PLUMBING CONTRACTORS

Municipal Code of Chicago tit. 4, ch. 4-336

in effect

Municipal Code of Chicago § 4-336-010 License required.

4-336-010 License required. It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in the business of plumbing contractor, as defined in Section 4-332-020, or hold themself out as a plumbing contractor without being licensed in accordance with this chapter. (Added Coun. J. 12-9-92, p. 25465; Amend Coun. J. 1-24-24, p. 8615, § 4)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 4-336-020 Application.

4-336-020 Application. (a) An application for a license shall be filed with the Department in writing and on a form prepared and furnished by the Department. (b) An application for an initial license shall contain the name, address, and telephone number of the person and the Chicago or Illinois plumbing license of (i) the individual, if a sole proprietorship; (ii) a partner, if a partnership; or (iii) an officer, if a corporation. The application shall contain the business name, address, and telephone number, a current copy of the plumbing license, and any other information the Commissioner may require. Beginning July 1, 2025, the required plumbing license must be a City of Chicago plumbing license. (Added Coun. J. 12-9-92, p. 25465; Amend Coun. J. 2-22-17, p. 43876, § 15; Amend Coun. J. 1-24-24, p. 8615, § 4)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 4-336-025 Insurance.

4-336-025 Insurance. Beginning July 1, 2025: (a) Each applicant for initial licensure or renewal shall submit a certificate of insurance documenting that the contractor carries general liability insurance with a minimum of $100,000 per occurrence, a minimum of $300,000 aggregate for bodily injury, property damage insurance with a minimum of $50,000 or a minimum of $300,000 combined single limit, and workers’ compensation insurance with a minimum $500,000 employer’s liability. No license may be issued in the absence of this certificate. This insurance must be in force at all times for the license to remain valid. (b) Each policy of insurance required by this section shall be issued by an insurer authorized to insure in Illinois with a credit rating of B+ or higher by A.M. Best Company. (c) Each policy of insurance required under this section shall include a provision requiring 30 days’ advance notice to the Commissioner prior to cancellation or lapse of the policy. (d) Each policy of insurance required under this section shall name the City of Chicago as additional insured on a primary, noncontributory basis arising directly or indirectly from the licensee’s operations. (Added Coun. J. 1-24-24, p. 8615, § 4)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 4-336-030 Contractor's bond.

4-336-030 Contractor's bond. Prior to the issuance of a plumbing contractor license, the applicant shall file with the City of Chicago an indemnification bond in the amount of $20,000.00 or a letter of credit in the same amount, such bond or letter of credit being payable to the City of Chicago, for the use of any persons with whom such applicant shall thereafter contract to do plumbing work, to indemnify any such person for damages sustained on account of the failure of such applicant to perform the plumbing work so contracted for, in accordance with the provisions and requirements of this Code relating to plumbing. (Added Coun. J. 12-9-92, p. 25465; Amend Coun. J. 1-24-24, p. 8615, § 4)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 4-336-031 Workers’ Compensation Act violation.

4-336-031 Workers’ Compensation Act violation. The Department, upon notification by the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission or the Illinois Department of Insurance, shall refuse the issuance or renewal of a license to, or suspend or revoke the license of, any person that has been found by the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission or the Illinois Department of Insurance to have failed: (a) to secure workers’ compensation obligations in the manner required by subsections (a) and (b) of Section 4 of the Workers’ Compensation Act; (b) to pay in full a fine or penalty imposed by the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission or the Illinois Department of Insurance due to a failure to secure workers’ compensation obligations in the manner required by subsections (a) and (b) of Section 4 of the Workers’ Compensation Act; or (c) to fulfill all obligations assumed pursuant to any settlement reached with the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission or the Illinois Department of Insurance due to a failure to secure workers’ compensation obligations in the manner required by subsections (a) and (b) of Section 4 of the Workers’ Compensation Act. A complaint filed with the Department by the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission or the Department of Insurance that includes a certification, signed by the Director or Chairman or designee, attesting to a finding of the failure to secure workers’ compensation obligations in the manner required by subsections (a) and (b) of Section 4 of the Workers’ Compensation Act or the failure to pay any fines or penalties or to discharge any obligation under a settlement relating to the failure to secure workers’ compensation obligations in the manner required by subsections (a) and (b) of Section 4 of the Workers’ Compensation Act is prima facie evidence of the licensee’s or applicant’s failure to comply with subsections (a) and (b) of Section 4 of the Workers’ Compensation Act. Upon receipt of that certification, the Department shall, without a hearing, immediately suspend all licenses held by the licensee or the processing of any application from the applicant. Enforcement of the Department’s order shall be stayed for 60 days. The Department shall provide notice of the suspension to the licensee by mailing a copy of the Department’s order to the licensee’s or applicant’s address of record or emailing a copy of the order to the licensee’s or applicant’s email address of record. The notice shall advise the licensee or applicant that the suspension shall be effective 60 days after the issuance of the order unless the Department receives notice from the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission or the Illinois Department of Insurance that the violation has been corrected or otherwise resolved. Upon receiving notice from the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission or the Illinois Department of Insurance that the violation has been corrected or otherwise resolved, the Department shall vacate the order suspending a licensee’s license or the processing of an applicant’s application. No license shall be suspended or revoked until after the licensee is afforded any due process protection guaranteed by statute or rule adopted by the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission or the Illinois Department of Insurance. (Added Coun. J. 1-24-24, p. 8615, § 4)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 4-336-035 Employees.

