State Guides · Illinois
Illinois Electrician License and Permit Guide
Illinois has no statewide electrician license or code. See how Chicago and the suburbs license electricians, how to check a license and who pulls permits.
·5 min read
Free matching service · Updated Sep 29, 2026
Electricians in Waukegan, IL
Tell us what you need and we'll find the right local electrician for your project. We know 0 electricians serving Waukegan, IL.
Waukegan, the Lake County seat, sits on the Lake Michigan shore north of Chicago. Lake-effect snow and storms make backup power worth planning for; confirm permit rules with the city before work starts.
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Guides for Illinois
All Illinois guidesQuestions from Illinois homeowners
Does Illinois have a state electrician license?
No. Illinois does not issue a statewide electrician or electrical contractor license. The Illinois Municipal Code lets each city or village set its own licensing or registration rules, so requirements depend on where your home is.
How do I check an electrician's license in Chicago?
The City of Chicago Department of Buildings publishes a lookup of licensed electrical contractors, with license numbers and expiration dates. A Chicago electrical contractor license is issued only to a business that employs at least one licensed supervising electrician, and it must be renewed every year.
Does a Chicago electrician need a license even for small jobs?
Yes. Under the Municipal Code of Chicago (Chapter 4-290), a contractor license is needed to install, alter or maintain wiring regulated by the Chicago Electrical Code, whether or not the job needs a permit. The work must be done by the licensed business and its employees under a licensed supervising electrician.
Which electrical code applies to my home?
There is no single statewide electrical code in Illinois; counties and municipalities adopt their own edition of the National Electrical Code, often with local changes. Chicago uses its own Chicago Electrical Code (Title 14E of the Municipal Code), which is built on the National Electrical Code.
Do I need a permit for electrical work in the suburbs?
It depends on the town, so check with your local building department first. In Naperville, for example, the city states that all electrical work requires a permit, and electrical contractors must register with the city.
What changed for electricians working in Naperville?
Naperville stopped renewing locally issued electrical licenses at the end of 2022. The city now accepts a current International Code Council certification or a license earned by testing in a participating municipality such as Chicago, Elgin or Libertyville.
Is storm protection worth adding to my electrical system in Illinois?
NOAA notes that severe thunderstorms are common in late spring and early summer and can produce tornadoes, and northern Illinois can see major winter snowstorms. Whole-home surge protection and a properly installed standby generator with a transfer switch are common upgrades; both usually need a local permit.
Check any contractor's license: Illinois license lookup