Unincorporated Will County contractor license & registration requirements

1. 1
   Completed application form

   Use the link in the sidebar.
2. 2
   Registration fee — $150.00 (General Contractor without tradesmen; $75.00 after July 1). General Contractor with Trades: $250.00 ($125.00 after July 1). Construction Manager: $150.00 ($75.00 after July 1).

   Half-year rates apply for registrations July 1 - Dec. 31 (see above)
3. 3
   License & permit bond — $10,000 ('a license and permit bond or a surety bond payable to the County of Will in the amount of $10,000'; code 117.05: 'permit and license bond ... bound to the county in the penal sum of $10,000'). Plumbing contractors do not require a bond to the County of Will. Original bond required; faxed copies not accepted.

   Obligee: County of Will
4. 4
   Certificate of insurance

   general liability ($1,000,000) per application; FAQ says 'proof of general liability and worker's compensation insurance' without an amount
5. 5
   Workers' compensation

   yes if you have employees ('No, you are not required to have workers compensation insurance unless you have employees'); otherwise sign a No-Employee Affidavit available from the Land Use Department
6. 6
   Trade credentials

   Original bond; certificate of insurance; bonds and insurance must not expire during the calendar year. Plumbing: copy of IDPH contractor registration (proof of licensure from IL Dept. of Public Health) and, for each permit, a letter of intent with owner name, address, work description and certificate of insurance. Electrical: copy of a City Electrical License showing location of test and test date, plus letter of intent per permit. Statement that applicant is familiar with county ordinances/codes (117.04).
7. 7
   Submit: Mail / in person

   mail or in person to 'County of Will, Contractor Registration, 58 E. Clinton, Suite 100, Joliet, IL 60432' per 2016 application; not stated whether email accepted

   Portal: SmartGov (permits)

License term (as published)

calendar year, January 1 - December 31 ('All registrations shall be valid for one calendar year from January 1 to December 31')

Expiry model

Calendar year — everyone expires Dec 31. Next: Dec 31, 2026

Renewal window / late fees

not published (no late fee; reduced half-year fee from July 1)

General contractor fee

$150.00 (General Contractor without tradesmen; $75.00 after July 1). General Contractor with Trades: $250.00 ($125.00 after July 1). Construction Manager: $150.00 ($75.00 after July 1).

Subcontractor / trade fee

$75.00 per trade/specialty ($40.00 after July 1)

Other fees & penalties

Half-year rates apply for registrations July 1 - Dec. 31 (see above)

Bond

$10,000 ('a license and permit bond or a surety bond payable to the County of Will in the amount of $10,000'; code 117.05: 'permit and license bond ... bound to the county in the penal sum of $10,000'). Plumbing contractors do not require a bond to the County of Will. Original bond required; faxed copies not accepted.

Bond payee / obligee

County of Will

Liability insurance minimum

general liability ($1,000,000) per application; FAQ says 'proof of general liability and worker's compensation insurance' without an amount

Workers' compensation

yes if you have employees ('No, you are not required to have workers compensation insurance unless you have employees'); otherwise sign a No-Employee Affidavit available from the Land Use Department

Other requirements

Original bond; certificate of insurance; bonds and insurance must not expire during the calendar year. Plumbing: copy of IDPH contractor registration (proof of licensure from IL Dept. of Public Health) and, for each permit, a letter of intent with owner name, address, work description and certificate of insurance. Electrical: copy of a City Electrical License showing location of test and test date, plus letter of intent per permit. Statement that applicant is familiar with county ordinances/codes (117.04).

Trades covered

All contractors and subcontractors: code 117.03 'No person shall act or perform any services as a contractor or subcontractor within the county without first registering with the county.' FAQ: 'any person, partnership, corporation or other business entity engaged in the business of constructing, repairing, modifying or renovating buildings' including general contractors, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, carpentry, excavating and subcontractors. Application lists ~26-30 trades (Above Ground Pool, Carpentry, Concrete, Drywall, Electric, HVAC, Masonry, Plumbing, Roofing, etc.). Homeowners working on their own residence are exempt.

The only application found online is the 2016 version (revised 12/1/2015); fees match the current codified ordinance 117.05, but confirm no newer form exists. Address suite differs between the application (Suite 100) and FAQ (Suite 500). Electrical contractors must hold a municipal electrical license from a city that administers an exam (test location/date required) - Will County does not run its own exam. suretybonds.com (third-party) corroborates $10,000 bond and $1,000,000 GL. Registration applies only to permits in unincorporated Will County; incorporated municipalities have their own rules.