How to read IDFPR discipline records for a roofer
What fines, reprimands, probation and suspensions on an Illinois roofing license mean, which entries are administrative, and how to weigh them.
Every profile on this site that has a disciplinary entry in IDFPR's licensing file shows it: the date, the action, the case number and the reason, exactly as IDFPR publishes them. This guide explains what those entries mean, what they do not mean, and how to weigh them when choosing a roofer.
Where the entries come from
The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation publishes a professional licensing dataset covering every profession it regulates. For each license it lists the status, dates and, when the license has ever been disciplined, one row per disciplinary case with the action taken, start and end dates and a short reason. We read that file every week and show the entries for active roofing licenses. We do not add, interpret or summarize them beyond formatting the dates.
What IDFPR can do to a roofing license
Under 225 ILCS 335/9.1, IDFPR may refuse to issue or renew a license, or "revoke, suspend, place on probation, reprimand or take other disciplinary or non-disciplinary action", including fines of up to $15,000 for each violation. The grounds include violating the Act or its rules, professional incompetence or gross negligence, "aiding or assisting another person in violating" the Act, dishonorable or unprofessional conduct likely to deceive or harm the public, false or misleading advertising, taking undue advantage of a customer, violating the Consumer Fraud Act, and letting an unlicensed roofer use the license.
Among active Illinois roofing licenses, the actions recorded most often are fines and reprimands, usually together. Probation, suspension and revocation are much rarer.
The actions, in plain English
- Reprimand: a formal written censure. The license stays active and unrestricted.
- Fine: a civil penalty. The reason text usually states the amount and the violation.
- Probation: the license stays active but with conditions for a period, such as reporting or monitoring. If the probation period has an end date in the past, it is over.
- Suspension: the license could not be used for the period shown. A suspension with an end date in the past was lifted. A license suspended today would not show as Active and would not be listed here.
- Revocation / Refuse to renew: the license was taken away or not renewed. If a license with such an entry is Active today, it was later restored or reissued; the entry is history.
- Cease and desist: an order to stop an activity.
Administrative entries
Not every entry concerns roofing work. Illinois law requires IDFPR to suspend any license it issues when the Department of Revenue certifies that the holder has failed to file returns or pay taxes, and to act against licensees who don't comply with child-support orders or subpoenas (20 ILCS 2105/2105-15). These show up in the file as suspensions with reasons like "failure to file and/or pay Illinois state income taxes", often followed by a release date. They say nothing about the quality of the roofing, though they may say something about how the business is run.
"Aiding and assisting unlicensed practice"
A large share of the reasons on active roofing licenses mention aiding or assisting unlicensed practice. That typically means the licensed company let an unlicensed person or crew work under its license, or subcontracted roofing to someone without a license. Since 2025, the Act says sellers of roofing services may subcontract only to licensed roofing contractors (225 ILCS 335/9(3)). For you, the practical question is: who will actually be on your roof? Ask, and ask whether they are the company's employees.
How to weigh a record
A disciplinary entry is a fact, not a verdict on the business as it is today. Things worth considering:
- How long ago. A single fine eight years ago is different from several actions in the last two years.
- What for. A late-renewal or tax entry is different from gross negligence or taking advantage of a customer.
- What happened next. Probation or suspension with an end date in the past means the license was restored.
- How many. One entry over a 30-year licensing history is a different picture from several entries over a few years.
Ask the roofer about it. A business that answers plainly ("we used a subcontractor whose license had lapsed; we paid the fine and now check every sub") tells you more than one that pretends there is nothing there.
What these records do not show
- Complaints that did not lead to action. IDFPR's file lists disciplinary actions, not complaints.
- Court cases, warranty disputes or online reviews. None of these are in the licensing file.
- Insurance and bond status. The law requires both for licensure (225 ILCS 335/3), but the file does not list them, so ask for a certificate of insurance.
A license with no recorded discipline is not a guarantee either. Many good roofers have spotless records and so do some that are new or lucky. Use the record as one input, alongside written estimates, references, the contract terms Illinois requires and the license type that fits your building.
Checking the original
IDFPR's License Look-Up shows the license and IDFPR publishes monthly disciplinary reports. If an entry matters to your decision, you can ask IDFPR for the order. If you think an entry shown here is wrong, contact IDFPR first, since we display the record as IDFPR publishes it; you can also send us a correction and we will check it against the current file.
General information only, current as of the date above. The information on Illinois Roofer Check is not a recommendation or a guarantee of anyone's work. A license record shows registration status on the date shown, not workmanship, insurance coverage at the time of your job, or suitability for your project. Confirm license, insurance and permits directly before you hire. Rules and programs change; check the official sources linked in this guide.