Home Repair

License Overview 

A City of Chicago business license for Home Repair is required to engage in the business of fixing, replacing, altering, converting, modernizing, improving, or making an addition to any property primarily designed or used as a residence. Home Repair licensees may not pull building permits.

A home repair license is not required for a business that holds a General Contractor license.

A Home Repair license is not required for the installation, cleaning or repair of carpets, the repair, installation, replacement or connection of any home appliance when the person performing the work is an employee of the merchant that sold the home appliance, landscaping, or television repair.

 

Related Licenses 

  1. General Contractor license is required instead of a Home Repair license if the work requires a building permit.
  2. A Residential Real Estate Developer license is required when acquiring vacant land and erecting a new residential building on it, or acquiring a building and renovating more than 50% of the existing floor area, increasing the floor area, substantially altering the plumbing or electrical, changing the occupancy to residential for more than 50% of the existing floor area, or converting a residential building to condominium ownership.

 

Required Documents 

  1. Government issued photo identification for all controlling persons (matching current home address)
  2. Documents required to identify the business depend on the business legal entity type. For more information, see the Required Documents page.
  3. Certificate of insurance (limits not less than $300,000)
  4. Storage lease, for specific business types

 

License Application Steps 

  1. Submit initial business information in person or online
  2. Receive zoning approval from the City
  3. Complete and submit a full license application
  4. Make payment for the license
  5. Receive license once all requirements are met

For more information on license application steps, see the Business License Application Steps webpage.

 

Cost 

$250 License Fee

 

How to Apply 

In person: Visit the Small Business Center Visit Us webpage for wait times, location, and hours of operation.

Online: Visit the online business license application system.

 

Operating Requirements 

  1. Maintain commercial general liability insurance with a limit of at least $300,000 per occurrence for bodily injury, personal injury and property damage arising from home repair activities.
  2. Print or display the licensee’s name and license number on the front page of contracts or estimates, in advertisements, and on vehicles used.
  3. Prepare a written statement of repairs before performing any work. The written estimate must include the total cost of parts, labor, incidental services, and charges for preparing the estimate (if any).
  4. Provide home repair customers with a signed copy of the written estimate before performing any work.
  5. Provide home repair customers with a written invoice for any home repair work performed upon completion of the home repair. The invoice must include the licensee’s name and address and describe in detail all services or work performed and all parts supplied and the exact charge for each part or service.
  6. Notify the customer and obtain prior approval before performing any work that will result in charges in excess of the amount specified in the written estimate. It is illegal to require a customer to pay more than the amount specified in the written estimate if the customer did not approve the additional costs before the work was performed.

 

Renewal Requirements 

A license for Home Repair is issued for a period of two years and must be renewed prior to expiration. For renewal information, see the Renewal page.

 

Resources 

For questions, call 312-74-GOBIZ (744-6249) or 312.744.1944, or email businesslicense@cityofchicago.org