Do you need a license to be a carpenter in Illinois?
No. Illinois doesn't license carpenters as a trade. There is no statewide contractor license; cities and counties set their own rules.
Local only · By ChiselJobs Team · Updated
In short
Illinois does not license carpenters or general contractors statewide; cities set the rules. Chicago licenses general contractors in classes A through E, with yearly fees from $300 for Class E to $2,000 for Class A, and Aurora requires contractor registration. Local governments also set insurance requirements. The state's Home Repair and Remodeling Act covers contracts, not licensing. The one state exception is roofing: roofers are licensed by the state through IDFPR. Commercial buildings follow the current or prior IBC edition, while other codes are adopted locally. Check the city where the job is before you start, since requirements change from one town to the next.
Key facts
| Carpenter license | No |
| Licensing level | Local only |
| General contractor license | Local (Chicago Class A-E) |
| Home improvement registration | No (Home Repair and Remodeling Act: contracts only) |
| Carpentry classification | None |
| Fees | Chicago Class A $2,000/yr to Class E $300/yr |
| Bond / insurance | Local insurance |
| Local license | Varies by city |
Local licenses in Illinois
Chicago
CityGeneral contractor license
Chicago Department of Buildings
Required for most building construction, alteration, repair and demolition work; covers residential work without a separate home repair license. Not required for subcontractors or employees working under a licensed GC, or for an individual's own primary residence (except excavation and demolition).
- Source: chicago.gov · checked November 5, 2026
Aurora
CityContractor registration/license
Aurora Development Services
Contractor registration application, certificate of insurance naming the city; testing only for listed trades.
- Source: aurora.il.us · checked November 5, 2026
Apprenticeship
| Registering agency | U.S. Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship (no state agency) |
Programs register through the Office of Apprenticeship; use the Partner Finder for local sponsors.
- Source: apprenticeship.gov · checked November 6, 2026
Building code
| Code in force | IBC current or prior edition (commercial minimum); IRC baseline for residential structural design; local adoption otherwise |
Public Act 103-0510: commercial buildings follow current or most recent preceding IBC; residential building codes must be at least as stringent as the baseline IRC (least-restrictive edition from the last 9 years); cities and counties adopt their own codes
- Source: ilga.gov · checked November 5, 2026
- Source: cdb.illinois.gov · checked November 5, 2026