Illinois Handyman License Requirements (2026)

No statewide handyman or general-contractor license is required in Illinois. The State of Illinois issues no general-contractor or handyman license, so there is no state dollar threshold a handyman must stay under to remain unlicensed — general home-repair work is regulated municipality-by-municipality. There are, however, statewide consumer-protection dollar figures under the Home Repair and Remodeling Act (815 ILCS 513), which are contract/insurance duties, not licensing thresholds: the Act's definition of home repair and remodeling excludes maintenance, service, or repairs under $500 (815 ILCS 513/10), a signed written contract is required for work over $1,000 (815 ILCS 513/15), and anyone in the business of home repair and remodeling must carry public-liability, property-damage, and improper-repair insurance (or maintain a $1,000,000 net worth) under 815 ILCS 513/25. What actually controls a handyman in Illinois is (1) each city's or county's own licensing and registration rules (Chicago requires a Home Repair business license for residential repair work, or a general contractor license once a building permit is needed, and cities such as Evanston and Wilmette register contractors), (2) the Home Repair and Remodeling Act's contract and insurance mandates, and (3) separate state licenses for plumbing and roofing at any job size, and for asbestos abatement in schools and commercial or public buildings.

Local licensing in major Illinois cities

Illinois has no statewide handyman license, so these cities and counties set their own rules. Each link opens the jurisdiction's official page; confirm the current requirement there before bidding.

Local licensing in major Illinois cities: what each jurisdiction requires and its published fee
Jurisdiction	What it requires	Fee
City of Chicago — Home Repair license (Business Affairs and Consumer Protection)chicago.gov	Chicago requires a Home Repair business license to engage in the business of fixing, altering, improving, or adding to residential property, with at least $300,000 per occurrence of general liability insurance and written estimates and invoices. Work that needs a building permit requires a Chicago general contractor license instead, and a licensed general contractor does not need a separate Home Repair license.	$1,000 license fee; the license is issued for two years
City of Chicago — General Contractor license (Department of Buildings)chicago.gov	Handyman work that needs a Chicago building permit requires a Chicago general contractor license (Class E covers projects up to $500,000), unless the work is done under the supervision and control of a licensed general contractor. Licenses last one year and require liability insurance.	Class E $300; Class D $900; Class C $1,300; Class B $1,800; Class A $3,500 (2026 annual license and renewal fees)
City of Evanstoncityofevanston.org	All contractors performing work in Evanston must register with the City each year, filing a certificate of insurance showing at least $300,000 per occurrence of general liability coverage plus workers’ compensation (sole proprietors and partnerships without employees may file an affidavit instead of workers’ compensation proof).	General Contractor: $150; Trade Contractor: $125 (renewable annually)
Village of Wilmettewilmette.gov	Every contractor listed on a Wilmette building permit must hold a Wilmette contractor’s license before the permit is issued. The license runs for the calendar year and must be renewed annually.	$80 license fee

Who Regulates Handyman Work in Illinois?

Illinois — no statewide contractor-licensing agency (general/handyman work is regulated by municipalities; the Home Repair and Remodeling Act is a consumer-protection statute enforced by the Illinois Attorney General) is the main official reference this guide uses for handyman work in Illinois; the law it cites is Home Repair and Remodeling Act, 815 ILCS 513; Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act, 815 ILCS 505. Illinois issues no statewide general-contractor or handyman license. Contractor/handyman licensing is handled city-by-city (e.g. the City of Chicago's Home Repair business license and its Department of Buildings general contractor license). Statewide, only specific trades are licensed, including plumbing (IDPH), roofing (IDFPR), and asbestos abatement in schools and commercial or public buildings (IDPH). Consumer-protection duties for home-repair work — including the public-liability/property-damage insurance mandate under 815 ILCS 513/25 — come from the Home Repair and Remodeling Act (815 ILCS 513) and are enforceable under the Consumer Fraud Act by the Illinois Attorney General.

Official reference: ilga.gov
Address: N/A — no single state licensing office for general/handyman contractors
Phone: N/A

Illinois State and Local Eligibility Rules

There is no single statewide application for this work, so this guide does not impose a uniform applicant-age, identification, or tax-number rule. Check the business, specialty-trade, and local authorities that govern the actual project. No state residency requirement because no state license exists. Municipal licenses may impose their own residency or business-location rules.

Background-check requirements

None at the state level for general/handyman work. The state plumbing, roofing, and asbestos trade licenses, and some municipal licenses, have their own background requirements.

Experience and Scope Requirements in Illinois

None — no state handyman or general-contractor license exists, so no experience is verified by the state. Municipal general-contractor/trade licenses and the state plumbing, roofing, and asbestos licenses carry their own experience requirements. Local licensing programs, specialty credentials, and project owners may still set their own qualifications.

Education and scope boundaries

N/A

Is There an Illinois Handyman Exam?

There is no single statewide trade examination for the local or scope-specific path described here. The applicable testing rule is: None at the state level for general/handyman work. Exams exist for the separately regulated state trades (plumbing via IDPH, roofing via IDFPR) and for some municipal trade licenses, such as Chicago's Supervising Electrician license or Rockford's mechanical license. Chicago's Home Repair and general contractor licenses have no trade exam.

Examination fee: No separate amount recorded; confirm in the fee guidance

Retake policy: N/A — no state exam for handyman or general contracting in Illinois.

Insurance, Bonds, and Project Requirements in Illinois

Illinois attaches no contractor surety bond to handyman work below the licensing threshold, so general liability insurance is a business decision rather than a state mandate; any bond tied to a registration or a carve-out trade is set out below.

General liability

State-required under 815 ILCS 513/25 for anyone engaged in the business of home repair and remodeling (work covered by the Act): public-liability and property-damage insurance of $100,000 per person and $300,000 per occurrence for bodily injury, $50,000 per occurrence for property damage, and $10,000 per occurrence for improper home repair or remodeling that does not conform to applicable building codes — unless the person maintains a net worth of at least $1,000,000 per their most recent financial statement, prepared within 13 months. Municipalities set their own coverage for local licenses (Chicago's Home Repair license requires at least $300,000 per occurrence; Evanston's registration requires at least $300,000 per occurrence). The state roofing license requires liability and property-damage insurance, workers' compensation, and a bond, and IDPH requires licensed asbestos contractors to carry insurance.

Workers' compensation

Required statewide for any contractor with employees under the Illinois Workers' Compensation Act (820 ILCS 305), regardless of licensing.

Financial or filing requirements

Under 815 ILCS 513/25, a net worth of at least $1,000,000 (per the most recent financial statement, prepared within 13 months) is the statutory alternative to carrying the mandated public-liability/property-damage insurance for home-repair/remodeling businesses. No financial statement is otherwise required for handyman work.

Illinois Handyman Fees and Compliance Costs

Illinois charges no statewide licensing fee for handyman work. Startup costs come from the local registrations, business filings, permits, insurance, and any specialty or federal certifications described in this guide, so they differ by city and by the work performed.

To budget for the applicable registration, permits, insurance, and project requirements, open the cost calculator preloaded for Illinois handyman.

Renewal and Ongoing Compliance in Illinois

There is no single statewide license-renewal cycle for the No state handyman/general-contractor license (municipal regulation) — Home Repair and Remodeling Act consumer-protection rules apply (815 ILCS 513); renew each applicable local registration, business filing, permit-related credential, or specialty license on the schedule set by its issuing authority. There is no single statewide renewal fee for this path; local and scope-specific charges vary by authority. No state license to renew for general/handyman work. Municipal licenses and registrations renew on their own schedules (Chicago's Home Repair license runs two years; Evanston and Wilmette renew annually), and the state plumbing, roofing, and asbestos trade licenses have their own renewal cycles and continuing-education rules.

