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Compiled from official state licensing boards · Updated May 2026
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Illinois General Contractor (Municipal)

An Illinois General Contractor (Municipal) has no continuing-education requirement, a renewal fee set by the board, and a $10,000 license bond. Illinois currently enforces the 2018 IBC. Requirements, approved courses, bond and renewal steps for 2026.

CE Hours
—
none required
Renewal Fee
Not published
check the board
Bond
$10,000
required
IBC
2018
edition in force

Municipal-level licensing

Illinois does not issue a state-wide license for this trade. Licensing is handled at the city/county level. Major jurisdictions include: Chicago, Aurora, Rockford, Joliet, Naperville, Springfield.

Informational only — not legal advice, and not an official government resource. Licensing rules change; always confirm against the official board source linked on this page before you renew, apply, or make a business decision. Trade Cert Hub is independent and not affiliated with any state licensing board.

Continuing education

Illinois does not have a confirmed continuing education requirement for this license (0 hours). You still need to renew on time and pay the filing fee — see “How to renew” below.

Bond & insurance

Contractor bond
$10,000

Bond required. Annual premiums typically run $100–$2,000 depending on credit and bond amount.

Get a bond quote
Insurance
WC required

Workers’ compensation insurance is required.

These limits often apply to the licensed contractor/business, not an individual contractor working as an employee — confirm which applies to your situation with Municipal.

Compare GL & workers’-comp quotes

Reciprocity

Illinois does not publish direct reciprocity for this license. Out-of-state holders typically apply for endorsement and may need to pass the state exam. The reciprocity lookup tool can check a specific state pair.

How to renew, step by step

  1. 1

    Check your renewal deadline

    Log in to the Municipal portal and confirm your expiration date and license number before doing anything else.

  2. 2

    Complete continuing education

    Illinois does not require continuing education for this license, so there are no CE hours to complete — but confirm on the board portal in case the rule changed.

  3. 3

    Gather bond & insurance proof

    Have current proof of your license bond and workers’ compensation coverage ready to upload.

  4. 4

    Submit and pay

    Submit the renewal through the Municipal portal and pay the state renewal fee. Renewing online is faster than mailing a paper form.

  5. 5

    Save your confirmation

    Download the confirmation and your updated license. If you missed the deadline, look for the late/reinstatement path rather than re-applying from scratch.

Frequently asked questions

How many CE hours do I need for Illinois General Contractor (Municipal) renewal?
Illinois does not require continuing education for this license, or specific hours have not been confirmed by the board.
What does Illinois General Contractor (Municipal) renewal cost?
Renewal fee not confirmed; check the licensing board directly.
Does Illinois accept reciprocity for this license?
Illinois does not publish reciprocity for this license. Out-of-state holders typically apply for endorsement and may sit for an exam.
Which code is Illinois currently enforcing?
Illinois is currently on the 2018 IBC. Make sure your CE courses cover the current code year.
Does Illinois require a bond for this license?
Yes. Illinois requires a $10,000 license bond at this tier. Annual premiums typically run a few percent of the bond amount depending on your credit.

Don’t lose your license to a missed deadline

Illinois General Contractor (Municipal)s renew on your renewal cycle. Set a reminder so you have time to finish your requirements before you’re due.

Used to set your reminder. With the email option we’ll time it 90, 30 and 7 days before.

Add it to your calendar

Download a calendar file with alerts 90, 30 and 7 days before. Works with Apple, Google and Outlook. Nothing leaves your device.

…or have us email you

No spam, unsubscribe anytime. We’ll send the year’s code & CE-rule changes for general contractors too.

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