Yes — Illinois licenses roofing contractors at the state level through IDFPR, and license numbers start with 104-. Since a law effective January 1, 2012, that number and the licensee's name must appear on contracts, bids, permit applications and the issued permit. Verify any number free at idfprapps.illinois.gov/CheckLicense.asp before you sign.
Does Illinois really license roofers, or is that just a city rule?
Roofing is one of the few construction trades Illinois licenses at the state level. The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) issues roofing contractor licenses, and the homeowner guidance IDFPR publishes tells you to look for a number that starts with 104- and to verify it before you sign anything.
That is different from most of the trades on a remodel. A lot of work in the Chicago area is governed by local registration and permit rules that vary village by village. Roofing carries a state license on top of whatever your municipality requires, so there is one statewide place to check and one number format to recognize.
It also means the question "are you licensed?" has a real, checkable answer for roofing. You do not have to take anyone's word for it, and you do not have to be an expert to confirm it.
Where does the license number have to appear?
Under a state law effective January 1, 2012, each state-licensed roofing contractor must put the license number and the licensee's name on all contracts, on all bids, on every building permit application, and on every permit issued. Source: the IDFPR roofing brochure at https://idfpr.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/idfpr/forms/brochures/rooferbrochure.pdf.
So the first check costs you nothing. Look at the written bid in front of you. If there is no license number and no licensee name on it for roofing work, ask why before you go any further.
That one rule is useful for a homeowner because it moves the conversation from trust to paperwork. A number on the bid is something you can type into a state website.
What is the difference between a Limited and an Unlimited roofing license?
IDFPR issues two classes. A Limited license covers residential roofing, including condominium buildings up to eight units. An Unlimited license covers residential, commercial and industrial roofing.
For a single-family house in Orland Park or a two-flat in Oak Park, a Limited license is the relevant class. If you own a small apartment building, a storefront, a warehouse or anything on the commercial side, the class matters — an Unlimited license is what covers that work.
If you are not sure which class your building falls under, the license lookup shows the class on the record, and IDFPR's roofing profession page at https://idfpr.illinois.gov/profs/roof.html explains the categories.
What if a general contractor is subbing out the roof?
This is the part most homeowners miss. If a general contractor hires out the roofing portion of a job, the roofing subcontractor still has to hold a roofing license. A general contractor's own paperwork does not cover the roofer.
That is normal and fine — coordinating specialized trades is how most larger projects get built. What you want is to know who is actually going on the roof, and to see that firm's license number, not just the GC's business card.
On a full remodel where the roof is one line item among many, ask early. It is much easier to get the roofing sub's number during the estimate than after the tear-off has started.
How do I run the IDFPR lookup in two minutes?
Go to the state's free license lookup at https://idfprapps.illinois.gov/CheckLicense.asp. Search by the license number from the bid, or by the licensee's name if you only have that.
Check three things on the result: the name matches the company or person on your contract, the license status is current, and the class fits your building. If the record does not come back, or the name on the record is not the name on your bid, stop and ask the contractor to explain it.
Do this before you sign and before you pay a deposit. It takes about as long as reading the first page of the contract.
What red flags does the state specifically warn about?
IDFPR's homeowner guidance calls out two practices that come up constantly after a storm. First, a contractor who offers to pay or rebate your insurance deductible — that is prohibited. Second, a contractor who offers to represent you on your insurance claim — also prohibited.
Both pitches sound like someone doing you a favor. Both are reasons to end the conversation. If a roofer leads with either one, the state's own brochure is telling you not to sign.
Pressure to sign on the spot, a bid with no license number, and a refusal to put the scope in writing belong in the same category. Good work survives a two-day pause while you check things.
What should I ask at the estimate?
Five questions cover most of it. Who holds the roofing license for this job, and what is the number? Who pulls the permit, and is that cost in the bid or on me? What is the written scope — tear-off, decking replacement, flashing, ventilation? What is excluded, and what is carried as an allowance? What happens if hidden damage turns up once the old roof is off?
That last one matters on older Chicago-area housing stock, where rotten decking or failed flashing often does not show until the tear-off. A bid that says nothing about it is a bid that will change price later.
If you want a second opinion on whether a roof needs replacing at all, our post on flat roof replacement costs in Chicago walks through when repair still makes sense.
How Variety Pros LLC handles it
Variety Pros LLC is a full-service residential and commercial construction company based at 205 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 800 in Chicago. Brandon Willis coordinates licensed and qualified trade contractors for each project rather than putting one crew on everything, and you talk to him directly about scheduling and next steps.
Our written estimates identify allowances, exclusions and permit responsibilities, so you can see what is in the number and what is not before work starts. Anything license- or permit-related for your specific scope gets confirmed before it is promised — including which trades need to be licensed and who is responsible for the permit.
We work in Chicago and in South Holland, Orland Park, Tinley Park, Bolingbrook, Schaumburg, Oak Brook, Park Forest, Rosemont and Oak Park. To talk through a roof, see our roofing services or get in touch at (312) 585-6226 or willisb245@gmail.com. We take appointments Monday through Saturday, Central time.
Treat everything above as a starting point, not legal advice. License classes and permit rules change, so confirm your specific situation with IDFPR and with your municipality's building department.
Frequently asked questions
What does an Illinois roofing license number look like?
IDFPR's homeowner guidance tells consumers that Illinois roofing contractor license numbers start with 104-. If the number on a bid does not start that way, ask what it is before you assume it is a state roofing license.
Is the license held by the company or by a person?
IDFPR issues the roofing license to a licensee, and the law requires both the license number and the licensee's name on contracts, bids and permit applications. Confirm the name on the state record matches the business you are signing with.
Does a licensed roofer still need a permit from my village?
The state license and your local permit are separate things. Most Chicago-area municipalities require a permit for roof work and many also require contractors to register with the village first. Confirm the requirement with your building department for your specific scope.
A roofer knocked on my door after a storm and offered to cover my deductible. Should I use them?
No. IDFPR's guidance states that offering to pay or rebate a homeowner's insurance deductible is prohibited, as is a contractor representing you on your insurance claim. Either pitch is a reason to stop.
What if the license lookup shows nothing for the name on my bid?
Ask the contractor for the exact licensee name and number as it appears on the state record, then search again. If it still does not come back, do not sign and do not pay a deposit until it is explained.