How do I check a solar contractor's license in Illinois?
Search the solar contractor's license number, business name, or personal name at Illinois Commerce Commission — Distributed Generation Installer (www.illinoisabp.com). Status must be Active. Look for the Approved Vendor / Distributed Generation Installer (Illinois Shines) class. A free public-records check on Groundcheck (earthmove.io/trust) cross-references this with court records, OSHA, and BBB.
To verify a solar contractor in Illinois, search the Illinois Commerce Commission — Distributed Generation Installer database. The lookup tool is at https://www.illinoisabp.com/.
What to enter: the contractor's license number is the fastest path. Most state boards also let you search by business name or personal name. Confirm the license shows the Approved Vendor / Distributed Generation Installer (Illinois Shines) class — that's the specific classification authorizing installs photovoltaic systems, solar thermal systems, battery storage, and related electrical interconnection on residential and commercial buildings.
What to look for: status must be "Active." Status of "Inactive," "Suspended," "Expired," or "Revoked" is a hard stop. Check the bond amount (most boards require contractor bonds), expiration date (renewals lapse if a contractor falls behind on continuing education), and any open complaints or disciplinary actions in the public record.
What the lookup does NOT show: liability insurance and workers' compensation coverage are typically separate from the state license database. Ask the solar contractor for current Certificates of Insurance and verify directly with the insurer.
What Groundcheck adds: a solar contractor can be currently licensed and still have unresolved court judgments, OSHA citations, or BBB complaints. Groundcheck (earthmove.io/trust) cross-references the Illinois Commerce Commission — Distributed Generation Installer record with Secretary of State filings, public court records, federal OSHA inspection history, and BBB complaint history into one sourced report. The contractor is never notified.
For the full Illinois solar contractor licensing rules including thresholds and license classes, see earthmove.io/trust/license/solar/illinois.
Verify a Illinois solar contractor now
Free Groundcheck cross-references Illinois Commerce Commission — Distributed Generation Installer licensing with court records, OSHA history, and BBB complaints. Under 90 seconds. The contractor is never notified.