Illinois Masonry License Requirements (2026)

Illinois does not use one statewide masonry-contractor application administered by a state contractor board. Instead, Illinois Municipal Code 65 ILCS 5/11-36 establishes a mason-contractor and employing-mason licensing framework for a municipality with more than 500,000 residents: applicants must obtain an annual license, pass the examination directed by the local board, and obtain the required permit before masonry work. Other jurisdictions may administer their own contractor registration, permit, inspection, or bond requirements. Confirm the requirements with the authority having jurisdiction for every project address before bidding or starting work.

Who Issues the Illinois Masonry License?

The Illinois masonry license is issued under the rules described below under 65 ILCS 5/11-36; local building and contractor ordinances. The applicable municipal or county authority determines contractor registration, licensing, permits, inspections, and local fees. The statutory framework in 65 ILCS 5/11-36 applies to a municipality with more than 500,000 residents.

Official portal: ilga.gov

Illinois Masonry License Eligibility Requirements

This guide does not establish a minimum applicant age; confirm any age requirement with the issuing authority. Check the current application for identification and tax-number requirements. Illinois law does not create a single statewide masonry-contractor application. Confirm applicant and business-registration requirements with the project jurisdiction.

Good moral character

No statewide masonry-contractor character standard is stated in this guide; the local licensing authority may set application standards.

Background investigation

No statewide masonry-contractor background-check rule is stated here. Verify local requirements before filing.

How Much Experience Do You Need for an Illinois Masonry License?

65 ILCS 5/11-36 requires the covered municipality’s board to examine applicants as to practical knowledge of masonry and mason construction; it does not set a statewide number of experience years in this framework.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

Use the local authority’s current application and ask which experience records, if any, it requires.

Illinois Masonry Exam Requirements

The examination requirement has not been established in this record. Confirm it with the authority before applying. Provider or process notes: The board of examiners designated by the covered municipality; other jurisdictions set their own rules.

Examination fee: Local fee set by the applicable authority.

Retake policy: The statute leaves examination administration to the local board. Obtain the current local examination and retake policy before applying.

Illinois Masonry Insurance and Bond Requirements

The cited sources do not require a license surety bond for the Illinois masonry license, but a permit, contract, or public-works bond can still apply to a given job, so confirm bonding before you bid.

General liability

Illinois does not set one statewide general-liability amount for masonry contractors in this guide. A project jurisdiction, owner, lender, contract, or local registration program may require coverage or a bond.

Workers' compensation

Illinois requires workers’ compensation insurance for most employers. The Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission says an employer with one employee, including a part-time employee, generally must obtain coverage; narrow exceptions exist.

Additional financial requirements

No statewide masonry-contractor financial-statement requirement is identified here. Confirm local and project requirements.

How Much Does an Illinois Masonry License Cost?

Fee	Amount
Application	No separate amount recorded; confirm in the fee guidance
Initial license	No separate amount recorded; confirm in the fee guidance
Renewal (every year)	No separate amount recorded; confirm in the fee guidance

To turn these board fees into a realistic year-one budget — bond premium, liability insurance, and exam prep included — open the cost calculator preloaded for Illinois masonry.

Illinois Masonry License Renewal and Continuing Education

The Illinois masonry license renews every year. The cited sources list no separate statewide renewal fee for the Illinois masonry license. 65 ILCS 5/11-36 describes an annual license for the covered municipality, with the fee fixed locally. Other local registrations and permits can have different cycles and fees.

Does Illinois Accept Out-of-State Masonry Licenses?

Illinois does not accept the NASCLA Accredited Examination for the Illinois masonry license.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
No formal bilateral reciprocity agreements identified.

There is no statewide masonry reciprocity program described by the sources used for this guide. Local authorization and permits must be verified with the project jurisdiction.

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

How to Get an Illinois Masonry License, Step by Step

Identify the project authority. Contact the municipality or county that issues the building permit and ask about contractor licensing, registration, bond, insurance, plan-review, and inspection requirements for the exact masonry scope.
Check whether the statutory municipal licensing framework applies. For work in a municipality with more than 500,000 residents, review 65 ILCS 5/11-36 with the local licensing office. It calls for an annual mason-contractor or employing-mason license and a local examination.
Complete the local application and examination process. Use only the current forms, instructions, fees, and qualification criteria supplied by the authority having jurisdiction.
Obtain permits before masonry work. Under 65 ILCS 5/11-36, the covered municipality must require a building-department permit for mason work. Other jurisdictions can have their own permit process.
Set up required employment coverage. If you have covered employees, obtain workers’ compensation insurance or approved self-insurance and keep required notices and records current.
Screen public-work contracts for prevailing-wage duties. The Illinois Prevailing Wage Act governs laborer, worker, and mechanic pay on public works. Review the bid or contract, current local rates, certified-payroll requirements, and recordkeeping duties before bid submission.
Maintain local authorization. A 65 ILCS 5/11-36 license is annual. Track the local expiration date, permit closeout, insurance or bond renewals, and any jurisdiction-specific renewal conditions.

