Asbestos abatement and demolition in Chicago, Illinois

Does Advanced Environmental Services work in Chicago, Illinois?

Yes. AES takes projects within 300 miles of its St. Louis office, measured in a straight line. Chicago is about 265 miles away that way and about 299 by road. The office is at 3100 Gravois Ave in St. Louis. Plan lead time for the trip.

A distant job needs early scheduling, a clear scope and a site walk that someone can arrange in advance.

AES has 30 years of experience and serves residential, commercial, industrial, governmental and healthcare customers. See the asbestos abatement page for scope, and the commercial asbestos removal page for larger work.

Is AES licensed for asbestos work in Illinois?

AES is licensed for asbestos work in Missouri and Illinois, per its 2024 capabilities statement. Illinois Department of Public Health licenses asbestos contractors.

Illinois Department of Public Health says every contractor who runs an asbestos abatement project needs insurance and a license. Ask any contractor for proof before you sign. Our guide to hiring an asbestos contractor in Missouri lists questions that apply in any state. AES also holds Missouri DNR asbestos contractor registration 27-06-0640.

Who takes asbestos and demolition notices in Chicago?

The Chicago Department of Environment takes them, and all notices and applications go online. It does not accept mail or walk-in filings. City records say the department was restored on May 1, 2026, after the health department handled these notices from 2012. The process is recent, so confirm each step with the city.

Illinois EPA sits above the city. As of November 2026, it asks for a notification form 10 working days before a regulated project, with a $150 fee. Its page says Cook County outside Chicago no longer uses the combined form and uses its own online system.

Learn the terms in our glossary: NESHAP, asbestos-containing material and regulated asbestos-containing material. Our guide to Missouri demolition and renovation asbestos rules shows a neighboring state’s order of steps. Use the Illinois and Chicago pages for a Chicago project.

Who can apply for a demolition permit in Chicago?

Only employees of Chicago-licensed general contractors and Chicago-licensed expediters can submit a Chicago demolition permit application. Since August 10, 2026, applications go through the city’s Inspection, Permitting & Licensing Portal. Every applicant also files a Demolition Notice of Intent with the Department of Environment.

The city lets applications started under the old process before August 6, 2026 continue that way until December 30, 2026. Check the city’s demolition permit page for the current process. AES can tell you how it handles Chicago permits when you request a quote. Ask early, because the permit rule shapes who can lead the job.

A regulated demolition follows an order. Survey first, then the notice, then licensed abatement for any asbestos found, then the permit. Read demolition from survey to debris. AES offers building demolition and interior demolition. Learn about interior demolition in the glossary.

How old are the homes in Chicago?

Older than most places near St. Louis. About 65.5% of Chicago’s 1,282,248 housing units were built before 1970, and 73.2% before 1980, per the 2024 American Community Survey. Cook County overall is 71.5% before 1980.

Homes from those decades often have vinyl floor tile, joint compound, roofing, siding or pipe wrap that contain asbestos. Age alone does not prove it. A survey does. Read what an asbestos survey covers. AES offers asbestos testing and an asbestos survey. For the St. Louis comparison, see St. Louis, MO.

What about lead paint and mold in Chicago buildings?

Illinois Department of Public Health licenses lead abatement contractors, supervisors, inspectors, risk assessors and workers. Do not scrape, sand or burn old paint yourself. The federal RRP rule covers paid work that disturbs paint in pre-1978 housing. Read about lead-based paint and lead abatement.

AES offers lead abatement. Our guide to lead paint in pre-1978 homes explains the basics.

Water damage can lead to mold in any building. AES offers mold remediation, commercial mold remediation and mold inspection. Read mold after water damage first, because fixing the water source comes before cleanup. Learn the term mold remediation.

What does Chicago’s water report say about PFAS?

The city says its drinking water was sampled for PFAS in 2014, 2020 and 2024, and that all studies yielded non-detect results. That is the city’s statement about treated water. It does not cover your building, a private well or soil on a property.

EPA’s PFAS drinking water rule status changes, so check EPA’s own page for the current standard. Learn the terms: PFAS and parts per trillion. Read our PFAS drinking water rule explained guide. AES offers PFAS testing and PFAS remediation.

Which AES services fit Chicago projects?

AES serves projects within 300 miles of St. Louis, and each page explains scope on its own.

• Asbestos abatement and asbestos testing.
• Mold remediation and mold inspection.
• Demolition and interior demolition.
• Lead abatement.
• Concrete polishing and epoxy floor coatings.
• Hazardous material disposal.

See every town we list on the service areas page. Closer to the office? See St. Louis County and St. Charles, Missouri.

How should I plan a job that is 299 road miles from the AES office?

Send details early and plan the notice and permit steps into the schedule. A Chicago job needs the same steps as any regulated project, plus a long trip. Early information lets AES scope the work before a site visit.

1. Gather the basics. Address, building age, what you plan to renovate or demolish, and any past survey.
2. Order a survey if you have none. Results set the scope for abatement or demolition.
3. Build in the notice. Illinois EPA asks for the form 10 working days before a regulated project starts. Ask the Chicago Department of Environment what else applies.
4. Settle who applies for the permit. Only Chicago-licensed contractors or expediters can file a demolition permit application.
5. Set the schedule. Confirm the site walk, the start date, and the expected duration in writing.

Your best first call is to (314) 865-2662.

Next step

Call (314) 865-2662 or send our quote form with your Chicago address, building age and the work you plan. We will tell you what the trip and the permit rules mean for scheduling. Start with the asbestos abatement page.