Continuing education: None at the state level for handyman work.

Downloadable Asset

2026 Illinois Handyman Compliance Roadmap (PDF) — a printable step-by-step checklist for the state, local, and project checks.

Download the PDF roadmap →

Out-of-State Handyman Credentials in Illinois

A handyman exemption or registration does not transfer between states, so work in Illinois must meet Illinois's own threshold and rules; the particulars are set out below.

Weighing more than one jurisdiction? The national hub compares published Handyman license requirements by state — exam, bond, fee, and experience thresholds side by side.

Step-by-Step Compliance Roadmap

Confirm there is no state license to obtain. Verify that Illinois issues no statewide general-contractor or handyman license (Home Repair and Remodeling Act, 815 ILCS 513, is a consumer-protection statute, not a licensing law). There is no state dollar threshold to stay under for licensing purposes.
Register/license with each municipality where you work. Because regulation is local, check the licensing, registration, bond, and insurance rules of every city or county where you take jobs. In Chicago, residential repair businesses need a Home Repair license from the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection, and work that needs a building permit requires a Department of Buildings general contractor license instead. Evanston requires all contractors to register annually, Wilmette licenses every contractor on a building permit, and rules in other suburban and downstate cities vary.
Carry the state-mandated home-repair insurance (or hold $1M net worth). Under 815 ILCS 513/25, anyone in the business of home repair and remodeling must carry public-liability/property-damage insurance ($100,000/person and $300,000/occurrence bodily injury; $50,000/occurrence property damage; $10,000/occurrence for improper home repair or remodeling) unless they maintain a net worth of at least $1,000,000.
Use a compliant written contract and give the consumer-rights pamphlet. For any home-repair/remodeling work over $1,000, provide a signed written contract stating the total cost (including parts/materials) and the business name and address (815 ILCS 513/15). Furnish the 'Home Repair: Know Your Consumer Rights' pamphlet to every customer, and for contracts over $1,000 have the customer sign the Consumer Rights Acknowledgment Form (815 ILCS 513/20).
Do not perform plumbing, roofing, or regulated asbestos work without the state license. Plumbing (225 ILCS 320, IDPH) and roofing (225 ILCS 335, IDFPR) require separate statewide licenses regardless of job size, and IDPH licenses asbestos abatement in schools and commercial or public buildings (225 ILCS 207). Subcontract this work to the appropriately licensed professional.
Pull required permits and carry workers' compensation if you have employees. Obtain the building/trade permits required by the local jurisdiction for the specific work, and carry workers' compensation insurance under the Illinois Workers' Compensation Act (820 ILCS 305) if you employ workers.

Pre-Work Checklist

Before bidding or beginning work, confirm each item below with the authorities that govern the project location and scope:

Confirm the municipality (city/county) where the job is located and its licensing, registration, bond, and insurance requirements before starting work (in Chicago, a Home Repair license or, for permitted work, a general contractor license).
Carry the 815 ILCS 513/25 public-liability/property-damage insurance ($100k/person, $300k/occurrence bodily injury; $50k/occurrence property damage; $10k/occurrence improper repair) or document a net worth of at least $1,000,000.
For any job over $1,000, prepare a signed written contract stating total cost (including parts/materials) and the business name and address (815 ILCS 513/15).
Provide the 'Home Repair: Know Your Consumer Rights' pamphlet to every customer, with a signed acknowledgment form for contracts over $1,000 (815 ILCS 513/20).
Confirm the scope excludes plumbing, roofing, and regulated asbestos work — or subcontract those to a professional holding the required state license.
Pull any building or trade permits required by the local jurisdiction, and carry workers' compensation insurance if you employ workers.

Common Compliance Mistakes

The issues below are the most likely to create an unlicensed-work, registration, permit, or scope problem for Illinois Handyman work, based on the official sources cited on this page.

Treating the $500 or $1,000 figures as a license exemption

The $500 (815 ILCS 513/10) and $1,000 (815 ILCS 513/15) amounts are consumer-protection contract thresholds, not a licensing exemption. Local municipal registration rules can apply at any dollar value, so staying 'under' these numbers does not make you exempt from city licensing or permits.

Performing plumbing, roofing, or regulated asbestos work without the state license

Plumbing and roofing require separate statewide licenses (225 ILCS 320, 225 ILCS 335) regardless of job size, and asbestos abatement in schools and commercial or public buildings requires IDPH licensing (225 ILCS 207). Doing this work as a general handyman without the license exposes you to enforcement and penalties under those Acts.

Skipping municipal registration or permits

With no state license, the binding requirement is local. Working in a city or county without its required contractor registration, bond, or permits is punishable under local ordinance — and requirements differ from city to city, with Chicago's Home Repair and general contractor licenses the most involved.

Failing to carry the required insurance or provide a written contract

Not carrying the 815 ILCS 513/25 insurance (without $1M net worth), omitting a written contract over $1,000, or failing to furnish the consumer-rights pamphlet is an unlawful practice under the Consumer Fraud Act (815 ILCS 505), exposing you to Attorney General enforcement, civil penalties, and homeowner suits.

Official References and Preparation Materials

These references are cited in the Illinois sources for this guide or commonly used to prepare for handyman work; CLR receives no compensation for listing them.

Home Repair and Remodeling Act, 815 ILCS 513 (full Act text) — Illinois General Assembly. Primary compliance reference: read §10 ($500 applicability floor), §15 (written contract over $1,000), §20 (consumer-rights pamphlet), and §25 (insurance/net-worth mandate) directly.
Home Repair: Know Your Consumer Rights (consumer-rights pamphlet) and Home Repair and Remodeling Act materials — Illinois Attorney General. The Attorney General enforces the Act under the Consumer Fraud Act; use its official Public Act 91-0230 PDF and consumer-rights materials to confirm your contract and disclosure obligations.
Local licensing, registration, and permit requirements (e.g. City of Chicago Home Repair and general contractor licenses) — Municipal building/licensing departments. Because licensing is municipal, confirm registration, bond, insurance, and permit rules with the specific city or county where you work before each job.

Handyman Pay and Employment in Illinois

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that 66,600 general maintenance and repair workers work in Illinois, earning a median of $56,720 a year ($27.27 an hour). That is 14% above the national median of $49,590, ranking 10th of 51 jurisdictions BLS published. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $36,120 and the top 10% earn over $80,740. The trade's share of Illinois's workforce is close to the national average (location quotient 1.11).

Maintenance and Repair Workers, General wages, Illinois compared with the United States, May 2025
Measure	Illinois	United States
Median annual wage	$56,720	$49,590
Median hourly wage	$27.27	$23.84
10th–90th percentile	$36,120–$80,740	$35,350–$77,180
Employment	66,600	1,529,700

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, occupation 49-9071 (Maintenance and Repair Workers, General). Figures cover wage and salary employees and exclude self-employed owners. BLS counts general maintenance and repair workers, the closest occupation to handyman work; most are employed by property owners rather than self-employed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a license to do handyman work in Illinois?

No. Illinois issues no statewide general-contractor or handyman license, so there is no state license to obtain for general home-repair work. Instead, regulation is local: you must comply with the licensing or registration rules of each municipality where you work (the City of Chicago, for example, requires a Home Repair business license for residential repair work and a general contractor license once a building permit is needed), carry the insurance mandated by 815 ILCS 513/25, and follow the Home Repair and Remodeling Act's contract and disclosure duties.

Is there a dollar threshold below which I can work without a license in Illinois?

There is no state licensing dollar threshold because Illinois has no statewide handyman/general-contractor license to trigger. The only statewide dollar figures are consumer-protection duties, not license exemptions: the Home Repair and Remodeling Act's definition excludes maintenance, service, or repairs under $500 (815 ILCS 513/10), and a signed written contract is required for work costing over $1,000 (815 ILCS 513/15). Do not treat these as a licensing exemption amount — local municipal rules still apply at any dollar value.

