Section 750.800  Governmental Units Establishing Plumbing Programs

a)         This Part does not prohibit governmental units from enacting a minimum code of standards for the design of plumbing materials and the operation and maintenance of plumbing systems, and ordinances or rules for the inspection of plumbing systems.  Any ordinances adopted by a governmental unit shall be at least as stringent as the Illinois Plumbing Code, as required by Section 36 of the Act.  For purposes of this subsection (a) and subsection (b), the term "governmental unit" shall mean a city, town, village, township or county with a water supply system or sewage disposal system or both.

b)         Before a governmental unit adopts an ordinance that is more stringent than the Illinois Plumbing Code, a copy of that ordinance, including all amendments, shall be submitted to the Department for review. The Department shall review a proposed local ordinance within 45 business days after receipt of the ordinance and shall, within that time period, communicate any suggested changes, revisions or objections to the unit of local government.

c)         Review of Plumbing Programs of Governmental Units. The Department shall conduct inquiries, make inspections and review the plumbing programs operated by governmental units.  This shall be done by an Illinois licensed plumber who is employed by the Department.

d)         Governmental Units Operating Plumbing Programs. The Department may evaluate each plumbing program operated by a governmental unit to determine whether that program is being operated under a rule or ordinance adopted in compliance with this Section. If the Department finds after investigation that a plumbing program is not being operated or enforced as required, the Director shall give written notice of the findings to the chief administrative officer of the governmental unit. If the Department finds, not less than 30 days after the notice, that the program is not being conducted as required by existing ordinances or rules, the Director shall give written notice of its findings to the chief administrative officer of the governmental unit. After an administrative hearing, as provided in Section 35 of the Act, the Department may seek to enjoin the governmental unit from performing plumbing inspections and administering a plumbing program until approval is granted by the Department.

(Source:  Amended at 40 Ill. Reg. 8786, effective June 17, 2016)