Plumbing in Illinois

Chicago has one of the more unusual plumbing code histories in the country. For decades the city required drain, waste, and vent piping to be cast iron rather than the PVC plastic pipe that became standard practically everywhere else, a holdover that left a large share of the city's building stock running on heavier, more expensive cast iron long after other cities had switched over. Statewide, Illinois is also unusual in where plumbing licensing sits: rather than a construction board, plumber licenses are issued through the Illinois Department of Public Health, a structure that traces back to the state's historical focus on protecting drinking water from cross connections and backflow. Between Chicago's cast iron heavy building stock, much of it now old enough for joints and hubs to need attention, and a licensing system built around public health rather than general contracting, Illinois plumbing work follows its own set of rules more than most states. Call +1 (866) 752-3641 to describe what you're dealing with in Illinois, and we'll help connect you with an independent local provider who covers your area, when service is available.