Which trades require a separate state license regardless of job size?

Plumbing (Illinois Plumbing License Law, 225 ILCS 320, via IDPH) and roofing (Illinois Roofing Industry Licensing Act, 225 ILCS 335, via IDFPR) require their own statewide licenses no matter how small the job, and IDPH licenses asbestos abatement in schools and commercial or public buildings (225 ILCS 207). A handyman may not perform this work without the corresponding license. Electrical and HVAC work are not licensed statewide but are licensed by municipalities: Chicago licenses electricians, and cities such as Rockford, Springfield, and Peoria license HVAC contractors.

What insurance does Illinois require for home-repair work?

Under 815 ILCS 513/25, anyone in the business of home repair and remodeling must carry public-liability and property-damage insurance of $100,000 per person and $300,000 per occurrence for bodily injury, $50,000 per occurrence for property damage, and $10,000 per occurrence for improper home repair or remodeling — unless they maintain a net worth of at least $1,000,000. Contractors with employees must also carry workers' compensation under the Illinois Workers' Compensation Act (820 ILCS 305). Verify current amounts directly in 815 ILCS 513/25.

What are the penalties for cutting corners in Illinois?

Because there is no state general/handyman license, there is no state 'unlicensed contracting' charge for general work — but violating the Home Repair and Remodeling Act (no written contract over $1,000, failing to give the consumer-rights pamphlet, or failing to carry the required insurance) is an unlawful practice under the Consumer Fraud Act (815 ILCS 505), exposing you to Attorney General enforcement, civil penalties, and homeowner lawsuits. Working without a required municipal license is punishable under local ordinance, and doing plumbing, roofing, or regulated asbestos work without the required state license carries penalties under those Acts.

Primary Sources

Regulatory requirements on this page are drawn from the official board, statute, and exam-provider materials listed below.

Verified 2026-10-26 · Next scheduled review 2027-01-24

Report a correction to this guide

Corrections and updates

2026-10-26: Added the $10,000-per-occurrence improper home repair coverage that 815 ILCS 513/25 requires alongside the bodily-injury and property-damage limits, and clarified that the Act excludes maintenance, service, or repairs under $500 and requires the consumer-rights pamphlet for every contract (with a signed acknowledgment over $1,000). Checked against the Act text published by the Illinois Attorney General.
2026-10-26: Narrowed the asbestos statement: IDPH licenses asbestos abatement in schools and commercial or public buildings rather than all asbestos work (IDPH Asbestos Abatement page). Replaced the Chicago example, which named only the general contractor license, with Chicago's Home Repair business license for residential repair work and the general contractor license for permitted work (City of Chicago license pages), and removed a reference to Chicago HVAC exams, since Chicago has no separate HVAC license.

Layout changes shared by every guide are listed in the template change log; they do not change source-check dates.

Handyman Licensing in Neighboring States

Contractors working near a state line, or weighing where to qualify first, should compare Illinois's requirements against the bordering jurisdictions before bidding or beginning work:

Indiana Handyman License Requirements — No statewide handyman/contractor license — municipal regulation; statewide Home Improvement Contracts Act (IC 24-5-11) written-contract rule applies
Iowa Handyman License Requirements — Iowa Construction Contractor Registration (Iowa Code Chapter 91C)
Kentucky Handyman License Requirements — No statewide contractor/handyman license (general home-repair regulated only locally)
Missouri Handyman License Requirements — No state license — general contracting and home repair regulated locally (municipal/county)
Wisconsin Handyman License Requirements — No state handyman license — permit-linked Dwelling Contractor / Dwelling Contractor Qualifier credential (Wis. Stat. § 101.654)

More guides for Illinois contractors

Other Illinois Trade Licenses

CLR also publishes these Illinois licensing guides for other trades: