DRAIN LAYERS

Municipal Code of Chicago tit. 4, ch. 4-28

in effect

Municipal Code of Chicago § 4-28-010 Definitions.

4-28-010 Definitions. As used in this chapter: "City" means the City of Chicago. "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Buildings. "Department" means the Department of Buildings. "Drain layer" means any person who constructs, repairs, adjusts, rods, cleans, lines or videotapes any subsurface structure designed to collect or transport stormwater and/or sanitary wastewater excluding work classified as plumbing in Chapter 4-332. The term does not include any employee of the City of Chicago who performs any such work in the course of the employee’s employment. "Videotapes" or "videotaping" means closed circuit inspection. (Added Coun. J. 12-12-01, p. 76426, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 12-4-02, p. 99026, § 1.8; Amend Coun. J. 10-14-21, p. 37722, Art. XIV, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 1-24-24, p. 8615, § 2)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 4-28-020 License - Required.

4-28-020 License - Required. No person shall engage in the business of drain layer without first having obtained a drain layer's license; provided, however, that a duly licensed plumber or plumbing contractor shall not require a drain layer's license to engage in the installation, maintenance or repair of plumbing as defined in Chapter 18-29. (Added Coun. J. 12-12-01, p. 76426, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 10-14-21, p. 37722, Art. XIV, § 2)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 4-28-030 License - Nontransferability - Posting.

4-28-030 License - Nontransferability - Posting. No transfer of ownership shall be allowed on any license issued under this chapter. The licensee shall post the license in a conspicuous place at the place of business identified in the license application. (Added Coun. J. 12-12-01, p. 76426, § 1)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 4-28-040 License - Application.

4-28-040 License - Application. An application for a drain layer's license shall be made to the Commissioner on a form supplied by the Department, and shall be accompanied by the following: (1) the applicant's full name, residence address, residence telephone number, business address and business telephone number; (2) a description of the type of work in which the applicant will engage; (3) the license fee; (4) proof of insurance as required by Section 4-28-060; (5) a bond as required by Section 4-28-070; (6) an indemnification agreement as required by Section 4-28-080; (7) proof that the applicant has successfully completed a course of instruction in drain laying and passed the drain layer's examination as required by Section 4-28-090; (8) proof that the applicant has paid any assessed penalties and fees; and (9) any other information that the Commissioner may require. (Added Coun. J. 12-12-01, p. 76426, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 10-28-15, p. 11951, Art. VI, § 11; Amend Coun. J. 10-14-21, p. 37722, Art. XIV, § 3)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 4-28-050 License fees.

4-28-050 License fees. The license fees shall be as provided in Article II of Chapter 4-5 of this Code. (Added Coun. J. 12-12-01, p. 76426, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 12-19-25, p. 38125, Art. XXI, § 1)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 4-28-060 Insurance - Required.

4-28-060 Insurance - Required. Each applicant for a drain layer's license shall furnish proof of insurance evidencing commercial general liability insurance with limits of not less than $1,000,000.00 per occurrence, for bodily injury, personal injury, and property damage arising in any way from the issuance of the license or activities conducted pursuant to the license. The insurance policy required under this subsection shall: (i) be issued by an insurer authorized to insure in Illinois, (ii) include a provision requiring 30 days' advance notice to the Commissioner prior to cancellation or lapse of the policy, and (iii) name the City of Chicago as additional insured on a primary, noncontributory basis for any liability arising directly or indirectly from the licensee's operations. The licensee shall maintain the insurance required under this section in full force and effect for the duration of the license period. The licensee shall maintain any insurance required by this chapter in full force and effect for the duration of the license period. Failure to do so shall result in immediate suspension or revocation of the drain layer’s license in accordance with Section 4-28-140. (Added Coun. J. 12-12-01, p. 76426, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 10-28-15, p. 11951, Art. VI, § 12; Amend Coun. J. 11-16-16, p. 37901, Art. II, § 9; Amend Coun. J. 11-20-19, p. 9510, Art. IV, § 18; Amend Coun. J. 10-14-21, p. 37722, Art. XIV, § 4)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 4-28-070 Bond - Required.

4-28-070 Bond - Required. Each applicant for a drain layer's license shall file with the Department a bond, with good and sufficient sureties, payable to the City of Chicago, in the amount of $50,000.00. The bond shall be conditioned to indemnify the city for any loss, damage, cost, expense or liability of any kind which the city may incur in consequence of the licensee's acts, omissions, negligence, improper work or failure to observe all of the provisions of this code in executing or completing any work done under and by virtue of the authority of any license issued under this chapter. The city's right to recover under the bond shall be in addition to any other rights retained by the city under this chapter and other applicable laws. Every bond required by this section shall require 30 days' advance notice to the Commissioner prior to cancellation. The licensee shall maintain any bond required by this section in full force and effect for the duration of the license period. Failure to do so shall result in immediate suspension or revocation of the drain layer's license in accordance with Section 4-28-140. (Added Coun. J. 12-12-01, p. 76426, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 10-14-21, p. 37722, Art. XIV, § 5)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 4-28-080 Indemnification agreement - Required.

