ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS

Municipal Code of Chicago tit. 4, ch. 4-290

in effect

Municipal Code of Chicago § 4-290-010 License required.

4-290-010 License required. (a) It shall be unlawful for any person to install, alter or maintain equipment for the utilization of electricity for light, heat, power, signaling or communication, or any other equipment or apparatus regulated under Title 14E of this Code, unless such person either: (1) holds a valid electrical contractor license under Section 4-290-030 authorizing the scope of work to be performed; or (2) is employed by a person holding a valid electrical contractor license under Section 4-290-030 authorizing the scope of work to be performed. Provided, however, that: (i) An electrical contractor license under Section 4-290-030 shall not be required to install, alter, or maintain any such equipment or apparatus for or by a public utility under the jurisdiction of the Illinois Commerce Commission for use in its operation as a public utility; and (ii) A private alarm contractor shall not be required to obtain a license under Section 4-290-030 to install, alter or maintain an alarm system, if such private alarm contractor is properly licensed by the State of Illinois under the Private Detective, Private Alarm, Private Security, Fingerprint Vendor, and Locksmith Act of 2004, and is acting within the scope of such license. (b) It shall be unlawful for any general contractor, subcontractor or other person to: (1) employ, permit, direct or cause any person who requires, but has failed to obtain, a valid license under Section 4-290-030 to work as an electrical contractor on any project; or (2) allow any person who holds a valid license under Section 4-290-030 to perform or cause to be performed electrical contractor work on any project that exceeds the scope of work authorized under such license. (Added Coun. J. 9-6-17, p. 55278, Art. IV, § 7; Amend Coun. J. 3-28-18, p. 74459, Art. V, § 4; Amend Coun. J. 9-20-18, p. 84890, Art. I, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 12-19-25, p. 38125, Art. XVIII, § 1)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 4-290-020 Definitions.

4-290-020 Definitions. As used in this chapter: "Alarm system" has the meaning ascribed to that term in Section 5-10 of the Private Detective, Private Alarm, Private Security, Fingerprint Vendor, and Locksmith Act of 2004. "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Buildings. “Electrical contractor” means any person who installs, alters or maintains any equipment or apparatus within the meaning of Section 4-290-010 requiring a valid electrical contractor license. “Electrical contractor work” means the installation, alteration or maintenance of any equipment or apparatus within the meaning of Section 4-290-010 requiring a valid electrical contractor license. "Electrician" means an individual who has successfully completed an electrician apprenticeship program recognized by the United States Department of Labor and requiring at least 8,000 hours of relevant on-the-job training and classroom instruction, as evidenced by a written certificate of completion. "Electrician’s apprentice" means an individual who is currently enrolled in an electrician apprenticeship program recognized by the United States Department of Labor and requiring at least 8,000 hours of relevant on- the-job training and classroom instruction. "Employed by" means being classified as an employee of, in accordance with the Illinois Employee Classification Act, 820 ILCS 185/1, et seq. "Private alarm contractor" means a person currently licensed by the State of Illinois as a private alarm contractor or private alarm contractor agency in accordance with the Private Detective, Private Alarm, Private Security, Fingerprint Vendor, and Locksmith Act of 2004. "Private Detective, Private Alarm, Private Security, Fingerprint Vendor, and Locksmith Act of 2004" means the Private Detective, Private Alarm, Private Security, Fingerprint Vendor, and Locksmith Act of 2004, as amended, codified at 225 ILCS 447/Art. 5, et seq. “Supervising electrician” means any person holding a valid license as a supervising electrician under Chapter 4-292 of this Code. (Added Coun. J. 9-6-17, p. 55278, Art. IV, § 7; Amend Coun. J. 9-20-18, p. 84890, Art. I, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 6-25-21, p. 32180, Art. IV, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 12-19-25, p. 38125, Art. XVIII, § 1)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 4-290-030 Application and issuance of license.

4-290-030 Application and issuance of license. Any person seeking to engage in the business of electrical contractor shall apply to the Commissioner for a license authorizing such person to engage in the business of electrical contractor to the extent authorized under Section 4-290-035(b). The applicant for such license shall: (1) indicate on the application form whether a Class 1 or Class 2 electrical contractor license is being sought, and if applicable, whether any subclassification of license is being sought; (2) state the name of the supervising electrician appointed or employed by the applicant; and (3) provide any other information that the Commissioner may reasonably require in connection with the application for such license. Upon receipt of a completed application in proper form, and payment of the fee set forth in Section 4-290-050, the Commissioner shall license the applicant as an electrical contractor with the appropriate classification of license if the Commissioner determines that the applicant is in compliance with all applicable requirements of this Code. Upon licensure, the Commissioner shall issue to the applicant a license certificate, which shall: (1) indicate on its face the appropriate classification of license that the Commissioner has approved; and (2) authorize the applicant, during the period for which the license is valid, to: (A) engage in the business of electrical contractor to the extent authorized under Section 4-290-035(b); and (B) secure permits under the electrical regulations of this Code. Provided, however, that no license shall be issued to any applicant unless such applicant is in compliance with Chapter 4-292 of this Code. Such license shall not be transferable. Eligibility for issuance of any license under this chapter shall be a continuing requirement for maintaining such license. (Added Coun. J. 9-6-17, p. 55278, Art. IV, § 7; Amend Coun. J. 9-20-18, p. 84890, Art. I, § 3; Amend Coun. J. 12-19-25, p. 38125, Art. XVIII, § 1)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 4-290-035 Classification.