4-336-035 Employees. All employees of a licensed plumbing contractor who engage in plumbing work shall be licensed plumbers or licensed apprentice plumbers in accordance with Chapter 4-332 or Illinois-licensed plumbers or Illinois-licensed apprentice plumbers in accordance with the Illinois Plumbing License Law. (Added Coun. J. 1-24-24, p. 8615, § 4)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 4-336-040 License - Fee - Term.

4-336-040 License - Fee - Term. (a) The fees for a plumbing contractor license shall be as provided in Article II of Chapter 4-5 of this Code. (b) An initial license or renewal license issued under this chapter shall be valid for a period of one year from the date of issuance. (c) Expired licenses may only be reinstated within three years of expiration. (Added Coun. J. 12-9-92, p. 25465; Amend Coun. J. 1-24-24, p. 8615, § 4; Amend Coun. J. 12-19-25, p. 38125, Art. XXI, § 9)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 4-336-045 Notification of changes.

4-336-045 Notification of changes. The Department shall be notified in advance of any changes in the business structure, name, or location or of the addition or deletion of the owner or officer who is the licensed plumber listed on the application. Failure to notify the Department of this information is grounds for revocation of the plumbing contractor’s license. (Added Coun. J. 1-24-24, p. 8615, § 4)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 4-336-046 Illinois plumber’s license.

4-336-046 Illinois plumber’s license. In the event that the plumber’s license on the application for licensure of a plumbing contractor is a plumber’s license issued by the State of Illinois, in shall be the responsibility of the applicant to provide a copy of the Illinois plumber’s license to the Department at the time of initial licensure and each renewal. In the event that the plumbing contractor’s license is suspended or revoked, the Department shall notify the Illinois Department of Public Health. (Added Coun. J. 1-24-24, p. 8615, § 4)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 4-336-050 Advertising.

4-336-050 Advertising. (a) Persons who advertise plumbing services shall, at their place of business, display the licensed plumber’s license of at least one member of the firm or partnership or officer of the corporation and shall maintain a register listing the names and license numbers of all licensed plumbers and all licensed apprentice plumbers currently employed by them. The number of the license so displayed shall also be included with the plumbing identification on vehicles. (b) No person who provides plumbing services may advertise those services unless that person includes in the advertisement the license number that is required to be displayed under subsection (a). Nothing contained in this subsection requires the publisher of advertising for plumbing services to investigate or verify the accuracy of the license number provided by the advertiser. (c) The Commissioner may require by rule additional information concerning licensed plumbers and licensed apprentice plumbers be maintained in the register. The Commissioner and Board of Plumbing Examiners shall have the right to examine the payroll records of such persons to determine compliance with this chapter. The Commissioner and Board of Plumbing Examiners’ right to examine payroll records is limited solely to those records and does not extend to any other business records. (Added Coun. J. 12-9-92, p. 25465; Amend Coun. J. 1-24-24, p. 8615, § 4)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 4-336-055 Building permit privileges - Suspension.

4-336-055 Building permit privileges - Suspension. The Commissioner may suspend the ability of any person licensed or required to be licensed 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. 2-22-17, p. 43876, § 15; Amend Coun. J. 4-10-19, p. 100029, Art. II, § 65; Amend Coun. J. 1-24-24, p. 8615, § 4)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 4-336-058 License - Suspension or revocation.

4-336-058 License - Suspension or revocation. The Commissioner may suspend or revoke the license of any person licensed under this chapter as provided in Section 14A-3-305 of this Code. (Added Coun. J. 2-22-17, p. 43876, § 15; Amend Coun. J. 4-10-19, p. 100029, Art. II, § 66; Amend Coun. J. 1-24-24, p. 8615, § 4)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 4-336-060 Violation - Penalty.

4-336-060 Violation - Penalty. Any person who engages in the business of plumbing contractor without obtaining a license as herein provided for, or who otherwise violates this chapter, shall be fined in accordance with Section 14A-3-302 for each offense. Each day that a violation continues shall constitute a separate and distinct offense. (Added Coun. J. 12-9-92, p. 25465; Amend Coun. J. 11-21-17, p. 61858, Art. VIII, § 5; Amend Coun. J. 4-10-19, p. 100029, Art. II, § 67; Amend Coun. J. 1-24-24, p. 8615, § 4)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 4-336-070 Rules.

4-336-070 Rules. The Commissioner is authorized to adopt rules for the proper administration and enforcement of this chapter. (Added Coun. J. 1-24-24, p. 8615, § 4)

Source: City of Chicago, Municipal Code of Chicago (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/chicago/latest/chicago_il/0-0-0-2638169Fetched: 10/24/2026