(1) All planning and designing of plumbing systems and all plumbing shall be performed only by individuals licensed or registered pursuant to the provisions of this chapter or the Illinois Plumbing License Law hereinafter called “licensed plumbers” and “licensed apprentice plumbers”. The inspection of plumbing and plumbing systems shall be done only by the sponsor or sponsor’s agent who shall be a licensed plumber. Nothing herein contained shall prohibit licensed plumbers or licensed apprentice plumbers under supervision from planning, designing, inspecting, installing, repairing, maintaining, altering, or extending building sewers in accordance with this chapter. No person who holds a license or certificate of registration under the Illinois Architecture Practice Act of 1989, or the Structural Engineering Practice Act of 1989, or the Professional Engineering Practice Act of 1989 shall be prevented from planning and designing plumbing systems. Each licensed plumber shall, as a condition of each annual license renewal, complete continuing education as provided in Section 4-332-140(c).
(2) Nothing herein contained shall prohibit the owner occupant or lessee occupant of a single-family residence, or the owner of a single-family residence under construction for that owner’s occupancy, from planning, installing, altering or repairing the plumbing system of such residence, provided, that (i) such plumbing shall comply with all plumbing laws, rules and regulations applicable thereto and shall be subject to such inspection as may therein be provided; and (ii) such owner, owner occupant, or lessee occupant shall not employ any person other than a licensed plumber to assist the owner or occupant in such work.
For purposes of this subsection, an individual shall be considered an “occupant” if and only if that individual has taken possession of and is living in the premises as that individual’s bona fide sole and exclusive residence, or, in the case of an owner of a single-family residence under construction for that owner’s occupancy, that owner expects to take possession of and live in the premises as that owner’s bona fide sole and exclusive residence, and that owner has a current intention to live in such premises as that owner’s bona fide sole and exclusive residence for a period of not less than 6 months after the completion of the plumbing work performed pursuant to the authorization of this subsection, or, in the case of an owner of a single-family residence under construction for that owner’s occupancy, for a period of not less than 6 months after the completion of construction of the residence. Failure to possess and live in the premises as a sole and exclusive residence for a period of 6 months or more shall create a rebuttable presumption of a lack of such intention.
(3) The employees of a firm, association, partnership, or corporation who engage in plumbing shall be licensed plumbers or licensed apprentice plumbers. At least one member of every firm, association, or partnership engaged in plumbing work, and at least one corporate officer of every corporation engaged in plumbing work, as the case may be, shall be a licensed plumber. A retired plumber cannot fulfill the requirements of this subsection (3). Plumbing contractors are also required to be licensed pursuant to Chapter 4-336.
(4) (a) A licensed apprentice plumber shall plan, design, and install plumbing only under the supervision of the sponsor or the sponsor’s agent who is also a licensed plumber.
(b) An applicant for licensing as an apprentice plumber shall be at least 16 years of age and apply on the application form provided by the Department. Such application shall verify that the applicant is sponsored by a licensed plumber or an approved apprenticeship program and shall contain the name and license number of the licensed plumber or program sponsor.
(c) No licensed plumber shall sponsor more than 2 licensed apprentice plumbers at the same time. If 2 licensed apprentice plumbers are sponsored by a plumber at the same time, one of the apprentices must have, at a minimum, 2 years’ experience as a licensed apprentice. No licensed plumber sponsor or sponsor’s agent may supervise 2 licensed apprentices with less than 2 years’ experience at the same time. The sponsor or agent shall supervise and be responsible for the plumbing performed by a licensed apprentice.
(d) No agent shall supervise more than 2 licensed apprentices at the same time.
(e) No licensed plumber may, in any capacity, supervise more than 2 licensed apprentice plumbers at the same time.
(f) No approved apprenticeship program may sponsor more licensed apprentices than 2 times the number of licensed plumbers available to supervise those licensed apprentices.
(g) No approved apprenticeship program may sponsor more licensed apprentices with less than 2 years’ experience than it has licensed plumbers available to supervise those licensed apprentices.
(h) No individual shall work as an apprentice plumber unless the individual is properly licensed under this chapter. The Department shall issue an apprentice plumber’s license to each approved applicant.
(i) No licensed apprentice plumber shall serve more than a 6-year licensed apprenticeship period. If, upon completion of a 6-year licensed apprenticeship period, such licensed apprentice plumber does not apply for the examination for a plumber’s license and successfully pass the examination for a plumber’s license, that individual’s apprentice plumber’s license shall not be renewed.
(Added Coun. J. 12-9-92, p. 25465; Amend Coun. J. 2-19-20, p. 14473, Art. VI, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 1-24-24, p. 8615, § 3)