Illinois Roofing Contractor License Renewal

At a glance

Who needs it

Roofing work in Illinois may be done only by a roofing contractor or a qualifying party licensed or credentialed under the Roofing Industry Licensing Act (225 ILCS 335/9). A limited roofing license covers residential properties of 8 units or less. An unlimited roofing license covers residential, commercial and industrial properties

Expires

December 31 of odd-numbered years, whenever the license was issued. Renew before that date

Renewal fee

$62.50 per year, the same for a limited or an unlimited license

What renewal asks for

A statement certifying that the license holder still meets the insurance and bonding requirements, the renewal fee and the name of the designated qualifying party

Continuing education

None: the Roofing Industry Licensing Act and its rules (68 Ill. Adm. Code 1460) set no continuing education for renewal

Bond

A continuous surety bond from an insurance company authorized for fidelity and surety business in Illinois: $10,000 for a limited license, $25,000 for an unlimited license. IDFPR's bond forms (BD-LRF limited, BD-URF unlimited) say the form is required for a new application or a renewal to be processed

Insurance

Public liability and property damage insurance of at least $250,000 for each occurrence of property damage and $500,000 for each occurrence of personal injury or bodily harm, kept for as long as you're licensed. IDFPR accepts only its own RF-INS form, completed by your insurer, as proof

Bond or insurance cancelled

A surety can end the bond with 60 days' notice to IDFPR. The license is cancelled without a hearing on the bond's termination date unless a new bond is filed to take effect then, and IDFPR also cancels a license on notice that the insurance or bond was cancelled. It's reissued once you apply and prove the insurance and bond requirements are met

Renew

Through IDFPR's online renewal. IDFPR says you can renew about 2 to 3 months before the expiration date on your license, and its license lookup shows that date

Expired license

You can't practice on an expired or inactive license. If you miss the renewal window and the online portal won't let you renew, you reinstate the license by requesting a reinstatement application from IDFPR

Restoration, 5 years or less

Apply on IDFPR's form with all lapsed renewal fees, proof of insurance, proof of the continuous surety bond and the name of a qualifying party who has passed the examination (one designated on or before July 1, 2003 may not need to). The fee is $50 plus all lapsed renewal fees, not to exceed $375

Restoration, over 5 years

The same, plus the evidence Rule 1460.50(b) asks for, such as sworn evidence of active practice in another jurisdiction, proof of passing the Illinois roofing examination for the type of license, or proof of 6 months of lawful practice under a licensed roofer holding the same type of license. Ask IDFPR which applies to you

Qualifying party changes

When a qualifying party leaves, both the qualifying party and the licensee must notify IDFPR in writing within 30 business days. The license becomes inoperative while no qualifying party is associated with it, and a newly designated qualifying party has 7 months to pass the examination

Contact

IDFPR: 1 (888) 473-4858. 320 West Washington Street, 3rd Floor, Springfield, IL 62786, or 555 West Monroe Street, 5th Floor, Chicago, IL 60661

The license belongs to the business (to the sole proprietor, for a sole proprietorship), and the qualifying party is the individual designated to take the exam on its behalf. A qualifying party may act for one additional licensee of the same type only with at least 25% common ownership or management interest, or for a licensed subsidiary.

IDFPR says each individual (non-business) license holder must complete a one-hour sexual harassment prevention course each renewal cycle, and that this doesn't apply to business licenses. Its pages don't say which one a sole proprietor's roofing license is: if that's yours, ask IDFPR before you renew.

Moving from a limited to an unlimited license takes a new application for an unlimited license, and a qualifying party who passed only the Illinois Residential Roofing examination must also pass the Illinois Commercial and Industrial Roofing examination.

Your license number and the licensee's name, as they appear on the license, go on all contracts and bids, all advertising and all commercial vehicles. A municipality or county that requires a building permit may not issue one to a roofing contractor without proof of current state licensure.

How to renew

1. Look up your license on IDFPR's license lookup and note the December 31 expiration in the odd-numbered year.
2. Check that your surety bond ($10,000 limited, $25,000 unlimited) and your liability and property damage insurance are in force, with an RF-INS form from your insurer if you need to send one.
3. Make sure your qualifying party is still with the business and actively engaged in its day-to-day activities.
4. Renew through IDFPR's online renewal once it opens, about 2 to 3 months before expiration: certify your insurance and bond, name your qualifying party and pay $62.50 per year.
5. Allow 2 to 4 business days for the renewal to post and your license status to update, and check it on the license lookup.

Deadline checklist

• 90 days outConfirm the exact expiration date on the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Roofing Contractor license lookup.
• 45 days outCheck that your bond, liability insurance and workers' comp (where required) are current and will stay current through the renewal.
• 30 days outSubmit the renewal and pay the fee.
• 7 days outConfirm the board shows the renewal as processed and your license as active.

Put this renewal in your calendar

Know your expiration date? Download a free calendar file with reminders before it, no sign-up needed. It's made in your browser: nothing you type is sent to us (your browser keeps it only if you follow the sign-up link, for your new ledger). A Google Calendar button sends just that one event to Google.

The file covers one date: once you renew, make a new one. How to add it to your calendar

Frequently asked questions