Call a licensed mason contractor. In Chicago, tuckpointing is a masonry repair, and the City's masonry permit requires a licensed mason contractor unless you qualify as an owner-contractor. "Tuckpointer" is the trade name for a mason who does mortar joint work. Many firms do both tuckpointing and brick repair, which helps when a joint job turns up a bad lintel or loose brick.
For Chicago tuckpointing and masonry work, there is one question that sorts the whole field: who holds the mason license? Whether the sign says tuckpointer, mason or brick repair, that license is what the City looks at.
Is a tuckpointer different from a mason?
Mostly it is a difference in what people call themselves. A tuckpointer is a mason who specializes in mortar joint work. The license that matters is the City's mason contractor license. Its Express Permit program lists tuckpointing under its masonry work category (City of Chicago), and a masonry permit needs a licensed mason contractor unless an owner qualifies to act as their own contractor (City of Chicago).
The City's mason contractor license is required for work in stone, concrete, terra cotta (including clay brick) or structural tile. It comes in classes: Class A covers all mason work, Class B covers everything except site-formed concrete, and Class C covers site-formed concrete only. A business needs at least one person who passed the City mason exam, and only employees, not 1099 workers, work under the license (mason contractor license). For brick, that means Class A or Class B. Fees and requirements change, so confirm current details with the Department of Buildings.
Who do you call for what?
Use the work, not the title, to decide.
| Your problem | Call |
|---|---|
| Crumbling or missing mortar joints | A licensed mason contractor doing tuckpointing |
| Loose, spalled or missing brick | A licensed mason contractor doing brick repair |
| A cracked or rusted lintel, a failing parapet | A licensed mason contractor, plus drawings if the work is large enough |
| Joint work found to hide other damage | One crew that can handle both |
The last row is the practical one. Grinding out old joints often shows what was hiding behind the mortar. A firm that only tuckpoints has to stop, call someone else and wait. A firm that does tuckpointing and masonry in-house can fix the lintel or replace the bad brick on the same permit and the same scaffolding. For what each of those jobs needs from the City, see the brick repair permit rules.
Can you do it yourself or hire an unlicensed crew?
There is an owner exception. If the building is your primary residence, three stories or fewer with six or fewer units, you can act as your own contractor, one property per calendar year (City of Chicago). That is your risk to carry, so read do you need a permit for tuckpointing first.
An unlicensed crew is a different story. Ask any firm for its mason license class and its permit number before the work starts, and confirm anything that sounds off with the Department of Buildings. We hold ourselves to the same questions.
Are you a City-licensed mason contractor? Which class? Who pulls the permit? Will the same crew handle a bad lintel or loose brick if we find one?
Akats is licensed and insured in Illinois, family-operated and bilingual, and tuckpointing and masonry are both done in-house. Start with our Chicago tuckpointing guide or Chicago brick and masonry repair guide, then see our tuckpointing service.
Common questions
The City treats tuckpointing as masonry, and masonry permits require a licensed mason contractor, unless an owner qualifies to act as their own contractor on a primary residence. Ask for the license class before you sign, and confirm with the Department of Buildings.
Class A or Class B. Class A covers all mason work, Class B covers all except site-formed concrete, and Class C is for site-formed concrete only. Check the current requirements with the Department of Buildings.
It usually helps. Grinding out old mortar can reveal loose brick or a failing lintel, and a firm that does both can fix it on the same permit and scaffolding instead of stopping the job to find another crew.
Sources
- City of Chicago, Department of Buildings: Mason Contractor License
- City of Chicago: Guide to Building Permits: Mason Contractor License FAQ
- City of Chicago: Express Permit Program: Masonry Work
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.