor’s official license or registration for the trade.
- Confirm the exact legal business name taking payment.
- Ask which city, county or village will issue the permit.
- Ask who will be listed as contractor on the permit application.
- Ask whether inspections are required before work is covered or completed.
Before final payment
- Search the permit record by address or permit number.
- Confirm required inspections were requested and passed.
- Request lien waivers where appropriate.
- Save warranty papers, paid invoices and change orders.
- Keep a screenshot of the official license lookup result with the date checked.
Insurance, Bond, Contract and Payment Checks
The official lookup is only one part of hiring safely. Illinois homeowners should also check insurance, bonding where required, the written contract and the payment name.
Insurance proof
Ask for current liability insurance and workers’ compensation information when the contractor has employees. For plumbing contractor registration, insurance documentation is part of the state registration record path.
Bond or financial requirement
Some state or local contractor systems require a bond or other proof. Do not assume every Illinois contractor has the same bond requirement; check the agency that controls that trade or city.
Written contract
The contract should include the legal contractor name, license number where required, project address, detailed scope, price, payment schedule, permit responsibility and change-order process.
Illinois Complaints, Discipline and Consumer Problems
The right complaint path depends on the issue. A roofing license complaint, plumbing license complaint, Chicago contractor issue and general consumer fraud complaint may go to different offices.
| Problem | Best first office | What to gather | Important caution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roofing license issue | IDFPR complaint route | License number, company name, contract, invoices, photos, messages and permit record. | IDFPR discipline is not the same as automatic repayment to the homeowner. |
| Plumbing license or contractor issue | IDPH Plumbing Program | Plumber name, license number, contractor registration, insurance certificate and inspection notes. | Permit and inspection problems should also be raised with the local plumbing inspector. |
| Chicago local contractor issue | Chicago Department of Buildings | Chicago license category, permit number, property address, photos and inspection communications. | City licensing rules are separate from state roofing and plumbing systems. |
| Consumer fraud or unfair practice | Illinois Attorney General complaint | Timeline, contract, payments, communications, ads, screenshots and requested resolution. | A consumer complaint does not replace private legal advice or a court claim. |
Official Illinois Contacts
Use these offices for official program questions. Do not send sensitive identity documents, full financial records or private legal information through ordinary email unless the agency specifically instructs you to use that channel.
Illinois IDFPR
Illinois Department of Public Health Plumbing Program
Illinois Contractor License Lookup FAQs
Where do I look up an Illinois contractor license?
It depends on the work. Use IDFPR License Lookup for roofing contractors, IDPH plumbing verification for plumbers and plumbing contractors, and the city or county contractor search for local contractor licenses or registrations.
Does Illinois have one statewide general contractor license?
No single statewide general contractor lookup covers every Illinois project. Roofing and plumbing have state-level systems, while general contractor and trade contractor requirements can be local, especially in Chicago and unincorporated Cook County.
How do I check an Illinois roofing contractor license?
Use IDFPR License Lookup and search the roofing contractor license number or business name. Illinois roofing license numbers commonly start with 104, and the number should appear on the roofing contract.
What is the difference between limited and unlimited Illinois roofing licenses?
A limited roofing license is for residential roofing work on residential properties consisting of eight units or less. An unlimited roofing license covers roofing business that includes residential, commercial and industrial properties.
Where do I check an Illinois plumber license?
Use the Illinois Department of Public Health plumbing license verification system. IDPH regulates plumbers and the plumbing trade in Illinois.
Does a plumbing contractor need separate registration in Illinois?
Yes. Illinois plumbing contractor registration is separate from an individual plumber license. The registration includes business information, plumber-of-record information and required insurance documentation.
Where do I search Chicago licensed contractors?
Use the City of Chicago licensed contractor search. Chicago lists categories such as general contractors, electrical contractors, elevator mechanic contractors, mason contractors and plumbing contractors.
Where do I check a contractor in unincorporated Cook County?
Use Cook County Department of Building and Zoning contractor registration and permit resources. Contractors performing work in unincorporated Cook County are required to register with that department.
Does a contractor license prove the permit was issued?
No. A license or registration is different from a building permit. Always check the permit by address or permit number with the local building department or permitting portal.
Can I rely on a screenshot of an Illinois license lookup?
A screenshot is useful for your records, but license status can change. Recheck the official state or local lookup immediately before signing, paying or approving final work.
Final Illinois Contractor Check
For Illinois projects, the safe check is trade-specific and local. Search IDFPR for roofing, IDPH for plumbing, Chicago or Cook County when local licensing applies, and the building department for permits and inspections.
Do not let one license number replace the whole verification stack. In Illinois, the contractor name, trade, city, permit, insurance and payment identity all matter.