Not yet re-checked against the Dept of Financial and Professional Regulation (trades); verify before relying on it.
Illinois 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 showing workers' comp for the sub's employees. Who must carry it depends on the state and the number of employees.
Used to report what you pay the sub on Form 1099-NEC. For payments made in 2026 or later the IRS reporting threshold is $2,000 (it was $600).
Some owners and contracts require it, and some states require it on public projects.
Some owners and contracts require it for site supervisors.
Public owners require one on larger public contracts; the threshold depends on the owner and the state.
Public owners usually require it alongside the performance bond.
Often required with a bid on public work; it backs the bidder's promise to sign the contract at the bid price.
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 asks each sub for these documents through an upload link and shows what's missing for Illinois, with alerts before anything expires.
No credit card required · Cancel anytime · See how COI tracking works
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.