TradeGuardIllinois subcontractor insurance & compliance requirements
If you're a general contractor hiring subcontractors in Illinois, here are the certificates and documents you should collect and keep current, and how TradeGuard tracks them automatically.
Documents to collect from subcontractors in Illinois
The core compliance documents a GC should require and keep current for each sub.
State or local business license
Certificate of Insurance for General Liability coverage
Certificate of Insurance for Workers Compensation coverage, required for any sub with employees
Required for tax reporting on payments over $600
Required on many public and private commercial projects
Required for supervisors on many commercial and public projects
Required on public works projects over threshold
Required alongside performance bond on public projects
Required when bidding on public construction contracts; guarantees contractor will honor the bid if awarded
Illinois does not have a statewide general contractor license. Licensing is handled by local municipalities (Chicago has its own requirements).
Illinois operates an approved state OSHA plan. Illinois has a state OSHA plan for public sector employees only; private sector covered by federal OSHA
No statewide contractor bond requirement, though projects or public work may still require bonds.
- IDOL: Illinois Dept of Labor
- IDFPR: Dept of Financial and Professional Regulation (trades)
Summary for Illinois
No state GC license. Chicago requires city license. Many large projects require OSHA 30 for supervisors. Public sector state OSHA plan applies.
Track all of this automatically in Illinois
TradeGuard collects every subcontractor's COI, license, and OSHA docs, flags Illinois compliance gaps, and warns you before anything expires. Stop tracking it in a spreadsheet.
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Illinois compliance FAQ
Do subcontractors need a contractor license in Illinois?+
Illinois does not issue a statewide general contractor license, though local jurisdictions or specialty trades may still require one. Illinois does not have a statewide general contractor license. Licensing is handled by local municipalities (Chicago has its own requirements).
Does Illinois follow federal OSHA or a state OSHA plan?+
Illinois runs its own OSHA-approved state plan. Illinois has a state OSHA plan for public sector employees only; private sector covered by federal OSHA
Is a surety bond required for contractors in Illinois?+
Illinois does not impose a statewide contractor bond requirement, though individual projects, owners, or public work may still require performance and payment bonds.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Requirements change; confirm current rules with the relevant Illinois agencies before relying on them.