4-290-035 Classification. (a) Classification of license. All electrical contractor licenses shall be classified as either a Class 1 or Class 2 license. The Commissioner may establish subclassifications within Class 2 by rule. (b) Scope of work authorized. (1) Class 1 license. An electrical contractor holding a Class 1 license is authorized to perform any work for which a license is required under this Chapter 4-290. (2) Class 2 license. An electrical contractor holding a Class 2 license may perform any work for which a license is required under this Chapter 4-290, except: (i) An electrical contractor holding a Class 2 license shall not perform work for which a license is required under this Chapter 4-290 in any building that exceeds 55 feet in height prior to initial legal occupancy of the portion of such building where work is performed; and (ii) An electrical contractor holding a Class 2 license shall not perform work for which a license is required under this Chapter 4-290 in a building or portion of a building classified in accordance with Title 14B as a Group A occupancy with an occupant load of 300 or more, prior to initial legal occupancy of such building or portion of such building where work is performed. (Added Coun. J. 9-20-18, p. 84890, Art. I, § 4; Amend Coun. J. 12-19-25, p. 38125, Art. XVIII, § 1)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 4-290-036 Work requiring a Class 1 license - Additional requirements.

4-290-036 Work requiring a Class 1 license - Additional requirements. (a) When performing work that requires a Class 1 license within the meaning of Section 4-290-035, the electrical contractor holding such license shall: (1) ensure that each person performing work for or at the direction of the electrical contractor at the work site is either: (i) a supervising electrician; (ii) an electrician; or (iii) an electrician’s apprentice employed by the electrical contractor; and (2) maintain records to establish compliance with the requirements set forth in subsection (a)(1) of this section for at least two years following completion of such work. (b) Nothing in this section shall require an electrical contractor holding a Class 1 license to comply with the requirements set forth in subsection (a) of this section when such contractor is performing work which may be performed by an electrical contractor holding a Class 2 license. (Added Coun. J. 9-20-18, p. 84890, Art. I, § 5; Amend Coun. J. 12-19-25, p. 38125, Art. XVIII, § 1)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 4-290-040 Expiration of certificate.

4-290-040 Expiration of certificate. A license under this chapter shall be valid for a period of one year from the date of its issuance. Expired licenses may only be reinstated within three years of expiration. (Added Coun. J. 9-6-17, p. 55278, Art. IV, § 7; Amend Coun. J. 12-19-25, p. 38125, Art. XVIII, § 1)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 4-290-050 Fees.

4-290-050 Fees. Licenses issued under this chapter shall be subject to the fees provided for in Article II of Chapter 4-5 of this Code. (Added Coun. J. 9-6-17, p. 55278, Art. IV, § 7; Amend Coun. J. 9-20-18, p. 84890, Art. I, § 6; Amend Coun. J. 12-19-25, p. 38125, Art. XVIII, § 1)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 4-290-055 Reporting changes.

4-290-055 Reporting changes. An electrical contractor shall notify the Commissioner of any change in company name, company address, or company ownership within 30 days, or change in supervising electrician within 5 days, by filing an amended application with the Commissioner. (Added Coun. J. 12-19-25, p. 38125, Art. XVIII, § 1)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 4-290-060 Suspension or revocation.

4-290-060 Suspension or revocation. The Commissioner may suspend or revoke the license, registration or certification of any person licensed, registered or certified under this chapter as provided in Section 14A-3-305 of this Code. (Added Coun. J. 4-10-19, p. 100029, Art. II, § 57; Amend Coun. J. 12-19-25, p. 38125, Art. XVIII, § 1)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 4-290-070 Building permit privileges - Suspension.

4-290-070 Building permit privileges - Suspension. The Commissioner may suspend the ability of any person licensed, registered or certified or required to be licensed, registered or certified under this chapter to submit new applications or complete pending applications for a building permit or other permit issued by the Department of Buildings for cause as set forth in Section 14A-3-304 of this Code. (Added Coun. J. 4-10-19, p. 100029, Art. II, § 57; Amend Coun. J. 12-19-25, p. 38125, Art. XVIII, § 1)

Source: City of Chicago, Municipal Code of Chicago (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/chicago/latest/chicago_il/0-0-0-2637722Fetched: 10/24/2026