Find Illinois Demolition Contractors

The IEPA must be notified of your demolition project.

In the state of Illinois, you must notify the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) of any demolition project or asbestos abatement project greater than 3 sq. ft.

The homeowner or demolition contractor should fill out this form and submit it to one of the following departments, depending on your project’s location:

IL Environmental Protection Agency
P.O. Box 19276 MC 41
1021 N Grand Ave East
Springfield, IL 62794
Fee: $150

Chicago Dept. of Public Health Permitting & Inspections
333 S State St, Room 200
Chicago, IL 60604
Fee: $300 for residential units < 4 units
         $450 for residential units 4+ units
         $600 for commercial/industrial facilities

Cook Co. Dept. of Environmental Control
69 W. Washington, Suite 1900
Chicago, IL 60602
Fee: $200

NOTE: Pay attention to the fees associated with each location, as they differ from department-to-department.

As mentioned previously, the homeowner or contractor is responsible for filing all necessary paperwork and acquiring the essential permits/paperwork. However, this varies from contract-to-contract, and you should always discuss who is responsible for the permitting process with your demolition provider to eliminate confusion.

• Learn more about demolition laws specific to Chicago, IL

Find out if asbestos is an issue.

Before demolishing your home or any structure that may contain asbestos or other hazardous materials, like lead paint, your property must be surveyed by a state licensed asbestos contractor.

If asbestos is present, it must be properly abated and all necessary precautions must be taken to minimize airborne dust particles. If your structure is located in the city of Chicago, contractors handling asbestos and lead hazards must comply with Sections 11-4-2150 to 11-4-2190, and provide Notice of Intent to the Department of Public Health.

Ensure your contractor holds the proper licenses.

The state of Illinois may not regulate the construction/demolition industry, but individual cities and municipalities do.

Before beginning any demo work, a contractor is required to check with their city or county to learn which permits and licensed they need.

Licensing laws are set forth by cities and municipalities to ensure the necessary safety standards are met, so before hiring a contractor, you should check that they have the license necessary to perform demolition in that area.

Learn more about hiring the right demolition contractor:

• 7 Keys to Successfully Hiring a Demolition Contractor
• The Difference Between a Contractor's Bond, License, and Insurance
• 2 Jobs, 1 Contractor: How to Save Money on Demolition Projects

Get multiple opinions to get the best price.

The best thing you can do to make sure you get the fairest price is: Get multiple quotes for the job. We recommend talking to a minimum of three different contractors in your area.

Don’t just compare the bottom line cost though. You also want to look into:

• what each cost includes (permits, debris removal, etc.)
• each contractor’s experience doing that specific work
• what other customers have to say about them
• how long it will take them to complete the project
• payment schedule expectations