Equipment Rental Service Areas in Chicago, IL

About Construction Projects in Chicago, IL

Starting a building project in Chicago, Illinois, is not as simple as it sounds. You’ll have to take care of a few things before you can begin construction. Make sure you’re prepared by getting the proper licenses and building permits required by city regulations.

Types of General Contractor Licenses

Chicago has strict regulations when it comes to licensing generator contractors. Depending on how big the project that you’ll be working on, there are five different licensing classifications.

•      Class A license – lets you work on projects of any value and requires that you have at least $5,000,000 in commercial general liability insurance. The license fee is $2,000
•      Class B license – lets you work on projects with a value less than $10,000,000 and requires that you have at least $3,000,000 in commercial general liability insurance. The license fee is $1,000
•       Class C license – lets you work on projects with a value less than $5,000,000 and requires that you have at least $1,000,000 in commercial general liability insurance with $2,000,000 as the aggregate combined single limit. The license fee is $750
•       Class D license – lets you work on projects with a value less than $2,000,000 and requires that you have least $1,000,000 in commercial general liability insurance with $2,000,000 as the aggregate combined single limit. The license fee is $500
•       Class E license – lets you work on projects with a value less than $500,000 and requires that you have at least $1,000,000 in commercial general liability insurance. The license fee is $300

If there are any violations of these rules, your license could be revoked, so it’s important to follow these requirements to the letter.

Home Repair Contractor Licenses

If you’re planning on working mainly on residential projects, then you’ll need a different type of license. The home repair license is issued by the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection and requires that you pay a $250 biannual fee as well as get $300,000 of liability insurance.

When You Don’t Need a Building Permit in Chicago

Many projects don’t require any building permits in Chicago. Some such projects include:

•        Installing interior finishes
•        Installing playground equipment
•        Low voltage wiring for small appliances
•        Building gazebos with a maximum size of 150 square feet or enclosed sheds with a maximum size of 70 square feet
•        Replacing less than 250 bricks in buildings with a maximum of three units and three stories

In all cases, it’s best to check directly with the city before getting started to make sure you’re code-compliant. If you find that you do need a permit, be sure to file the appropriate paperwork with City Hall to get approval.

Not requiring a building permit in these scenarios can help you save money, giving you the funds to rent the equipment you need to get the job done. Whether you’re looking for equipment such as a scissor lift, boom lift, manlift, or forklift, it’s always important to choose the best equipment to keep your crew safe and make the job a success.