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(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2027)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