Illinois Roofing Rules: What Homeowners Should Know
Illinois licenses its roofers and sets firm rules for storm and insurance work. This page walks Rockford, IL homeowners through the parts that matter most before signing a contract: checking a license, the deductible ban, your right to cancel, and the permits that Rockford and nearby towns require.
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Two state laws do most of the work: the Roofing Industry Licensing Act (225 ILCS 335) covers who may do roofing, and the Home Repair and Remodeling Act (815 ILCS 513) covers how contractors sell, sign and handle insurance jobs.
- A state license is required. Anyone doing roofing work in Illinois needs a roofing license from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR).
- The number belongs on the paperwork. A roofer's license number and licensed name must appear on its bids, contracts and advertisements.
- Deductible deals are banned. A contractor may not advertise or promise to pay or rebate any part of your insurance deductible.
- Roofers can't run your claim. They may price damage and talk with your insurer, but they can't represent you or act as a public adjuster.
- You may cancel an insurance-funded contract. A set window opens after a claim denial or after you file proof of loss.
- You get a rights pamphlet. Contractors must hand over "Home Repair: Know Your Consumer Rights" before you sign.
Who Can Legally Roof in Illinois
In Illinois the correct word is "license," and the state offers two kinds. A limited license covers roofing on homes and other residential buildings of 8 units or fewer. An unlimited license adds commercial and industrial work. Each roofing business names a qualifying party who has passed the state exam, and it must carry a bond of $10,000 for a limited license or $25,000 for an unlimited one.
IDFPR's application also asks for liability coverage of at least $500,000 per occurrence for bodily injury and $250,000 for property damage, plus workers' compensation when the business has employees.
Checking takes a few minutes:
- Find the license number and licensed name on the bid. State law requires both to be there.
- Open the IDFPR online license lookup and search by the number or the business name.
- Confirm the license is active and that the name matches the one on your bid.
- If something looks wrong, call IDFPR at 1-888-473-4858 before you sign.
The license matters at the permit desk too. A city can't issue a roofing permit without proof of a current license, and the official writes the license number on the permit.
Before you sign any home repair contract, the contractor has to give you the "Home Repair: Know Your Consumer Rights" pamphlet as a separate document in at least 12-point type. On jobs over $1,000 you sign to confirm you received it.
Watch for Deductible Offers
Illinois bans contractors from advertising or promising to pay or rebate all or any portion of an insurance deductible to win a job (815 ILCS 513/18(b)). The ban also reaches indirect versions, such as a discount tied to the deductible. Treat any such offer as a red flag.
- "We'll cover your deductible." Banned outright under 513/18(b), whether it is spoken, printed on a flyer or buried in the contract.
- "We'll deal with your insurance company for you." Contractors may not represent you on a claim or act as a public adjuster (513/18(i)).
- "You can use our partner's license." A contractor may not take payment for letting another contractor work under its name or license (513/18(c)), a rule aimed at storm chasers.
So where is the line? Your roofer can document and price the damage and discuss the repair scope with your insurance company. Filing, negotiating and settling the claim belongs to you and your insurer, plus a licensed public adjuster if you decide to hire one.
Cancelling After a Claim Denial
Illinois gives extra time to back out of a roofing contract that will be paid from a property and casualty insurance policy (815 ILCS 513/18(e)). You may cancel up to midnight on whichever of these comes first:
- The 5th business day after you receive written notice from your insurer that all or part of the claim or contract isn't a covered loss.
- The 30th business day after your insurer receives a properly executed proof of loss.
Cancellation has to be in writing, and mailed notice counts once it is mailed. The contract must describe this right in at least 10-point bold type and include a detachable "Notice of Cancellation" form.
After you cancel, the contractor must return your payments within 10 days. The exception is emergency work you approved in writing after a catastrophe, which the law defines to include a tornado, windstorm or hailstorm.
Insurance Discounts for Stronger Roofs
Illinois has no current FORTIFIED or storm-roof grant. SB 4006 would create a "Strengthen Illinois Homes" program with grants for FORTIFIED roofs, but it is a bill, not law; its last action, on March 31, 2026, left it in the Senate Insurance Committee.
