Illinois: who needs a license to work on your chimney or fireplace?
Checked Sep 2026·Laws as cited·All 3 records checked Sep 2026
Public recordIL LAW
For consumer remedies, home-sale rules and carbon monoxide law, see Illinois chimney & fireplace laws — know your rights. That page was verified Oct 2026.
Stove & insert installation: is a credential required in Illinois?
#stove-installNONE- Credential
- No state credential of any kind for solid-fuel installs; no state-enforced residential code — CORRECTED Sep 2026: the 1/1/2025 'baseline' in 20 ILCS 3105/10.18 applies only where a municipality or county HAS a building code ('Beginning January 1, 2025, any municipal building code or county building code must...') and only to STRUCTURAL DESIGN (baseline residential code = the IRC edition of the current or preceding 9 years with the least restrictive structural-design provisions; home-rule limitation applies) — it does NOT impose IRC ch. 10 listing/manufacturer-instruction rules statewide, and no-code jurisdictions still have no residential code; Home Repair and Remodeling Act written contract/work order for jobs over $1,000 (815 ILCS 513/15) is the only consumer layer
- Issuing body
- local building departments; IL Capital Development Board (baseline-code reporting)
- Statute
- 815 ILCS 513/15 (Home Repair and Remodeling Act); 20 ILCS 3105/10.18 (local-code reporting + structural baseline eff. 1/1/2025)
- Dollar threshold
- $1,000 (written-contract duty only)
- Exam
- n
- Local overlay
- y — Chicago building code + permits; Chicago restricts unvented appliances (see Pass 1)
- Confidence
- high · checked 2026-09-25
- Sources
Chimney flashing: is a credential required in Illinois?
#chimney-flashingLICENSE- Credential
- IDFPR Roofing Contractor license (limited = residential <=8 units; unlimited = all) — 225 ILCS 335/9(2): NO roofing or waterproofing work of any kind except by a licensed roofing contractor, no dollar floor, so standalone chimney flashing/leak repair IS covered; EXEMPTION: 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1460.5 'Roofing' definition — sheet metal, electrical, plumbing, refrigeration or MASON contractors or carpenters performing CHIMNEY REPAIRS need no roofing license, so flashing replaced incidentally to a masonry chimney repair by a mason contractor is exempt while flashing-as-leak-repair is licensed roofing work; qualifying-party exam; surety bond $10,000 limited / $25,000 unlimited (225 ILCS 335/3) + liability insurance $250,000 per occurrence property damage / $500,000 per occurrence personal injury, 30-day cancellation notice to the Division (68 Ill. Adm. Code 1460.20) attach to the license
- Issuing body
- IL Dept. of Financial and Professional Regulation (Roofing Advisory Board)
- Statute
- Illinois Roofing Industry Licensing Act, 225 ILCS 335/2, 335/3, 335/9(2); 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1460.5, 1460.12, 1460.20, 1460.30
- Dollar threshold
- none
- Exam
- y (Illinois Residential Roofing exam for limited; Commercial & Industrial for unlimited — exam names not re-verified Sep 2026)
- Local overlay
- y — Chicago also requires city GC license + permits
- Confidence
- high · checked 2026-09-25
- Sources
Gas fireplace service: is a credential required in Illinois?
#gas-fireplace-serviceNONE- Credential
- No state gas/HVAC credential — IL Plumbing License Law covers potable water/waste/vent, not fuel-gas fitting; state licenses only plumbers (IDPH) and roofers (IDFPR); Home Repair Act written-contract duty >$1k
- Issuing body
- n/a statewide; local building depts; Chicago DOB
- Statute
- 225 ILCS 320/2 (plumbing = water supply + drainage systems; gas piping/fitting not mentioned — 2025 ILCS); 815 ILCS 513/15 (Home Repair and Remodeling Act written contract/work order over $1,000)
- Dollar threshold
- $1,000 (written-contract duty only)
- Exam
- n
- Local overlay
- y — Chicago (fuel-gas piping Muni. Code 18-28-1401 et seq.; licensed plumber + DOB permit; unvented gas fireplaces restricted 18-28-903.1.5 — Chicago cites not re-verified Sep 2026)
- Confidence
- high · checked 2026-09-25
- Sources
What insurance does Illinois require of contractors?
#insurance- Regime
- none statewide for chimney work (roofing license = nearest state credential; Chicago GC license = big local overlay)
- Liability minimum
- NONE for chimney/masonry/GC; Roofing license (225 ILCS 335/3(2)(a) + 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1460.20): $500,000/occurrence BI + $250,000/occurrence PD, 30-day cancellation notice to IDFPR; Chicago GC license (MCC 4-36-090): tiered CGL $1M (Class E) to $5M (Class A) per occurrence, city additional insured (amounts MEDIUM, secondary)
- Bond
- roofing only: continuous surety bond to IDFPR — $10,000 limited (residential) / $25,000 unlimited (225 ILCS 335/3(2)(d)); license auto-cancels if bond lapses; no other state contractor bond
- Guaranty fund
- none — no state recovery/guaranty fund of any kind
- Workers' comp threshold
- effectively 1 employee (820 ILCS 305; construction is enumerated hazardous occupation); sole props/partners/officers/LLC members may exempt themselves; roofing licensees must carry WC as license condition
- How to verify
- roofing: COI + bond on file with IDFPR, license lookup idfpr.illinois.gov; chimney/masonry: nothing state-side; WC lookup: IWCC insurance coverage inquiry (NCCI POC data)
- Confidence
- high (roofing/absence); medium (Chicago tiers); medium-high (WC) · checked 2026-07-09
- Sources
Download the full licensing matrix (CSV) · All states
Before anyone goes on your roof
What should you ask a chimney company in Illinois?
- Is your company a member of the National Chimney Sweep Guild (NCSG)?
- Does the technician coming to my home hold an individual NCSG certification, and which one?
- Does the technician hold a National Fireplace Institute (NFI) certification — and for which fuel: wood, gas, or pellet?
- What other certifications does the technician hold (for example, CSIA), and can I check them on the issuer's own roster?
- What state or local license or registration covers this work here, and what is the number?
- Will you send a certificate of insurance, dated and naming your company, before work starts?
- Which NFPA 211 inspection level — Level 1, 2, or 3 — are you performing, and why that level?
- Will you show me what you found — photos or video of the flue — in writing?
We take no fee from any certification body, guild, or contractor, and are not paid to mention anyone named.