STATE LICENSE
NoneSee what applies
Concrete work needs no state trade license in Illinois. Residential driveways, porches, and basements are named in the Home Repair and Remodeling Act, so the state insurance, written-contract, and brochure rules apply to residential jobs.
Chicago treats concrete as masonry. A city mason contractor license is required for work in stone, concrete, brick, terra cotta, or structural tile used in buildings or structures above or below ground. Class A covers all mason work, Class B everything except site-formed concrete, and Class C site-formed concrete only. Flatwork is largely carved out: sidewalks, concrete paving, slabs for sheds and garages, and fence, deck, and porch footings need no mason license.
The state sets the license floor; the county or city permit office controls filing, inspections, and local rules wherever the job site sits.
No state license exists; Chicago's mason contractor license is the main local gate for structural concrete, while other municipalities regulate through building and right-of-way permits.
The local offices section below names the exact permit desk for every Illinois county on file.
Each row names the issuing authority, cost, timeline, citation, and status behind the requirement — verified against the official source.
Published fees from the issuing authorities, as of October 2026. Local permit fees vary by project and jurisdiction — the basis is stated where a flat number does not exist.
Chicago needs no mason license for sidewalks, concrete paving, slab-on-grade for sheds and garages, or footings for fences, decks, and open porches.
Chicago mason work must be done by the licensed business's employees under its supervising mason — not 1099 subcontractors.
The Home Repair Act names driveways, porches, and basements, so residential concrete jobs over $1,000 need a written contract and the brochure.
A practical sequence for a new concrete contractor in Illinois. Actual agency processing times are noted in the ledger above.
Each item names the issuing authority, cycle, and citation.
Statutory consequences with their citations — not estimates, not “commonly cited” guesses.
Any violation is a Consumer Fraud Act violation, with Attorney General and private enforcement.
Knowingly failing to insure is a Class 4 felony for owners and officers; ex parte work-stop orders for extra-hazardous employers.
Inside city limits, the city office listed here issues the permit; the county office serves unincorporated areas. Every office links to its official page.
Every fact in this file was checked against these official sources on October 2026.
Pending verification: Penalty amounts for unlicensed mason work under the Chicago Municipal Code (ordinance text not reviewed)
General information, not legal advice. Always confirm requirements, deadlines, and forms with the issuing authority before filing or contracting.
Store licenses, permits, policies, and renewal dates in one place.