Do I Need a Licensed Electrician in Illinois for a Switch or Light?

Illinois leaves electrical licensing to towns

Plumbers in Illinois hold a state license. Electricians do not, because there is no state electrical license. The Village of Libertyville says it plainly on its building page: Illinois has no state electrical license, so it and other towns rely on their own local licenses.

State law gives each city and village the power to require electrical contractors to register. The law describes an electrical contractor as anyone in the business of installing or altering electrical equipment, by contract, for light, heat, or power. Many towns go further and run their own license tests. So the rule in one town may not match the rule in the next one over.

Licenses do not always travel, either. State law says a contractor registered in one town cannot be made to register again in another. A local license is a different matter. Libertyville notes that many towns may or may not accept an electrical license from another town.

One example of a local license: Chicago

Chicago shows what a strict city license looks like. There, a city electrical contractor license is required to install, alter, or maintain wiring or equipment for light, heat, power, signaling, or communication. The city says this applies whether or not the job needs a permit. A licensed contractor must employ at least one licensed supervising electrician.

Suburbs in DeKalb County, the Fox Valley, and the northwest suburbs each set their own rules, and those rules can differ from Chicago's. That is why the right answer always starts with your own village hall.

Common jobs and whether they need an electrician

Why a simple swap still counts

A wall switch or a ceiling light runs on a household circuit for light and power. That is the kind of work town electrical rules are written for. Swapping one feels small, but the pro is still taking wires apart and putting them back together inside the wall.

Small jobs also hide surprises. Many smart switches need a neutral wire, and older homes may not have one in the switch box. A ceiling fan needs a box rated to hold a fan, not just a light. A licensed pro knows to check these things before the old part comes down.

If you are setting up a home for an aging parent, motion sensor lighting is a common first request. A motion switch that replaces the wall switch needs a licensed electrician. Plug in motion night lights for halls and stairs need no license at all, and they help the same day.

Low voltage work is different

A video doorbell that runs on your existing doorbell wires is low voltage. The state registration law is written around wiring for light, heat, or power, and this site treats a doorbell swap as work that needs no electrician. Battery smoke alarms and plug in night lights need none either.

A few cities do license low voltage work. Chicago is one, since its license covers signaling and communication wiring too. And if a new doorbell or alarm needs new wiring on a house circuit, that part is regular electrical work.

Doing it yourself, or hiring a pro

Your town also decides whether a homeowner may do electrical work on their own home and whether a permit is needed. Call your village building department before you start and ask two questions. Can I do this myself? Does it need a permit?

If you hire someone, ask them to pull any permit your town requires. A pro who suggests skipping a required permit is a pro to skip. Before the visit, check these things:

• Ask which towns they are licensed or registered in. Make sure your town is on the list.
• Ask your village how to confirm it. The building department can tell you what your town requires.
• Ask for proof of insurance. Get a copy of the certificate before work starts.
• Get the price in writing. Illinois law requires a written contract for home repair work over $1,000.

This site records which villages each electrical pro is licensed in, and we only send them requests from those towns. You can read more on our page about how we vet pros.

Find the right pro for your job

Pick the job page that fits. Replace a switch or outlet and replace a ceiling light fixture are the most common. Each page lists what to have ready and the typical local price. Then send a request and tell us your town. One local pro licensed for your town calls you back. You pay the pro for the work, and you never pay this site.