Updated
Does Illinois require a septic license?
Yes. Illinois requires septic installers to hold a state credential issued by the Illinois Department of Public Health, Private Sewage Disposal Program. Illinois licenses the individuals who install and pump private sewage (septic) systems; licenses are issued to people rather than companies.
Who licenses septic contractors in Illinois?
Illinois Department of Public Health, Private Sewage Disposal Program.
Illinois's septic credentials:
- Private sewage installation contractor license
- Private sewage pumping contractor license
How to check a septic contractor's license in Illinois
- Open the Illinois Department of Public Health, Private Sewage Disposal Program lookup.
- Search by the contractor's name, the license holder's name or the license number.
- Check the license type covers your job (installation, pumping or inspection) and that the status is active.
- If the contractor's business name doesn't come up, ask which person on staff holds the license: several states license individuals, not companies.
Septic permits in Illinois
A contractor license says who may do septic work; a permit authorizes a specific system. In Illinois, permits for new systems, replacements and most repairs come from the local health department or the state agency office that covers the property. Ask your installer to pull the permit and include the fee in the quote.
Licensed septic companies in Illinois
The Septic Guide lists 977 septic companies and licensed professionals in Illinois, 943 matched to the state's published list. Source list: IDPH private sewage license search. This is what we could match as of October 2026, not an official count.
All septic companies in Illinois →
Illinois septic licensing: common questions
Do you need a license to install septic systems in Illinois?
Yes. Illinois requires septic installers to hold a state credential issued by the Illinois Department of Public Health, Private Sewage Disposal Program. Illinois licenses the individuals who install and pump private sewage (septic) systems; licenses are issued to people rather than companies.
Who issues septic licenses in Illinois?
The Illinois Department of Public Health, Private Sewage Disposal Program issues Illinois's septic credentials: Private sewage installation contractor license; Private sewage pumping contractor license.
How do I check a septic contractor's license in Illinois?
Open the Illinois Department of Public Health, Private Sewage Disposal Program lookup. Search by the contractor's name, the license holder's name or the license number. Check the license type covers your job (installation, pumping or inspection) and that the status is active. If the contractor's business name doesn't come up, ask which person on staff holds the license: several states license individuals, not companies.
How many licensed septic contractors are in Illinois?
The Septic Guide lists 977 septic companies and licensed septic professionals in Illinois, 943 of them matched to the Illinois Department of Public Health list (data as of October 2026). This counts what we could match; it is not an official total.
Do you need a permit for a septic system in Illinois?
New septic systems, replacements and most repairs need a permit before work starts. The permit comes from the local health department or the state agency office that covers your property, and the permit, not the contractor license, is what authorizes a specific job.
Sources: Illinois Department of Public Health, Private Sewage Disposal Program; state license lists loaded into The Septic Guide. See how we verify licenses.