Contractor licenses

Work hours in the Village of River Forest

• 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. - Monday through Friday
• 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. - Saturdays
• No work on Sundays, New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving or Christmas

Licensing & Application Requirements

Contractors and subcontractors are licensed by trade for the specific work they will perform (general contractor is not valid).

Application Requirements

In order to process applications as quickly as possible, the following items are required to receive a River Forest Contractor License:

• Submit complete applications online (printed applications will not be accepted). Please note that there are specific application forms for waste disposal firms and seasonal maintenance contractors (see requirements for pesticide applicators)
• Submit applications and all required documentation at one time and from one source.  For example, insurance certificates should be submitted by the applicant and not from the applicant's insurance company
• Certificate of Insurance containing all required endorsements
• Original Surety Bond with Village-required language
• $125 Annual License Fee ($187.50 for landscaping/snow removal)
  
• Electricians, roofers and pesticide applicators are subject to additional requirements.  
• Plumbers are not required to obtain a license but there are additional requirements that they must statisfy in order to obtain a permit.  

Contractor License Application

Certificate of Insurance

Liability coverage limits:

• $1 million per occurrence - general liability
• $2 million general aggregate
• Certificate policy holder: Village of River Forest, 400 Park Ave., River Forest, IL 60305
• Additional Insured: The Village of River Forest, its officials, employees, agents and volunteers
• Evidence of Worker's Compensation is also required. If there is no worker's compensation then a rider/waiver must be signed and submitted with the completed contractor's license application.

Surety Bond

An original signed $25,000 surety bond signed by the principal of the company. Copies or faxes of surety bonds will not be accepted. The bond must state that the principal indemnifies the Village of River Forest, and the Village’s assigns, for noncompliance with the ordinances and regulations of the Village governing contractors performing work in the Village. Surety bonds must specify the trade for which the license and bond is sought.  General Contractor is not valid.

Additional Trade-Specific Requirements

Electricians and roofers must comply with the following requirements:

Electricians must also submit:

• A copy of his/her State of Illinois or City License
• A completed application for an electrical permit that is signed by the electrician performing the described work
• Please note that the surety bond must state "Electrician"  

Roofers must also submit:

• A copy of his/her State of Illinois license
• Non-structural roofing projects: A completed express permit application
• Structural roofing projects: A completed building permit application and required drawings 

Waste Disposal firms must submit:

• A completed Waste Disposal contractor license application
• Payment of the Waste Disposal contractor license fee of $1,000

Pesticide Applicators

• Must submit a completed seasonal maintenance contractor license application
• Must submit current State of Illinois Pesticide Applicator License
• Any employee of the business using pesticides within the Village of River Forest must have a current State of Illinois Pesicide Operator License and be able to produce it upon request of Village Staff