Plumbing Contractor Permit Requirements in Chicago, IL

Complete permit and license guide for starting a plumbing contractor in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois.

Verified 2026-08-31 6 stops $900–$2,500 est. 8–14 weeks to obtain all licenses and permits
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Not legal advice. Requirements may change — always verify with your local government authority before applying. Key agencies and fees on this page were re-checked against official government sources on .

Federal — start here

1 stop

  1. EIN (Employer Identification Number)

    Required if you have employees or operate as an LLC/corporation. Free from the IRS.

    Official government source

    FreeImmediate (online application)

State of Illinois

2 stops

  1. Illinois Plumber's License and Plumbing Contractor Registration (IDPH) - outside Chicago

    Outside the City of Chicago, plumbers are licensed by the Illinois Department of Public Health under the Illinois Plumbing License Law (225 ILCS 320). Licensure requires 4 years (48-72 months) as a licensed apprentice plumber under a licensed plumber plus an approved course of instruction, then passing the state examination. Any licensed plumber who performs plumbing work for another person must also register as a plumbing contractor, carry general liability, bodily injury, property damage and workers' compensation insurance, and post a $20,000 surety bond or letter of credit. Chicago licenses its own plumbers separately; plumbers already licensed in Chicago apply to IDPH through the reciprocity application.

    Official government source

    $175 exam application fee for Illinois-licensed apprentice plumbers, or $225 for plumbers registered/licensed in Chicago or outside Illinois; plumbing contractor registration $150 per year ($100 late/reinstatement fee)Exam application must be filed at least 30 days before the exam date; licenses renew annually by April 30

  2. Illinois Business Entity Registration (if applicable)

    If operating as an LLC or corporation, register with the Illinois Secretary of State. LLC Articles of Organization and Domestic Corporation Articles of Incorporation each cost $150 for standard online filing.

    Official government source

    $150 (LLC Articles of Organization or Domestic Corporation Articles of Incorporation)Up to 10 business days for standard online filing; 24-hour expedited service available for an additional $100

City of Chicago / Cook County

3 stops

  1. City of Chicago Plumbing Contractor License

    Chicago requires a separate City of Chicago Plumbing Contractor License issued by the Department of Buildings (not BACP). This is distinct from any state license. The applicant must be, or the business must employ/be owned by, a City of Chicago-licensed plumber. A $20,000 performance bond payable to the City of Chicago, filed with the City Clerk, is required. Apply through Continental Testing Services / the city's eBusiness portal.

    Official government source

    $150/year (contractor license) + $20,000 performance bond (bond premium typically a few hundred dollars/year)2–4 weeks

  2. City of Chicago Plumber License

    Chicago issues its own plumber license (sometimes called a journeyman plumber license) through the Board of Plumbing Examiners at the Department of Buildings; there is only one type — no separate "master" tier. IDPH-issued Illinois plumber licenses are also recognized in Chicago so long as the employer holds a City of Chicago plumbing contractor license. For a plumbing contracting business, the sole proprietor, one partner, or one corporate officer must hold a City of Chicago plumber license. Eligibility requires being at least 21 and either four years as a plumber's apprentice or completion of an approved trade-school, college, or university plumbing program, plus passing written and practical exams. A separate plumbing contractor license ($150/year) and a $20,000 performance bond are required for the business itself.

    Official government source

    $150 initial license fee and $150 per year to renew (calendar year 2026); exam fee $175 per exam if currently licensed as an apprentice, $225 for all other applicants4–8 weeks, driven by exam scheduling through Continental Testing Services

  3. Illinois Plumbing License (IDPH) + Chicago Plumbing Contractor License

    Plumbing in Chicago is a licensed trade, not a generic BACP business license. Individual plumbers must be licensed by the Illinois Department of Public Health under the Illinois Plumbing License Law (225 ILCS 320), which requires roughly four years as a licensed apprentice plus a state exam, and IDPH separately registers plumbing contractors. To work in Chicago you also need a City of Chicago plumbing contractor license, issued by the Board of Plumbing Examiners through the Department of Buildings: a sole proprietor must personally be a Chicago-licensed plumber, or a firm must have at least one member or corporate officer who is, and the business must file a $20,000 performance bond with the City Clerk.

    Official government source

    IDPH: $175 plumber exam application fee for an Illinois licensed apprentice ($225 for Chicago-registered or out-of-state applicants) and $150/year plumbing contractor registration. Chicago: $150 initial and $150/year renewal for the plumbing contractor license, plus $150/year for the individual Chicago plumber license (exam $175 or $225).Neither agency publishes a processing time. The IDPH examination application must be filed at least 30 days before the exam date; Chicago plumber and plumbing contractor licenses are valid one year from issuance, and IDPH plumber licenses renew by April 30 each year.

Terminus

Open for business — est. $900–$2,500 · 8–14 weeks to obtain all licenses and permits

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