225 ILCS 441/ Home Inspector License Act.

(225 ILCS 441/1-12)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2027)

Sec. 1-12. Address of record; email address of record. All applicants and licensees shall:

(1) provide a valid address and email address to the Department, which shall serve as the address of record and email address of record, respectively, at the time of application for licensure or renewal of a license; and

(2) inform the Department of any change of address of record or email address of record within 14 days after such change through the Department's website or by contacting the Department.

(Source: P.A. 102-20, eff. 1-1-22.)

(225 ILCS 441/Art. 5 heading) ARTICLE 5. LICENSING PROVISIONS

(225 ILCS 441/5-5)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2027)

Sec. 5-5. Necessity of license; use of title; exemptions.

(a) It is unlawful for any person, including any entity, to act or assume to act as a home inspector, to engage in the business of home inspection, to develop a home inspection report, to practice as a home inspector, or to advertise or hold oneself out to be a home inspector without a home inspector license issued under this Act. A person who violates this subsection is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor for the first offense and a Class 4 felony for the second and any subsequent offenses.

(b) It is unlawful for any person, other than a person who holds a valid home inspector license issued pursuant to this Act, to use the title "home inspector" or any other title, designation, or abbreviation likely to create the impression that the person is licensed as a home inspector pursuant to this Act. A person who violates this subsection is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

(c) The licensing requirements of this Article do not apply to:

(1) any person who is employed as a code enforcement official by the State of Illinois or any unit of local government, while acting within the scope of that government employment;

(2) any person licensed in this State by any other law who is engaging in the profession or occupation for which the person is licensed; or

(3) any person engaged by the owner or lessor of residential real property for the purpose of preparing a bid or estimate as to the work necessary or the costs associated with performing home construction, home remodeling, or home repair work on the residential real property, provided such person does not advertise or hold oneself out as engaged in business as a home inspector.

(d) The licensing of home inspector entities required under this Act does not apply to an entity whose ownership structure is one licensed home inspector operating a sole proprietorship, a single member limited liability company, or a single shareholder corporation, and that home inspector is the only licensed home inspector performing inspections on the entity's behalf. The licensed home inspector who is the sole proprietor, sole shareholder, or single member of the company or entity shall comply with all other provisions of this Act.

(Source: P.A. 102-20, eff. 1-1-22.)

(225 ILCS 441/5-10)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2027)

Sec. 5-10. Application for home inspector license.

(a) Every natural person who desires to obtain a home inspector license shall:

(1) apply to the Department in a manner prescribed by the Department and accompanied by the required fee; all applications shall contain the information that, in the judgment of the Department, enables the Department to pass on the qualifications of the applicant for a license to practice as a home inspector as set by rule;

(2) be at least 18 years of age;

(3) successfully complete a 4-year course of study in a high school or secondary school or an equivalent course of study approved by the state in which the school is located, or possess a State of Illinois High School Diploma, which shall be verified under oath by the applicant;

(4) personally take and pass a written examination and a field examination authorized by the Department; and

(5) prior to taking the examination, provide evidence to the Department that the applicant has successfully completed the prerequisite classroom hours of instruction in home inspection, as established by rule.

(b) The Department shall not require applicants to report the following information and shall not consider the following criminal history records in connection with an application for licensure or registration:

(1) juvenile adjudications of delinquent minors as defined in Section 5-105 of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 5-130 of that Act;

(2) law enforcement records, court records, and conviction records of an individual who was 17 years old at the time of the offense and before January 1, 2014, unless the nature of the offense required the individual to be tried as an adult;

(3) records of arrest not followed by a charge or conviction;

(4) records of arrest where the charges were dismissed unless related to the practice of the profession; however, applicants shall not be asked to report any arrests, and an arrest not followed by a conviction shall not be the basis of denial and may be used only to assess an applicant's rehabilitation;

(5) convictions overturned by a higher court; or

(6) convictions or arrests that have been sealed or expunged.

(c) An applicant or licensee shall report to the Department, in a manner prescribed by the Department, upon application and within 30 days after the occurrence, if during the term of licensure, (i) any conviction of or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to forgery, embezzlement, obtaining money under false pretenses, larceny, extortion, conspiracy to defraud, or any similar offense or offenses or any conviction of a felony involving moral turpitude, (ii) the entry of an administrative sanction by a government agency in this State or any other jurisdiction that has as an essential element dishonesty or fraud or involves larceny, embezzlement, or obtaining money, property, or credit by false pretenses, or (iii) a crime that subjects the licensee to compliance with the requirements of the Sex Offender Registration Act.

(d) Applicants have 3 years after the date of the application to complete the application process. If the process has not been completed within 3 years, the application shall be denied, the fee forfeited, and the applicant must reapply and meet the requirements in effect at the time of reapplication.

(Source: P.A. 102-20, eff. 1-1-22; 102-1100, eff. 1-1-23.)

(225 ILCS 441/5-12)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2027)

Sec. 5-12. Application for home inspector license; entity. Every entity that is not a natural person that desires to obtain a home inspector license shall apply to the Department in a manner prescribed by the Department and accompanied by the required fee.

Applicants have 3 years after the date of the application to complete the application process. If the process has not been completed within 3 years, the application shall be denied, the fee forfeited, and the applicant must reapply and meet the requirements in effect at the time of reapplication.

A corporation, limited liability company, partnership, or entity shall, as a condition of licensure, designate a managing licensed home inspector. The managing home inspector of any home inspector entity shall be responsible for the actions of all licensed and unlicensed employees, agents, and representatives of that home inspector entity while it is providing a home inspection or home inspection service. All other requirements for home inspector entities shall be established by rule.

(Source: P.A. 102-20, eff. 1-1-22.)

(225 ILCS 441/5-14)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2027)

Sec. 5-14. Social Security Number on license application. In addition to any other information required to be contained in the application, every application for an original, renewal, reinstated, or restored license under this Act shall include the applicant's Social Security Number.

(Source: P.A. 97-226, eff. 7-28-11.)

(225 ILCS 441/5-15)

Sec. 5-15. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 92-239, eff. 8-3-01. Repealed by P.A. 97-226, eff. 7-28-11.)

(225 ILCS 441/5-16)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2027)

Sec. 5-16. Renewal of license.

(a) The expiration date and renewal period for a home inspector license issued under this Act shall be set by rule. Except as otherwise provided in subsections (b) and (c) of this Section, the holder of a license may renew the license within 90 days preceding the expiration date by:

(1) completing and submitting to the Department a renewal application in a manner prescribed by the Department;

(2) paying the required fees; and

(3) providing evidence of successful completion of the continuing education requirements through courses approved by the Department given by education providers licensed by the Department, as established by rule.

(b) A home inspector whose license under this Act has expired may renew the license for a period of 2 years following the expiration date by complying with the requirements of subparagraphs (1), (2), and (3) of subsection (a) of this Section and paying any late penalties established by rule.

(c) Notwithstanding subsection (b), a home inspector whose license under this Act has expired may renew the license without paying any lapsed renewal fees or late penalties if (i) the license expired while the home inspector was on active duty with the United States Armed Services, (ii) application for renewal is made within 2 years following the termination of the military service or related education, training, or employment, and (iii) the applicant furnishes to the Department an affidavit that the applicant was so engaged.

(d) The Department shall provide reasonable care and due diligence to ensure that each licensee under this Act is provided a renewal application at least 90 days prior to the expiration date, but it is the responsibility of each licensee to renew the license prior to its expiration date.

(e) The Department shall not renew a license if the licensee has an unpaid fine or fee from a disciplinary matter or from a non-disciplinary action imposed by the Department until the fine or fee is paid to the Department or the licensee has entered into a payment plan and is current on the required payments.

(f) The Department shall not issue a license if the applicant has an unpaid fine imposed by the Department for unlicensed practice until the fine is paid to the Department or the applicant has entered into a payment plan and is current on the required payments.

(Source: P.A. 102-20, eff. 1-1-22; 102-970, eff. 5-27-22.)

(225 ILCS 441/5-17)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2027)

Sec. 5-17. Renewal of home inspector license; entity.

(a) The expiration date and renewal period for a home inspector license for an entity that is not a natural person shall be set by rule. The holder of a license may renew the license within 90 days preceding the expiration date by completing and submitting to the Department a renewal application in a manner prescribed by the Department and paying the required fees.

(b) An entity that is not a natural person whose license under this Act has expired may renew the license for a period of 2 years following the expiration date by complying with the requirements of subsection (a) of this Section and paying any late penalties established by rule.

(c) The Department shall not renew a license if the licensee has an unpaid fine or fee from a disciplinary matter or from a non-disciplinary action imposed by the Department until the fine or fee is paid to the Department or the licensee has entered into a payment plan and is current on the required payments.

(d) The Department shall not issue a license if the applicant has an unpaid fine imposed by the Department for unlicensed practice until the fine is paid to the Department or the applicant has entered into a payment plan and is current on the required payments.

(Source: P.A. 102-20, eff. 1-1-22; 102-970, eff. 5-27-22.)

(225 ILCS 441/5-20)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2027)

Sec. 5-20. Endorsement. The Department may, in its discretion, license as a home inspector, by endorsement, on payment of the required fee, an applicant who is a home inspector licensed under the laws of another state or territory, if (i) the requirements for licensure in the state or territory in which the applicant was licensed were, at the date of licensure, substantially equivalent to the requirements in force in this State on that date or (ii) there were no requirements in force in this State on the date of licensure and the applicant possessed individual qualifications on that date that are substantially similar to the requirements under this Act. The Department may adopt any rules necessary to implement this Section.

Applicants have 3 years after the date of application to complete the application process. If the process has not been completed within 3 years, the application shall be denied, the fee forfeited, and the applicant must reapply and meet the requirements in effect at the time of reapplication.

(Source: P.A. 102-20, eff. 1-1-22.)

(225 ILCS 441/5-25)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2027)

Sec. 5-25. Pre-license education requirements. The prerequisite curriculum and classroom hours necessary for a person to be approved to sit for the examination for a home inspector shall be established by rule. Approved education, as prescribed by this Act and its associated administrative rules for licensure as a home inspector, shall be valid for 2 years after the date of satisfactory completion of the education.

(Source: P.A. 102-20, eff. 1-1-22.)