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1. Do I have to hire a licensed contractor to do work on my own home?

No, not if it is the owner’s primary residency. A homeowner who owns and occupies the house may do any or all work—building, plumbing, mechanical (heating and cooling), and electrical (except installation and medication of electrical service – this must be done by a licensed electrical contractor under permit). If the home owner and their agents are not sure of their abilities to do any or all of the work, it is recommended that they hire a licensed professional. Licensed trade contractors provide some assurance that they have adequate knowledge and training in the field(s) of their specialty.

Please Note: Properties in which the owner does not occupy/live in the home requires licensed contractors. Any work done by renters, landlords, their employees, or other persons who do not own and occupy the home must have an appropriate license or hire a licensed contractor.

2. How am I protected as a homeowner hiring a contractor?

Make sure the contractor gets a building permit and that home owner has a written contract with them. City of Rock Island requires all contractors to register with the Inspection Division and provide proof of liability insurance when they pull a permit. We do this to protect the homeowner in case a contractor or their employee would be injured on the homeowner's property. Please remember if the contractor does not get a permit, the applicant could be held liable if they are injured, and they will receive no inspections to insure the work was done according to code. The State of Illinois has a Home Repair and Remodeling Act that requires contractors to provide a written contract.

3. Do I have to bring an older home up to current codes when remodeling?

Only the newly remodeled portion must meet the current codes unless the remodel creates a hazard for the existing building, such as overloading an existing beam.

4. What if I've made an alteration to my home without pulling a permit?

Penalties can be levied for those who simply refuse to comply with the law and the City may seek penalties through the MUNICES Administrative Hearing procedure. The Inspection Division would rather see a building conform to the code than to punish a homeowner. If a homeowner discovers that they did not obtain a permit when required, they do not necessarily have to tear down and start over. They should contact the Inspection Division and apply for a permit. If the alteration can meet the applicable codes, it will be approved. Our inspectors won’t necessarily approve something they cannot see and may require small sections of wall or roof covering be removed to verify that the construction meets the code. We also do not guarantee that some changes won’t need to be made, and some may not be easy to accomplish.

5. What if I need a permit extension?

Any permit holder holding an unexpired permit shall have the right to apply for an extension of the time allowed to work under an existing permit so long as the request is submitted in writing to the Building Official and so long as good and satisfactory reasons for the request are provided. The Building Official may then extend the permit for a period not exceeding 180 days if there is reasonable cause.

6. Why would a Stop Work Order be issued?

Whenever the Building Official finds that any work regulated by the City Ordinance and adopted Building Codes is being performed in a manner contrary to the provisions of the codes or dangerous or unsafe, the Building Official is authorized to issue a Stop Work Order.

**Some examples may be failure to register as a Contractor, failure to as pull a permit as required, or performing work for which the original permit was not approved or change the project scope without seeking approval from the Building Official.**

The stop work order shall be in writing and shall be given to the owner of the property involved, or to the owner's agent, or to the person doing the work. Upon issuance of a stop work order, the cited work shall immediately cease. The stop work order shall state the reason for the order, and the conditions under which the cited work will be permitted to resume.

Any person who shall continue any work after having been served with a stop work order, except such work as that person is directed to perform to remove a violation or unsafe condition, shall be subject to penalties as prescribed by law.

7. Can the City waive a code requirement?

No, codes cannot be waived. However, if an alternate way of building something is proposed and will provide the same degree of safety as what the code require, it may be approved as an alternate method by the Chief Building Official.