Does my project require a licensed electrical contractor?

A licensed electrical contractor is required to perform all electrical work that requires a building permit in Chicago. The electrical contractor and its supervising electrician are responsible for ensuring that the permitted electrical work is performed safely, competently, and in accordance with the scope of the permit and the requirements of the Chicago Construction Codes. “Electrical work” means installation, alteration, or repair of electrical wiring or electrical equipment, including low-voltage and communication wiring and equipment.

There are two types of electrical contractor licenses: general and low voltage. General electrical contractors may perform any type of electrical work. Low voltage electrical contractors are only licensed to perform low voltage electrical work.

There is one exception:

• Illinois law requires the City of Chicago to allow Illinois-licensed private alarm contractors and private alarm contractor agencies to perform “private alarm work” in Chicago, including electrical aspects of that work. State law defines an “alarm system” as “any system, including an electronic access control system, a surveillance video system, a security video system, a burglar alarm system, a fire alarm system, or any other electronic system that activates an audible, visible, remote, or recorded signal that is designed for the protection or detection of intrusion, entry, theft, fire, vandalism, escape, or trespass, or other electronic systems designed for the protection of life by indicating the existence of an emergency situation [including] emergency communication system[s] and mass notification system[s].” State law describes private alarm work as installing, designing, maintaining, testing, inspecting, altering, repairing, replacing, or servicing alarm and other security-related systems or parts thereof, including fire alarm systems.