Every year, DuPage County homeowners lose thousands of dollars to unlicensed contractors who take deposits and disappear, or who do poor work with no recourse. The simplest protection against this is also the easiest: verify the contractor's Illinois license before signing anything.
Here's exactly how to do it — takes about 2 minutes.
Does Illinois Require Roofing Contractors to Be Licensed?
Yes. Illinois requires roofing contractors to hold a license issued by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). The license category is "Roofing Contractor" under the Home Inspector and Roofing Contractor Licensing Act.
Any contractor doing roofing work in Illinois for compensation must hold this license. This includes companies and their managing employees.
How to Verify a License in 2 Minutes
Step 1: Go to idfpr.illinois.gov
Step 2: Click "License Lookup" in the navigation menu
Step 3: Select "Roofing Contractor" as the license type
Step 4: Enter the contractor's name or license number
Step 5: Review the results
You're looking for:
- License status: Active (not expired, suspended, or revoked)
- Name matches the company or person you're dealing with
- No disciplinary actions listed on the record
If a contractor's name or company doesn't appear in the IDFPR database, or their license is expired or inactive, do not hire them.
What to Ask For Before Signing Anything
Beyond the license check, request these documents from any contractor before signing a contract:
Certificate of General Liability Insurance
Minimum $1,000,000 per occurrence. Ask to be added as a "certificate holder" so you receive notification if the policy lapses. This is standard practice and any legitimate contractor will provide it without hesitation.
Certificate of Workers' Compensation Insurance
Required for contractors with employees. This protects you from liability if a worker is injured on your property. If the contractor doesn't carry workers' comp (claiming they have no employees), proceed with extreme caution.
Contractor's License Number
Ask for the Illinois IDFPR license number in writing. Then verify it yourself at idfpr.illinois.gov.
Proof of Local Business Registration
Not required in all DuPage County municipalities, but a local address and verifiable local presence is a good sign. Be cautious of contractors who can't provide a physical business address.
Red Flags to Watch For
Can't provide license number immediately: Any legitimate licensed contractor knows their license number. If they have to "look it up" or give you vague answers, that's a red flag.
Out-of-state plates on vehicles: Not automatically disqualifying, but common with storm chasers who come from other states after major hail events. Out-of-state crews often aren't licensed in Illinois. Ask directly.
Pressure to sign immediately: No legitimate contractor will pressure you to sign a contract on the spot. If someone is creating urgency to sign before you've had a chance to verify credentials or get other estimates, walk away.
Asks you to sign over insurance rights: An "Assignment of Benefits" agreement transfers your insurance claim rights to the contractor. This is legal but removes your control over the claims process. Most consumer advocates recommend against signing these.
Requires large upfront deposit: A legitimate contractor may ask for 10–15% down on a large job. Anyone asking for 50% or more upfront is a significant risk.
No written estimate: Verbal quotes are not acceptable. Every legitimate contractor provides a written, itemized estimate.
Offers to waive your deductible: This is insurance fraud. Contractors cannot legally agree to waive your deductible as part of the deal. If they offer this, they're either engaging in fraud or planning to inflate the claim to compensate — both problems for you.
What If a Contractor Doesn't Have an Illinois License?
Don't hire them. Period.
If an unlicensed contractor does poor work, you have limited legal recourse compared to a dispute with a licensed contractor. You can't file a complaint with IDFPR against an unlicensed contractor (because they're not regulated). And your insurance company may deny a claim if work was done by an unlicensed contractor.
The small potential cost savings of hiring an unlicensed contractor is not worth the risk.
All DuPageRoofingPros Contractors Are Pre-Verified
Every contractor in our network has been verified for Illinois roofing licensure and insurance coverage before being added. We re-verify annually. When you get matched through DuPageRoofingPros, you know you're starting with licensed professionals.
Get connected with verified, licensed DuPage County roofing contractors — submit the form here. Free estimates, no obligation.
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