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READYDOCSCOMPLIANCESTATESILLINOISCOOK COUNTY
FILE 17031 · COUNTY OF COOKSEAT · CHICAGOPOPULATION · 5.1MVERIFIED · 05 / 2026
Public Compliance Directory · County Hub

Cook.

Cook County in Illinois. This is where the state file translates into the local offices that actually issue the permit, schedule the inspection, and sign the filing. Start with the state baseline, then drill into the right city.

Cities on file
1
Trades indexed
12
County seat
Chicago
Last verified
05 / 2026
FAST FACTS

Cook County at a glance

Quick-reference card
County seatChicago
Population (est.)5.1M
FIPS17031
Building departmentCity-by-city; Chicago and 134 other municipalities run independent permit portals
Permit portalCity-by-city; Cook County Building and Zoning Department manages unincorporated areas only
Fire marshalCook County Bureau of Administration, Office of the Fire Marshal
Browse cities→Back to state←
County of
Cook
· ACTIVE FILE ·
ARTICLE I · COUNTY BASELINE
CODES & LOCAL AUTHORITY
FIPS 17031
Article I · County Baseline

The county inherits from the state. And adds local rules.

Cook County enforces the 2018 International Building Code and International Residential Code in unincorporated areas, while municipalities adopt varying editions of the I-Codes.

Cook County only exercises jurisdiction over unincorporated areas; the vast majority of the county is incorporated and managed by individual municipal building departments. Unincorporated areas are subject to specific county zoning ordinances and building codes, with additional review required for properties located within the Cook County Floodplain Management Ordinance zones.

Cook County enforces a specific Stormwater Management Ordinance that requires a separate permit for any development that alters drainage or increases impervious surface area in unincorporated areas.

How this fits with the state

The state authority here is Illinois IDFPR; Illinois Department of Public Health; local building departments. The county file does not replace that — it adds the permit office, local overlays, and the actual filing path.

Source · City-by-city; Chicago and 134 other municipalities run independent permit portalsLast verified · 05 / 2026
ARTICLE II · PERMIT OFFICES
WHERE THE PERMIT IS FILED
OPERATING PATH
Article II · Local Offices

Who issues, who inspects, who signs off.

Contractors must register with the Cook County Department of Building and Zoning to perform work in unincorporated areas, in addition to any state-level licensing requirements.

Building

City-by-city; Chicago and 134 other municipalities run independent permit portals

Permits, plans, inspections

Verify hours, requirements, and fees on the local portal before filing.

Office · local
See sources →
Permit portal

City-by-city; Cook County Building and Zoning Department manages unincorporated areas only

Apply, track, pay

Verify hours, requirements, and fees on the local portal before filing.

Office · local
See sources →
Planning / zoning

Cook County Department of Building and Zoning

Land use, plan review

Verify hours, requirements, and fees on the local portal before filing.

Office · local
See sources →
Fire marshal

Cook County Bureau of Administration, Office of the Fire Marshal

Prevention, alarms, sprinklers

Verify hours, requirements, and fees on the local portal before filing.

Office · local
See sources →
ARTICLE III · INSURANCE & BONDS
COUNTY OVERLAY ON STATE BASELINE
VERIFY BEFORE BIDDING
Article III · County Overlay

What Cook County usually adds.

The state sets the floor. The county and city can require additional certificates, local bonds, or pre-permit registration.

CoverageRequired?MinimumIssued by
Workers' CompensationState rule with county add-ons
Verify
Required for most employers with employees
State authority
General LiabilityOften required by permit type
Conditional
Permit-based
City-by-city; Chicago and 134 other municipalities run independent permit portals
Surety BondTied to state license or county permit
Conditional
Roofing bond/state requirements; local bonds vary
State or county
County overlayContractors working in unincorporated Cook County must provide proof of general liability and workers' compensation insurance as required by the specific permit application.
Verify
Varies
City-by-city; Chicago and 134 other municipalities run independent permit portals
Source · City-by-city; Chicago and 134 other municipalities run independent permit portalsVerify before filing
ARTICLE IV · INDEXED CITIES
CITIES IN COOK COUNTY
1 CITY
Article IV · Browse by City

Indexed cities in Cook County.

Pick a city to open its trade list. The trade page covers licensing, permits, insurance, and typical costs for that work in that city.

ChicagoCook County
01
ARTICLE V · TRADES
TRADES IN COOK COUNTY
12 TRADES
Article V · Trades

Trades branching in Cook County.

Each trade opens against the first indexed city in the county. Use the city browser above to open the same trade in another city.

Concrete
CODE · CN
GL
Open file →
Electrical
CODE · EL
State Lic.GLBond
Open file →
Flooring
CODE · FL
GL
Open file →
Framing
CODE · FR
GL
Open file →
General Contracting
CODE · GC
State Lic.GLBond
Open file →
HVAC
CODE · HV
State Lic.GLBond
Open file →
Landscaping
CODE · LS
GL
Open file →
Painting
CODE · PT
GL
Open file →
Pest Control
CODE · PC
State Lic.GL
Open file →
Plumbing
CODE · PL
State Lic.GLBond
Open file →
Pool Service
CODE · PS
GLBond
Open file →
Roofing
CODE · RF
LicenseBondGL
Open file →
ARTICLE VI · SOURCES
LOCAL SOURCE REGISTER
VERIFY LOCALLY
Article VI · Sources & Citations

Every filing needs a source trail.

This template keeps the county page honest: local context here, filing decisions made with the issuing office.

State

Illinois IDFPR; Illinois Department of Public Health; local building departments

Statewide licensing, reciprocity, and renewal rules.

/contractors/illinois
VERIFIED
05 / 2026
County

City-by-city; Chicago and 134 other municipalities run independent permit portals

Department that issues permits and schedules inspections for unincorporated areas.

City-by-city; Cook County Building and Zoning Department manages unincorporated areas only
VERIFIED
05 / 2026
Planning

Cook County Department of Building and Zoning

Land use, zoning review, and plan approvals.

Local planning office
VERIFIED
05 / 2026
Fire

Cook County Bureau of Administration, Office of the Fire Marshal

Prevention, protection systems, and code approvals.

Fire marshal's office
VERIFIED
05 / 2026
Frequently Asked

Questions contractors ask before filing.

Q01Do I need a state license to work in Cook County?+
Usually yes — the baseline is the state license through Illinois IDFPR; Illinois Department of Public Health; local building departments. Cook County and its cities may add local registration before you pull a permit.Source · Illinois IDFPR; Illinois Department of Public Health; local building departments
Q02Does the county or the city issue the permit?+
It depends on where the work is. Unincorporated areas usually route through the county (City-by-city; Chicago and 134 other municipalities run independent permit portals). Work inside an incorporated city normally files with that city's department.Source · City-by-city; Chicago and 134 other municipalities run independent permit portals
Q03What changes between county and state?+
The county adds the actual permit office, local zoning overlays, plan-review timelines, inspections, and local fees. The state license defines who can contract; the county defines how the job gets filed.Source · County and municipal departments

Open the county file. Then pick the city.

Cook County now inherits from the state template and adds its own local detail. The next layer is the city and trade pages.

Browse cities→Back to state←