A Chicago masonry license, formally a mason contractor license, is required for work in stone, concrete, terra cotta (including clay brick) or structural tile used in buildings. There are three classes, and brick work needs Class A or Class B. The business must own or employ someone who passed the City's mason exam. Exceptions include brick or concrete sidewalks, repairs that need no permit, and an owner working on their own primary residence under the owner rules. Check any mason's license on the City's lookup before work starts.
If someone is going to repoint, rebuild or replace brick on your Chicago building, the first question is the Chicago masonry license: do they hold a City mason contractor license? A handyman with a trowel does not. Here is what the license covers, who does not need one, and how to check a license yourself in a few minutes.
What does the Chicago mason license cover?
The City requires a mason contractor license for work in stone, concrete, terra cotta (which includes clay brick) or structural tile used in buildings or structures, above or below ground (City of Chicago). That covers the work most owners think of as masonry: brick walls, repointing, lintels, parapets and concrete work.
The license is a business license with a person behind it. The company must own or employ at least one person who passed the City's mason exam, a supervising mason who is at least 21 years old. And only employees work under the license. Workers paid as 1099 contractors do not (City of Chicago).
That last rule matters to you. If a crew shows up and half of them are subcontracted by the day, ask who actually works under the license.
What are the three license classes?
The City splits the license by what the work is made of (City of Chicago):
| Class | What it covers |
|---|---|
| A | All mason work |
| B | All mason work except site-formed concrete |
| C | Site-formed concrete only |
For brick, that means Class A or Class B. A Class C contractor is limited to site-formed concrete and is not the right license for your brick wall. The City's masonry permit page says the same thing: a masonry permit needs a licensed mason contractor, with no Class C for brick and no Class B for concrete (City of Chicago).
Who does not need a mason license?
The City lists these exceptions (City of Chicago):
- brick or concrete sidewalks
- concrete paving
- slab-on-grade foundations for single-story non-occupiable structures
- foundations for fences, decks and open porches
- repairs that do not require a permit
- government employees
- an owner of a primary residence that is a single-family home or a multifamily building of three stories or fewer and six or fewer units, limited to one property per calendar year
Read that list slowly, because each line has a catch. "Repairs that do not require a permit" is a narrow door, since the City lists tuckpointing as an Express Permit masonry worktype (City of Chicago). Our tuckpointing permit article walks through what that means. A concrete sidewalk is exempt from the mason license, but that does not mean it is free of other rules, like the separate public way permit when the sidewalk is public.
Also, a general contractor license is a different license. The City says a GC license is not needed by City-licensed mason contractors working within their license (City of Chicago). The reverse is not stated, so a GC does not automatically hold a mason license. Ask which licenses the company actually has. The general contractor license article covers that side.
Can an owner do their own brickwork?
Possibly, under the owner exception above. The building must be your primary residence, and either a single-family home or a multifamily building of three stories or fewer with six or fewer units. It is limited to one property per calendar year (City of Chicago).
For the permit itself, the City asks for its owner-as-contractor form plus a government ID showing you live there. You take on responsibility for worker safety, scheduling inspections and code compliance (City of Chicago). Do not underestimate that. If you hire helpers, they are working on your site under your responsibility. Our owner-contractor article goes through it. Check the current requirements with the Department of Buildings before you rely on this.
How do you check a mason's license?
Use the City's tools, not the contractor's business card. The Department of Buildings runs a Contractor License Lookup that lets you verify GC, mason, plumbing and electrical licenses (City of Chicago). Do this before you sign anything.
Look for four things:
- The license exists and is current. Mason licenses are valid for one year (City of Chicago).
- The class fits your job. Brick needs A or B.
- The company name on the license matches the company on your contract.
- The permit, when it is issued, lists that licensed company.
A common pattern: an owner hires a "guy who does brick" with a good price and no license. When a neighbor calls 311 or an inspector stops by, there is no permit, no licensed contractor, and the owner is the one holding the stop work order. The cheap quote becomes the expensive job.
Why does the license matter for your permit?
Because the permit and the license travel together. A masonry permit requires a licensed mason contractor unless an owner qualifies as owner-contractor (City of Chicago). An unlicensed crew cannot pull it for you. So if a contractor tells you permits are not needed because the job is "just brick," ask for the permit number and look it up. Our brick repair permit article covers what masonry repairs need.
If the City finds work underway without a required permit, it can post a stop work order. Work resumes only after the required permit is obtained and the stop-work penalty is paid, the permit fee is tripled in most cases, and the City can start an enforcement case. You may also have to correct or remove the work at your own expense (City of Chicago). Rules and fees change, so confirm current details with the Department of Buildings.
When do you need a mason, and when do you need us?
If the job involves brick, stone, concrete or terra cotta on a building, you want a licensed mason contractor. Akats does masonry in-house, along with tuckpointing, concrete and the permit paperwork, so one company can handle the wall and the filing. Start with our masonry crew, ask us about the license class for your job, and check it on the City's lookup yourself.
For the wider permit picture, see the Chicago building permits guide.
Common questions
Yes, for most brickwork. The City requires a mason contractor license for work in stone, concrete, terra cotta (including clay brick) or structural tile used in buildings. Exceptions include brick or concrete sidewalks, repairs that need no permit, and qualifying owners of a primary residence.
Class A covers all mason work. Class B covers all mason work except site-formed concrete. Class C covers site-formed concrete only. Brick work needs Class A or Class B.
Use the Department of Buildings Contractor License Lookup, which verifies GC, mason, plumbing and electrical licenses. Confirm the license is current, the class fits brick work, and the company name matches your contract.
Do not assume so. The City's exemption from the GC license covers licensed mason contractors working within their license, not the other way around. Ask which licenses the company holds and verify them on the City's lookup.
Sources
- City of Chicago, Department of Buildings: Mason Contractor License
- City of Chicago: Guide to Building Permits: Mason Contractor License FAQ
- City of Chicago: Guide to Building Permits: General Contractor License FAQ
- City of Chicago, Department of Buildings: Porch and Deck Safety
- City of Chicago, Department of Buildings: Trade Licensing
- City of Chicago: Express Permit Program: Masonry Work
- City of Chicago: Guide to Building Permits: What Happens If I Start Work Without a Required Permit?
Facts last checked: October 7, 2026.
This article explains general rules and common situations in Chicago. It is not legal advice, and City rules change. For a specific property, check with the Chicago Department of Buildings or a licensed professional.