Get Quotes from Top Roofing Contractors in Chicago, IL

Are You Licensed to Practice as a Roofing Contractor in Chicago?

Per the Illinois Roofing Industry Licensing Act, roofing contractors operating in Chicago must obtain state-issued licenses from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). Individuals who offer roofing services without being licensed by this department can receive fines of up to $10,000 and other statutory penalties.

The IDFPR issues two types of roofing licenses: a Limited Roofing License and an Unlimited Roofing License. Individuals with a limited roofing license can only provide residential roofing services for residential buildings that consist of eight units or less, while individuals who hold an unlimited roofing license can provide roofing services for any residential, commercial, institutional, or industrial properties.

Applications for IDFPR roofing contractor licenses can be made online or by completing and submitting a pdf Application for Licensure as a Roofing Contractor Form, along with all relevant supporting documentation and stipulated fees, to:

Note that the creation of a user account will be required before applications can be submitted via the department's online application portal. Roofing contractor license applicants will also have to designate a qualifying party who will be required to pass a licensing examination, and they must provide proof of proper bonding and insurance coverage before they can obtain the requested roofing contractor licenses. Queries related to the IDFPR's roofing contractor licensing procedure and requirements can be directed to the department via an online request form or by calling 1-800-560-6420.

You can confirm that your intended roofing contractor holds a valid IDFPR-issued license using the department's license lookup online platform.

Note that state-licensed roofing contractors that wish to operate in Chicago may also be required to obtain a locally issued Regulated Business License or General Contractor's License before performing residential roofing services or bidding for contracts in the city. Inquiries concerning locally-issued licenses and the requirements for obtaining these licenses can be directed to the Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) at (312) 744-6060 and (312) 744-6249. Queries on local contractor licenses can also be directed to the Chicago Department of Buildings at (312) 744-3449.

How Much Do You Charge Compared to Other Roofers in the City?

Roofing repair and replacement costs in Chicago are typically influenced by several factors, some of which include:

• Your location within the city
• The size of the roof
• The type and cost of your preferred roofing materials
• Your roofer's level of experience and reputation
• The complexity and labor intensity of the job
• Your roof design
• The presence of peaks, valleys, and other roof system components like chimneys and skylights

To ensure that you are charged a fair rate for your roofing project, you should consider getting and comparing bids or quotes from up to three different roofers in the city before making your final hiring choice. This also helps you spot possible scams by unscrupulous roofers that grossly inflate their rates. Note that you should equally be skeptical of bids or quotes that are significantly lower than the others and always ask for an explanation for this marked price difference.

Roofers in Chicago earn an average wage of $66,030 annually. The average hourly wages of roofers in Chicago and those of roofers in other areas of Illinois, as well as other major cities in the country, are compared below:

Will You Get the Roofing Permits Required as per the Chicago Building Code?

Chapter 14A-4 of the Chicago Municipal Code stipulates that a building permit must be obtained from the city's Department of Buildings before the commencement of home repair and improvement activities in the city. However, exemptions may be made for certain types of roof-related activities. These include repair or replacement work on shingle roofing with slopes of 5 in 12 or steeper on residential buildings that do not have more than three dwelling units and three stories.

The Chicago Department of Buildings offers several permitting options for roofing projects, which include:

• Easy Permit Process (EPP): this process can be used to obtain building permits for small projects that involve existing non-structural building elements and do not require drawings or plans.
• Standard Plan Review (SPR): this permitting process is used for small to mid-size construction and alteration projects that require architectural drawings
• Developer Services Permit Program (DS): this permitting option is typically utilized for moderate to complex construction projects

Individuals who wish to obtain permits from the Department of Buildings may do so in person at the department's main office located at:

Note that the completion and submission of an appropriate permit application form, along with relevant architectural drawings and other relevant documentation and fees, will be required before these permits can be issued. Alternatively, permit applications can be made online via the department's E-Plan Building Permit System. However, the creation of a user account will be required to utilize this system.

Once permit applications have been properly submitted, reviewed, and approved, the requested permits will be issued, and the roofing project can be commenced. Note that all permitted roofing projects in Chicago are subject to inspections by the Department of Buildings officials to ensure that the work being done complies with the city's roofing requirements and other applicable provisions of the Chicago Municipal Code. You can get additional information on the permitting and inspection requirements and procedures for roofing projects in Chicago by contacting the city's Department of Buildings at (312) 744-3449.

What Kind of Roofing Services Do You Offer?

Roofing systems and designs in Chicago are typically divided into two primary categories, namely:

• Steep Slope Roofing refers to roofs with slopes of 2 inches in 12 inches or greater. This type of roofing is mainly used for single-family homes in the city.
• Low Slope Roofing: this refers to roofs that are nearly flat or slightly pitched. While this type of roofing is mainly used for commercial buildings, many apartment buildings and townhouses in the city also utilize a low-slope roofing system.

Professional roofers in the city generally offer roofing services like new roof construction and installation, roof replacement, and roof recovery and repair over both types of roofing systems and designs, and some also offer specialized services like waterproofing and dampproofing. These professionals typically also handle a wide range of roofing materials, such as asphalt shingles, slate and tile, wood shingles and wood shakes, built-up roofing, modified bitumen, single ply, ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM), thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and vegetative/green roofs).

Nevertheless, you should always confirm that the roofers you hire are equipped to work on your specific type of roofing system or design and specialize in the particular type of roofing service you require. It is also a good idea to make sure that they have ample experience handling your preferred type of roofing material. Doing this ensures that your roofing project is carried out satisfactorily and helps prevent any misunderstandings with your roofers down the line.

Provided below are cost estimates for common roofing services offered by professional roofers in Chicago. Note that the actual cost of these services will be determined by factors like the complexity of the job, your roofer's reputation, and your location within the city:

Estimates based on task:

Estimates based on roof pitch (per square feet):

Estimates for roof repair/replacement based on roofing material (per square feet):

Estimates for roof repair/replacement based on shape (per square feet):

Do You Carry the Necessary Insurance Policy for Roofing Companies in Chicago?

Per the provisions of Title 68, Part 1460 of the Illinois Administrative Code, state-licensed roofing contractors that operate in Chicago must meet the following insurance and bonding requirements:

• They must maintain public liability and property damage insurance with minimum amounts of $250,000 per occurrence for property damage and $500,000 per occurrence for personal injury or bodily harm
• They must maintain a continuous surety bond with a minimum amount of $10,000 for roofers with a limited roofing license and $25,000 for roofers with an unlimited roofing license.

Hiring an adequately insured roofer insulates you from financial and legal liabilities if a work-related injury or property damage occurs as a result of your roofing project. This is very necessary, especially considering that 88 fatal and 1,960 nonfatal occupational injuries were recorded amongst roofers in the United States in 2020 alone. To this end, you should always confirm that your preferred roofers have complied with these insurance and bonding requirements by requesting proof of their bond and insurance coverage and validating this proof with the appropriate organization.

Note that roofers in the city with employees are statutorily required to carry workers' compensation insurance. Likewise, roofers who wish to obtain locally-issued regulated business licenses may also have to meet additional insurance requirements.

You can contact the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation at 1-888-473-4858 and 1-800-560-6420 to get more information on the mandatory insurance requirements for state-licensed roofing contractors. Queries concerning state-mandated workers' compensation insurance and additional local insurance requirements can also be directed to the Chicago office of the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission and the Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection at (312) 814-6500 and (312) 744-6060 respectively.