Get Quotes from Top Painters in Chicago, IL

Are You Licensed to Practice as a Painter in Chicago?

Individuals aspiring to offer home improvement, renovation, and painting activities on pre-1978 homes and child-occupied facilities in Chicago are generally required to receive training and certifications from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). At the local level, they are also required to obtain a general contractor license from the Chicago Department of Building. Painters who fail to obtain this license will be violating the Chicago Municipal Code and be liable to pay fines up to $5,000.

Individuals applying for a general contractor license must be at least 18 years of age to be eligible for any of the five classes of a contractor license. It is important to note that the classes of licenses represent the dollar limit per contract a painter can handle. For instance, a Class A contractor licensee has no limitation on the value of work they can handle.

However, a Class B contractor licensee can only engage in a project valued at not more than $10,000,000. To apply for the relevant license, interested individuals will need to complete and submit a license application form, accompanied by the relevant application fees, to the Chicago Department of Building via mail to:

When hiring painters in the city, you must ensure they possess the required licenses and certifications. As such, you must request a copy of the painter's EPA certifications if your project involves a pre-1978 building, and you must take steps to verify such certificates are valid by contacting the Chicago EPA regional office at (312) 353-3808. You can also confirm the licensing status of your intended painter as a general contractor by utilizing the List of Licensed General Contractors directory maintained by the Chicago Department of Building. For more information regarding the licensing process for painters who want to become contractors in Chicago, interested individuals can contact the Chicago Department of Buildings by dialing 311 if within Chicago or (312) 744-5000 if outside the city.

How Much Do You Charge Compared to Other Painters in Chicago?

Several factors influence how much painters charge per hour in Chicago for their services. These include but are not limited to the scope and nature of the projects, the labor required to undertake the project, the cost of materials and paints, and the painter's experience. To ensure you get a fair estimate, you should get bids from at least three different painters near you for comparison. This enables you to determine the average cost charged by painters near you and also helps you choose the painter most suitable for your budget.

A Painter in Chicago earns $60,620 annually. The table below provides the average hourly wage of painters in Chicago and compares this with the wages of painters in other parts of Illinois and several other major cities in the United States:

What Kind of Painting Services Do You Offer?

Painters in Chicago offer a wide range of services, including interior and exterior wall painting, wallpaper hanging and removal, surface preparation and power washing, and staining. As such, when you plan to hire a painter in Chicago, you must ensure your intended painter has the expertise and qualifications to handle such projects. For example, if you want to remove lead-based paint on your building, you need to hire a painter who has received certification from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

So before hiring your intended painter for your proposed project, make sure you confirm they possess the proper certifications, licenses, and experience, and are well equipped to make your projects a success. You can do this by requesting for copies of their relevant certificates, previous work portfolios, and work references from past clients.

Also listed below are cost estimates of some common Chicago painting services:

Do You Carry the Necessary Insurance Policy for Painters in Chicago?

The importance of hiring a painter who possesses an active general liability insurance policy cannot be overstated. Even though painters in Chicago are not statutorily required to carry general liability insurance, hiring a painter who has been insured against work-related perils is advisable. This is because painters face many on-the-job hazards, like exposure to chemical compounds, which can cause skin irritation and breathing problems. They are also exposed to hazards like slips, trips, and falls.

As such, it is important that you hire painters with active general liability insurance to protect you from incurring financial liabilities when there is bodily injury or property damage during your project. Before hiring your intended painter, you can request a copy of their insurance certificate and make sure you verify this certificate by contacting the relevant insurance provider.

However, note that painters in Chicago with at least one employee are required by state law to carry workers' compensation insurance policies for their employees. You can direct your queries regarding the Chicago worker's compensation insurance requirement for painters to the Illinois Workers Compensation Commission by contacting (312) 814-6500.