Some insurers lower premiums for impact-resistant roofs, but each carrier sets its own terms, so ask your insurer. Machesney Park ran a roof program for income-eligible homeowners in 2025, and that round has closed.
Permits Near Rockford
Rockford requires a permit for all roofing work. Your roofer pulls it through the Building Department (425 E. State St., 779-348-7158), and applications can go through the city's online permit portal. Every residential roof also gets a final inspection. A homeowner doing the work personally, with no hired contractor, can get a permit by signing the city's roofing affidavit instead of showing a roofing license.
The Forest City has a long list of historic districts, Haight Village among them. Homes in a historic district need the preservation commission's approval first. The city's FAQ also caps roofs at two layers of most materials, or one for wood shake, slate, clay or cement.
Nearby towns set their own rules:
- Machesney Park. The village requires a permit for all roofing work, filed with the Building Clerk at (815) 877-6072.
- Belvidere. The City Building Department (815-547-7177) permits re-roofs, does two inspections, and requires ice-and-water shield over heated space.
- Byron, IL. Re-roofing is on the city's permit list; reach the building inspector at 815-440-2146.
- Rockton. Landmark homes and homes in a local historic district need a Certificate of Appropriateness before a roof's material or look changes.
- Unincorporated Winnebago County. Outside town limits, ask the county's Regional Planning and Economic Development office at 815-319-4350.
- Other towns. In Loves Park, Roscoe, Cherry Valley, IL, South Beloit, IL, Winnebago, IL and Pecatonica, your roofer confirms the permit with the village or city office.
What Homeowners Ask About the Law
Does every roofer in Illinois need a state license?
Yes. Anyone doing roofing work in Illinois must be licensed under the Roofing Industry Licensing Act, which IDFPR runs. A seller of roofing materials who leaves installation to others is excluded, so check the license of whoever actually puts the roof on. Its number should be printed on the bid.
Can I re-roof my own Rockford house without a license?
Yes, if you do the work yourself. Rockford lets a homeowner get a roofing permit by signing an affidavit stating you will personally do the work with no contractor for hire. You still need the permit and the final inspection. Anyone you pay to do the roofing needs a license.
Can my roofer talk to my insurance adjuster?
Yes. Illinois lets contractors give estimates and discuss repairs with your insurer. What a roofer can't do is represent you on the claim, negotiate your settlement or act as a public adjuster. Those decisions stay with you, or with a licensed public adjuster if you hire one yourself.
What should I do if a roofer offers to waive my deductible?
Decline it and get other bids. Illinois bans contractors from advertising or promising to pay or rebate any part of a deductible, discounts tied to it included. A roofer who offers anyway is starting the job by ignoring state law.
Source List
Each source below was read on 2026-10-01; check the current text before relying on it.
- Roofing Industry Licensing Act, 225 ILCS 335/2 (license types): ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/documents/022503350K2.htm
- 225 ILCS 335/3 (who must be licensed, bonds, insurance): ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/documents/022503350K3.htm
- 225 ILCS 335/5 (license number on contracts, bids and ads; permits): ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/documents/022503350K5.htm
- Home Repair and Remodeling Act, 815 ILCS 513/18 (deductibles, claims, cancellation, refunds): ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/documents/081505130K18.htm
- 815 ILCS 513/20 (consumer rights pamphlet): ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/documents/081505130K20.htm
- IDFPR roofing licensing page and license lookup: idfpr.illinois.gov/profs/roof.html
- IDFPR roofing license application (insurance minimums): idfpr.illinois.gov, form rf.pdf
- SB 4006, 104th General Assembly, bill text and status: ilga.gov
- City of Rockford Building Permits page, Roofing Permit Application and roofing FAQ: rockfordil.gov
- Machesney Park, Belvidere and Byron, IL permit pages; Rockton Certificate of Appropriateness instructions; Winnebago County Regional Planning.
Ask About Your Situation
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See the roof replacement cost guide for current price ranges in Rockford.