Construction Blog

In Ryan v. City of Chicago, 2019 IL APP (1st) 181777, a home builder mistakenly constructed a home within the two-foot setback adopted in the City of Chicago. Even though the new homeowners applied for and obtained a 2.5 inch setback variance from the Chicago Zoning Board of Appeals for the setback encroachment, the adjoining property owner filed a lawsuit against the City seeking an order to require the home to be moved out of the setback.

As of August 20, 2019, no contract for commercial construction may have retainage over 10%; and contracts that are more than 50% complete must reduce retainage to 5%.

HB2838, which would have made primary contractors jointly liable for the wages & benefits of their subcontractor’s employees, even if the primary contractor had paid the subcontractor in full, has been held from consideration in the Illinois State Senate in the final days of spring session. Senate Bill Sponsor, Laura Fine (D-Glenview) sent word on May 30th to all stakeholders of HB2838 that an amendment would be filed that would remove some of the controversial issues supported by the Carpenters Unions and the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organization (AFL-CIO),

Under new legislation, interior designers are now protected under the Illinois Mechanic’s Lien Act. Contractors and owners in Illinois should now include interior design professionals in their list of sub-contractors from whom they should require a release of mechanic’s lien upon payment.