Illinois: who needs a license to work on your chimney or fireplace?

Checked Jul 2026·Laws as cited·Not in the Sep 2026 verification pass

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 more recently than this matrix.

Stove & insert installation: is a credential required in Illinois?

Credential: No state credential of any kind for solid-fuel installs; historically no statewide residential code — since 1/1/2025 the Capital Development Board baseline requires every jurisdiction to regulate at least as stringently as ICC model codes (home rule preempted), so IRC listing/manufacturer-instruction rules now reach the whole state via local codes; Home Repair Act written-contract duty >$1k is the only consumer layer
Issuing body: local building departments; IL Capital Development Board (baseline code)
Statute: 815 ILCS 513 (Home Repair Act); CDB statewide baseline code eff. 1/1/2025 (Capital Development Board Act)
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 2026-07-09
Sources: GOVcdb.illinois.gov/business/codes.htmlREFiml.org/buildingcodesREFktjlaw.com/blog/new-reporting-requirem…

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; $10k/$25k bond + $250k/$500k liability 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; 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)
Local overlay: y — Chicago also requires city GC license + permits
Confidence: high · checked 2026-07-09
Sources: GOVilga.gov/documents/legislation/ilcs/…GOVilga.gov/documents/legislation/ilcs/…GOVilga.gov/agencies/JCAR/EntirePart

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 (plumbing, excludes gas fitting); 815 ILCS 513 (Home Repair Act duties)
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)
Confidence: high · checked 2026-07-09
Sources: GOVilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.aspREFcodelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/chicago/latest/chicag…REFservicetitan.com/licensing/hvac/illinois

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: GOVilga.gov/Legislation/ILCS/ArticlesGOVilga.gov/commission/jcar/admincode/0…GOViwcc.illinois.gov/about/insurance.html

Before anyone goes on your roof

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.