SF 2071 (LSB 5669XS (1) 87)

SENATE FILE 2071

BY  ZAUN

A BILL FOR

An Act exempting specified real property owners from electrical and plumbing licensure requirements. 
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 103.22, subsection 7, Code 2018, is amended to read as follows:
   7.  Prohibit an owner of real property from performing work on the owner’s principal residence real property, if such residence property is an existing dwelling rather than new construction and is not an apartment that is attached to any other apartment or building, as those terms are defined in section 499B.2, and is not larger than a single-family dwelling, or require such owner to be licensed under this chapter. In order to qualify for inapplicability pursuant to this subsection, a residence shall qualify for the homestead tax exemption.
    Sec. 2.  Section 105.11, subsection 3, Code 2018, is amended to read as follows:
   3.  Prohibit an owner of real property from performing work on the owner’s principal residence real property, if such residence property is an existing dwelling rather than new construction and is not larger than a single-family dwelling, or farm property, excluding commercial or industrial installations or installations in public use buildings or facilities, or require such owner to be licensed under this chapter. In order to qualify for inapplicability pursuant to this subsection, a residence shall qualify for the homestead tax exemption.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill relates to property owners’ rights with respect to certain work performed on an owner’s real property.
   Current law exempts a property owner from the electrician and electrical contractor licensure requirements of Code chapter 103 for performing work concerning electrical installations on the owner’s principal residence, under specified circumstances. Current law also exempts a property owner from the plumber, mechanical professional, and contractor licensing requirements of Code chapter 105 for performing work concerning plumbing and mechanical systems on the owner’s principal residence, under specified circumstances. In either case, a residence must qualify for the homestead tax exemption pursuant to Code chapter 425 for a property owner to undertake such work without having to obtain licensure.
   The bill replaces “principal residence” with “real property” for both exemptions, allowing a real property owner to perform such work on the owner’s real property, if the property meets specified circumstances, without having to obtain licensure under Code chapter 103 or 105. The bill also removes the requirement for a residence to qualify for the homestead tax exemption to have either exemption be applicable to a real property owner.