Application Checklist

Have each of these ready before you file with the Local AHJ:

Confirm the local licensing, registration, permit, and inspection rules for the exact project address
For a municipality covered by 65 ILCS 5/11-36, obtain the current mason-contractor or employing-mason application and examination instructions
Confirm local bond, general-liability, auto, and business-registration requirements
Obtain the required building permit before work begins
Maintain Illinois workers’ compensation coverage or approved self-insurance when required
For public work, review the contract, current prevailing-wage rates, certified-payroll portal, and recordkeeping requirements

Common Filing Mistakes

These are the problems most likely to delay or derail a Illinois Masonry application, drawn from the instructions of the Local AHJ and the other sources cited on this page.

Treating local rules as optional

Illinois does not provide a single statewide masonry-application path. Verify each project jurisdiction’s licensing, registration, permit, and inspection process.

Using old fee or examination information

The statute leaves local examination administration and fees to the municipality. Obtain current information directly from the responsible office.

Starting work before the required permit

The statutory framework requires a permit before mason work in the covered municipality. Local permit rules elsewhere can also apply.

Missing public-work payroll duties

A contract subject to the Prevailing Wage Act can require certified payroll and supporting records. Review IDOL guidance and the contract before work starts.

Assuming an owner or contract will supply insurance

Workers’ compensation duties attach to covered employers, while other insurance and bond requirements can be imposed locally or contractually.

Study and Reference Materials

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

65 ILCS 5/11-36 — Mason contractors and employing masons — Illinois General Assembly. Read the statutory municipal licensing, examination, annual-license, and permit provisions before approaching the local authority.
Illinois Prevailing Wage Act guidance — Illinois Department of Labor. Use current rates and certified-payroll guidance when a public-work contract is subject to the Act.

Masonry Pay and Employment in Illinois

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that 2,490 brickmasons and blockmasons work in Illinois, earning a median of $89,980 a year ($43.26 an hour). That is 45% above the national median of $62,120, ranking 3rd of 50 jurisdictions BLS published. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $47,200 and the top 10% earn over $109,670. The trade is more concentrated in Illinois's workforce than nationally (location quotient 1.21), so competition for jobs and for experienced hires tends to be higher.

Brickmasons and Blockmasons wages, Illinois compared with the United States, May 2025
Measure	Illinois	United States
Median annual wage	$89,980	$62,120
Median hourly wage	$43.26	$29.87
10th–90th percentile	$47,200–$109,670	$44,820–$100,010
Employment	2,490	52,550

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, occupation 47-2021 (Brickmasons and Blockmasons). Figures cover wage and salary employees and exclude self-employed owners.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there one Illinois masonry contractor license?

Not through a single statewide contractor-board application. Illinois law establishes a mason-contractor licensing framework for a municipality with more than 500,000 residents, while local authorities may also set contractor, permit, inspection, and bond requirements.

What does 65 ILCS 5/11-36 require?

For the covered municipality, it requires an annual mason-contractor or employing-mason license, a board examination of practical masonry knowledge, and a building-department permit before mason work. The local authority fixes the license fee and administers the details.

Can one local authorization cover every Illinois project?

Do not assume so. Confirm licensing, registration, permits, and inspection requirements with the authority having jurisdiction for each project address.

Does prevailing wage matter for masonry work?

It can. The Illinois Prevailing Wage Act applies to public works and establishes wage, recordkeeping, and certified-payroll duties. Review the project contract and IDOL’s current guidance before bidding.

Do masonry employers need workers’ compensation coverage?

Most do. The Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission says an employer with one employee, including a part-time employee, generally must carry coverage, subject to limited exceptions.

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-09-04 · Next scheduled review 2026-12-03

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Masonry 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 committing to an application:

Indiana Masonry License Requirements — Indiana Masonry — No State License (Local Contractor Registration)
Iowa Masonry License Requirements — Iowa Contractor Registration (Masonry) — Iowa DIAL
Kentucky Masonry License Requirements — Kentucky Masonry Contractor Requirements — Local Rules
Missouri Masonry License Requirements — Missouri Masonry Contractor Requirements — Local Permits and Licensing
Wisconsin Masonry License Requirements — Wisconsin Dwelling Contractor Certification (Masonry Scope)

More guides for Illinois contractors

Other Illinois Trade Licenses

CLR also publishes these Illinois licensing guides for other trades: