SB2828 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 18028 RTM 31467 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
SB2828

Introduced 1/13/2026, by Sen. Christopher Belt

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

55 ILCS 5/5-1193
65 ILCS 5/11-31.1-1.5

Amends the Counties Code and the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2027, building inspectors who perform inspections or examinations under either Code must (i) hold specified credentials from the International Code Council; (ii) be credentialed through an equivalent nationally or state-recognized building certification or apprenticeship program approved by the United States Department of Labor in the area the building inspector is inspecting or examining; or (iii) be licensed under the Illinois Architecture Practice Act of 1989, the Professional Engineering Practice Act of 1989, or the Structural Engineering Practice Act of 1989 (now, beginning January 1, 2027, the inspector must hold certification from the International Code Council in the area in which the inspector is inspecting or examining). Provides that building inspectors may have a grace period of 18 months from the date of hire or January 1, 2027, whichever is later, to acquire the required certification or credentials (now, inspectors have a grace period of one year from the date of hire to acquire the required certifications). Provides that an individual performing plumbing inspections shall be licensed under the Illinois Plumbing License Law and shall be exempt from the requirements of the provisions.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning local government.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Counties Code is amended by changing Section 5-1193 as follows:

(55 ILCS 5/5-1193)

(This Section may contain text from a Public Act with a delayed effective date)

Sec. 5-1193 5-1192. Building inspector requirements.

(a) In this Section, "building inspector" means (i) a State or county employee whose duties include the inspection or examination of structures or property in a county to determine if zoning or other code violations exist or (ii) a third party contracting with the county whose duties include the inspection or examination of structures or property in a county to determine if zoning or other code violations exist. "Building inspector" includes a code enforcement officer, as defined in Section 5-41005.

(b) A building inspector who performs inspections or examinations under this Code must:

(1) hold the following certifications certification from the International Code Council: in the area in which the inspector is inspecting or examining.

(A) a residential building inspector certification, if inspecting or examining residential buildings;

(B) a commercial building inspector certification, if inspecting or examining commercial buildings;

(C) a property maintenance and housing inspector certification, if inspecting or examining property maintenance; or

(D) a certified building official certification, if inspecting or examining in multiple disciplines;

(2) be credentialed through an equivalent nationally or state-recognized building certification or apprenticeship program approved by the United States Department of Labor in the area the building inspector is inspecting or examining; or

(3) be licensed under the Illinois Architecture Practice Act of 1989, the Professional Engineering Practice Act of 1989, or the Structural Engineering Practice Act of 1989.

The county must keep on file a copy of the certifications of the persons doing inspections or examinations on its behalf. A building inspector under this Section may have a grace period of 18 months one year from the date of hire or the effective date of this Section, whichever is later, to acquire the certification or credentials required under this Section.

An individual performing plumbing inspections shall be licensed under the Illinois Plumbing Licensing Law and shall be exempt from this Section.

(Source: P.A. 104-262, eff. 1-1-27; revised 10-2-25.)

Section 10. The Illinois Municipal Code is amended by changing Section 11-31.1-1.5 as follows:

(65 ILCS 5/11-31.1-1.5)

(This Section may contain text from a Public Act with a delayed effective date)

Sec. 11-31.1-1.5. Building inspector requirements. A building inspector who performs inspections or examinations under this Division must:

(1) hold the following certifications certification from the International Code Council: in the area in which the inspector is inspecting or examining.

(A) a residential building inspector certification, if inspecting or examining residential buildings;

(B) a commercial building inspector certification, if inspecting or examining commercial buildings;

(C) a property maintenance and housing inspector certification, if inspecting or examining property maintenance; or

(D) a certified building official certification, if inspecting or examining in multiple disciplines;

(2) be credentialed through an equivalent nationally or state-recognized building certification or apprenticeship program approved by the United States Department of Labor in the area the building inspector is inspecting or examining; or

(3) be licensed under the Illinois Architecture Practice Act of 1989, the Professional Engineering Practice Act of 1989, or the Structural Engineering Practice Act of 1989.

The municipality must keep on file a copy of the certifications of the persons doing inspections or examinations on its behalf. A building inspector under this Section may have a grace period of 18 months one year from the date of hire or the effective date of this Section, whichever is later, to acquire the certification or credentials required under this Section.

An individual performing plumbing inspections shall be licensed under the Illinois Plumbing Licensing Law and shall be exempt from this Section.

(Source: P.A. 104-262, eff. 1-1-27.)