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TRADE LICENSE FEES (4-5-100 et seq.)

Municipal Code of Chicago tit. 4, ch. 4-5, art. II
in effect

Municipal Code of Chicago § 4-5-100 Establishment of trade license fees.

4-5-100 Establishment of trade license fees. This Article II shall establish and govern the fees for licenses created by this title that are subject to the jurisdiction of the Building Commissioner. These licenses shall be referred to as “trade licenses”. In this article, “Commissioner”' shall mean the Building Commissioner. All fees shall be paid to the Department of Finance. (Added Coun. J. 12-19-25, p. 38125, Art. XV, § 3)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 4-5-110 Uniform fees.

4-5-110 Uniform fees. (a) Reinstatement fee. In addition to renewal fees, reinstatement of an expired license shall be subject to a reinstatement fee of $100.00 for each year or fraction of a year that the license has been expired, provided, however, that the reinstatement fee shall be $50.00 for licenses created under Chapter 4-344. (b) Administrative processing fee. Any modification or change to an existing license that requires review or administrative assistance from City staff, other than updating required insurance or bond information, shall be subject to an administrative processing fee of $50.00. No fee shall apply to any modification or change made by the licensee using a self-service electronic system that does not require assistance from City staff. (c) Replacement document fee. Replacement of a license document or verification of an existing license shall be subject to a replacement document fee of $50.00, which shall cover the cost of preparing the replacement document and delivery via first class mail. No fee shall apply to a document or verification printed by the licensee from a self-service electronic system. (Added Coun. J. 12-19-25, p. 38125, Art. XV, § 3)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 4-5-120 Specific fees.

4-5-120 Specific fees. The specific fees for trade licenses shall be as follows: License Type and Classification (Chapter) | Examination Fees | Initial License Fee (Term) | Renewal Fee (Term) License Type and Classification (Chapter) | Examination Fees | Initial License Fee (Term) | Renewal Fee (Term) Crane Operating Crane Operator (Chapter 4-288) | Written: $150.00 Practical: $400.00 | $550.00 (5 years) | $550.00 (5 years) Apprentice Crane Operator (Chapter 4-288) | – | $100.00 (1 year) | $100.00 (1 year) Drainlaying Drainlayer, all classifications (Chapter 4-28) | $150.00 | $150.00 (see Section 4-28-120) | $150.00 (see Section 4-28-120) Electrical Work Electrical Contractor, all classifications (Chapter 4-290) | – | $150.00 (1 year) | $150.00 (1 year) Supervising Electrician, all classifications (Chapter 4-292) | $150.00 | $150.00 (1 year) | $150.00 (1 year) Elevator (Conveyance Device) Work Elevator Mechanic Contractor (Chapter 4-298) | – | $150.00 (1 year) | $150.00 (1 year) Supervising Elevator Mechanic (Chapter 4-298) | – | $300.00 (1 year) | $150.00 (1 year) General Contracting General Contractor, Class A (Chapter 4-36) | – | $3,500.00 (1 year) | $3,500.00 (1 year) General Contractor, Class B (Chapter 4-36) | – | $1,800.00 (1 year) | $1,800.00 (1 year) General Contractor, Class C (Chapter 4-36) | – | $1,300.00 (1 year) | $1,300.00 (1 year) General Contractor, Class D (Chapter 4-36) | – | $900.00 (1 year) | $900.00 (1 year) General Contractor, Class E (Chapter 4-36) | – | $300.00 (1 year) | $300.00 (1 year) Mason Work Mason Contractor (Chapter 4-376, Part II) | – | $150.00 (1 year) | $150.00 (1 year) Supervising Mason (Chapter 4-376, Part III) | $150.00 | $150.00 (1 year) | $150.00 (1 year) Plumbing Plumbing Contractor (Chapter 4-336) | – | $150.00 (1 year) | $150.00 (1 year) Plumber (Chapter 4-332) | $175.00/$225.00 (Section 4-332-300(1)) | $150.00 (1 year) | $150.00 (1 year) Apprentice Plumber (Chapter 4-332) | – | $100.00 (1 year) | $100.00 (1 year) Stationary Engineer Work Stationary Engineer (Chapter 4-344) | $150.00 | $75.00 (2 year) | $75.00 (2 year) (Added Coun. J. 12-19-25, p. 38125, Art. XV, § 3)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 4-5-130 Payment of renewal fees.

4-5-130 Payment of renewal fees. The Commissioner shall accept payment of the renewal fee for a license beginning 90 days before the expiration date of that license. (Added Coun. J. 12-19-25, p. 38125, Art. XV, § 3)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 4-5-140 Annual adjustment.

4-5-140 Annual adjustment. (a) Beginning in 2026, on or before October 1 of each year, the Commissioner shall determine the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, US City Average (“CPI-U”) from January 2025 to January of the present year and prepare a schedule of the monetary values set forth in Sections 4-5-110 and 4-5-120 increased in proportion to any positive change in the CPI-U. (b) The Commissioner shall round values as follows: if the original amount is less than $500.00 to the nearest increment of $5.00, and if the original amount is at least $500.00 to the nearest increment of $50.00. (c) Schedules prepared in accordance with this section and published on the city's public website shall take effect on January 1 of the succeeding year. (Added Coun. J. 12-19-25, p. 38125, Art. XV, § 3)
Source: City of Chicago, Municipal Code of Chicago (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/chicago/latest/chicago_il/0-0-0-2703088Fetched: 10/24/2026

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