Bill
HB 3722
Creates a voluntary self-certification program for licensed architects/engineers to certify compliance on select repair/alteration permits, speeding approvals under CDB oversight.
Status and timeline
- Introduced by Rep. Anthony DeLuca (filed Feb 7, first read Feb 18, 2025).
- Passed the Illinois House as amended (May 13, 2025). Received by the Senate May 14; read and referred to the Senate Transportation Committee (May 19, 2025). Co‑sponsors were added (most recently Rep. Ryan Spain).
- If enacted, the Act takes effect January 1, 2026.
Purpose
- Establishes a statewide voluntary self‑certification program administered by the Capital Development Board (CDB) that allows qualified design professionals (licensed architects or professional engineers) in participating municipalities to self‑certify that permit applications, plans, and specifications comply with the baseline building code and applicable law, and to take responsibility for a project’s compliance.
Key provisions
- Program creation and administration
- The Executive Director of the Capital Development Board must establish the self‑certification program, set qualification criteria for design professionals, and adopt implementing rules (including expanding eligible project types by rule).
- Eligible projects (repair and alteration only)
- Self‑certification is available for specified use groups with square footage caps:
- Group B — up to 9,000 sq ft
- Group F‑1 — up to 8,500 sq ft
- Group F‑2 — up to 13,000 sq ft
- Group M — up to 9,000 sq ft
- Group R‑1 — up to 7,000 sq ft
- Group R‑2 — up to 7,000 sq ft
- Group R‑3 — up to 4,800 sq ft
- Group R‑4 — up to 7,000 sq ft
- Group S‑1 — up to 9,000 sq ft
- Group S‑2 — up to 13,500 sq ft
- The Executive Director may, by rule, expand eligible project categories, use groups, or size limits.
- Explicit exclusions (unless added by rule)
- Projects that include a new commercial kitchen
- Projects that include new electrical service exceeding 400 amps (as written)
- Alterations involving lateral (structural) design
- Any project requiring a special inspection under the baseline code
- Prototype plan submittals
- Qualifications and conditions for design professionals
- Must be a licensed architect or professional engineer in Illinois and otherwise meet CDB requirements (including not being suspended/excluded).
- Must hold professional liability insurance with limits of at least $500,000 per claim and $1,000,000 aggregate.
- Must remain the “qualified design professional of record” until an enforcing agency issues final sign‑off; if the professional withdraws before completion, work must cease until a qualified successor is designated and accepted and required documents are submitted.
- Permit processing and legal effect
- Enforcing agencies (municipal or county construction officials) must perform a supervisory check within 5 calendar days to confirm receipt of required materials; upon acknowledgment, they must issue the construction permit.
- Permits issued under the self‑certification program have the same force and effect as permits issued after full review under the baseline building code.
- Oversight, recordkeeping, and enforcement
- The CDB is required to set program requirements, oversight standards, and recordkeeping rules and may authorize or revoke participation as provided in rules.
Who is affected
- Participating municipalities and their enforcing agencies (local building departments).
- Design professionals (architects and professional engineers) who choose to enroll and meet qualification criteria.
- Owners/applicants for eligible repair/alteration projects who may receive faster permit issuance.
- The Capital Development Board (administration, oversight, discipline).
Potential impact and considerations
- Intended to streamline permitting for certain repair/alteration projects by shifting compliance certification to qualified professionals and shortening local review time.
- Shifts legal responsibility and professional liability onto self‑certifying architects/engineers (insurance and CDB oversight required).
- Program adoption is limited to participating municipalities and subject to CDB rulemaking and oversight; certain higher‑risk project types remain excluded unless specifically added by rule.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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