4-28-080 Indemnification agreement - Required. Each applicant for a drain layer's license shall agree in writing to indemnify, defend and hold the city harmless for any loss that results directly or indirectly from the issuance of the license. (Added Coun. J. 12-12-01, p. 76426, § 1)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 4-28-090 Instruction and examination - Required.

4-28-090 Instruction and examination - Required. An applicant for a drain layer’s license must successfully pass a standardized drain layer’s examination as approved by the Commissioner or employ an individual who has passed such an examination. Any individual who has not been licensed or employed by a licensee for more than 12 months must retake and pass a standardized drain layer’s examination as approved by the Commissioner. Beginning January 1, 2027, each applicant shall be required to pay an examination fee as provided in Section 4-5-120 of this Code. Separate examinations shall be required for each license classification described in Section 4-28-110. (Added Coun. J. 12-12-01, p. 76426, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 3-1-06, p. 71320, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 10-14-21, p. 37722, Art. XIV, § 6; Amend Coun. J. 12-19-25, p. 38125, Art. XXI, § 2)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 4-28-100 Approval, inspection and permit - Required.

4-28-100 Approval, inspection and permit - Required. No person shall do any work as a drain layer without first having obtained any permit required by this code. A drain layer shall not perform any work which requires a permit and involves a drain pipe or sewer structure located inside or beneath any building except in accordance with plans approved by the Department. A drain layer shall not perform any work which requires a permit and involves a drain pipe or sewer structure located outside a building except in accordance with plans approved by the Department or as inspected by the Department of Water Management. (Added Coun. J. 12-12-01, p. 76426, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 10-14-21, p. 37722, Art. XIV, § 7)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 4-28-110 License - Classification.

4-28-110 License - Classification. The Commissioner may issue classes of licenses reflecting the different levels of competency of a drain layer: Class A license. This license shall authorize work on new building construction, sewer mains and any activity authorized under the Class B and Class C licenses. Class B license. This license shall authorize repair of private drains and all activity authorized under the Class C license. Class C license. This license shall authorize all other sewer-related work, including, but not limited to, videotaping, cleaning, lining and sealing of sewers and pumping water out of basements, but shall exclude repair of private drains and work on new building construction and sewer mains. (Added Coun. J. 12-12-01, p. 76426, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 10-14-21, p. 37722, Art. XIV, § 8)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 4-28-120 License - Term.

4-28-120 License - Term. (a) The drain layer’s license shall expire on December 31st of each year prior to calendar year 2027. For licenses issued on or after February 1, 2027, licenses shall expire one year after issuance. (b) For licenses issued with an effective date in January 2027 only, the Commissioner may, by rule, establish expiration dates between 12 and 23 months after the date of issuance, based on the first letter of the last name of the licensee, so as to distribute the expiration dates across the calendar year. (Added Coun. J. 12-12-01, p. 76426, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 10-14-21, p. 37722, Art. XIV, § 9; Amend Coun. J. 12-14-22, p. 58278, Art. I, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 1-24-24, p. 8634, Art. I, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 12-19-25, p. 38125, Art. XXI, § 3)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 4-28-130 Regulations.

4-28-130 Regulations. The Commissioner shall have authority to promulgate rules necessary to implement the provisions of this chapter in accordance with Section 14A-1-104.4. (Added Coun. J. 12-12-01, p. 76426, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 10-14-21, p. 37722, Art. XIV, § 10)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 4-28-140 License - Suspension and revocation.

4-28-140 License - Suspension and revocation. Drain layers' permit privileges may be suspended in accordance with Section 14A-3-304. Drain layers' licenses may be suspended or revoked in accordance with Section 14A-3-305. (Added Coun. J. 12-12-01, p. 76426, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 10-14-21, p. 37722, Art. XIV, § 11)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 4-28-150 Violation - Penalty.

4-28-150 Violation - Penalty. Violations of this chapter shall be subject to the remedies described in Chapter 14A-3. (Added Coun. J. 12-12-01, p. 76426, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 10-14-21, p. 37722, Art. XIV, § 12)

Source: City of Chicago, Municipal Code of Chicago (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/chicago/latest/chicago_il/0-0-0-2611803Fetched: 10/24/2026