STATE LICENSE
NoneSee what applies
No Illinois statute licenses painters. Residential repainting and remodeling is home repair under the Home Repair and Remodeling Act, so jobs over $1,000 need a written contract and the consumer rights pamphlet, and the business must carry statutory liability insurance.
The federal Renovation, Repair and Painting rule applies to any firm disturbing paint in homes, child care facilities, and kindergartens built before 1978: the firm must be certified and use certified renovators. In Chicago, a painting subcontractor works under the permit's licensed GC and is listed on the permit only if it schedules inspections.
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 or Chicago painting license; local business licensing applies where municipalities require it, and permitted Chicago projects run under a licensed general contractor.
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.
RRP certification attaches to disturbing paint in pre-1978 homes, child care facilities, and kindergartens — including in-house maintenance staff.
The Home Repair Act excludes maintenance, service, or repairs under $500; the contract rule starts above $1,000.
Listed on the GC's permit only if they schedule Department of Buildings inspections.
A practical sequence for a new painting 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.
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: Whether Illinois administers its own RRP program or EPA administers it directly in Illinois — confirm before citing a state agency · Current EPA RRP firm certification fee
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.