The Landscape Illinois is the statewide trade association dedicated to Registered Irrigation Companies.
Landscape Illinois provides training and education to satisfy annual continuing education requirements. We promote the benefits of Registered Irrigation Companies to professional landscape companies and other stakeholders. Landscape Illinois lobbies and advocates on the behalf of the landscape irrigation industry. We ensure that licensure requirements remain in place. We promote new technology, techniques, and practices to make irrigation businesses more efficient and profitable. We encourage networking between irrigation professionals and landscape professionals.
Any irrigation company who is not currently a member of the Landscape Illinois should join today. We are stronger together.
Irrigation Licensing Requirements
Illinois law requires every irrigation contractor to have at least one employee on staff who has successfully completed the initial 16-hour certification course. As long as that employee remains with your company, the 16-hour course does not need to be retaken. If that employee leaves your company, you have to have another employee complete the 16-hour training certification.
Each subsequent year following completion of the 16-hour initial training, a 4-hour refresher course must be completed by one employee on staff. If the 4-hour course is not completed annually and your company does not file the appropriate paperwork with the Illinois Department of Public Health, your company is at risk of losing your license and registration to do irrigation work in Illinois.
Once you complete an irrigation certification course, the provider will send a certificate of completion. You are required to complete the appropriate paperwork and send that certificate of completion to the IDPH. More information on the requirements can be found at http://www.dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/environmental-health-protection/plumbing.
Illinois Department of Public Health
Environmental Health Division
Illinois Plumbing Program
525 W. Jefferson St.; 3rd Floor
Springfield, IL 62761
Phone: 217-524-0791
Fax: 217-524-5868
[email protected]
Continuing Education Course Offerings
There are many opportunities to obtain the 4-hour refresher course through the work that is done by the Landscape Illinois irrigation committee. Registration links will be posted once they are available.
December 3, 2025
9:00am – 1:00pm
NIU Naperville
Naperville, IL
Training by Hunter Industries
Click here to register!
December 4, 2025
9:00am – 1:00pm
Building & Fire Code Academy
Elgin, IL
Training by Hunter Industries
To register, call or email Lynn Carter – [email protected], Phone – 847-814-2145
Click here for more details
December 16, 2025
9:00am – 1:00pm
The Oaks Rec Center
Mokena, IL
Training by Hunter Industries
To register, call or email Lynn Carter – [email protected], Phone – 847-814-2145
Click here for more details
January 7, 2026
8:30am – 1:00pm
Hilton Garden Inn Addison
Addison, IL
Training by Hunter Industries
To register, call or email Dan Taglia – [email protected], Phone – 630-292-0087
January 27, 2026
9:00am – 1:00pm
InVigorateU Conference
DoubleTree by Hilton
Bloomington, IL 61704
Training by Keith Schweiger
Click here to register!
16 Hour Initial Licensing Course
Illinois law requires every irrigation contractor to have at least one employee on staff who has successfully completed the initial 16-hour certification course. As long as that employee remains with your company, the 16-hour course does not need to be retaken. If that employee leaves your company, you have to have another employee complete the 16-hour training certification.
January 6-7, 2026
7:30am – 4:00pm
5N299 County Line Rd
Maple Park, IL 60151
Training by Dean Goodenough
To register, call 630-254-0000
April 22-22, 2026
7:30am – 4:00pm
5N299 County Line Rd
Maple Park, IL 60151
Training by Dean Goodenough
To register, call 630-254-0000
FAQ
(Click the plus sign to the left of the questions to view the answers)
Each irrigation contractor in the state of Illinois must register annually with the Department by completing the Irrigation Contractors: Application for Registration form. Employers must register all employees who install or supervise installation of lawn sprinkler systems, as well as inform the Department when employment is cancelled via the Irrigation Contractors: Notice of Cancellation of Employment form.
Illinois state law requires all applicants, whether or not they have children, to certify whether they are delinquent in the payment of child support. Applicants can submit that information by completing the Irrigation Contractors: Application Child Support Certification form. The application will not be approved until this information has been completed.
The following non-refundable annual registration fees shall be submitted to the Illinois Department of Public Health:
Source: https://www.ilga.gov/Commission/jcar/admincode/JCARTitlePart.asp?Title=077&Part=0892
Per Illinois statute, all lawn sprinkler systems installed in Illinois must be registered with the Illinois Department of Public Health and a $25 nonrefundable registration fee shall be submitted with each registration. The Contractor’s Test Certificate form must be completed and submitted to IDPH within 30 days after completion of the test.
All questions must be submitted in writing to the [email protected] general mailbox. The team does not currently have the resources to handle questions by phone. It is recommended that renewal applications sent via USPS be sent as certified with tracking so that you can document the date of delivery in your records.
The Illinois Plumbing License Law defines an “Irrigation contractor” as a person, other than a licensed plumber or licensed apprentice plumber, who installs or supervises the installation of lawn sprinkler systems subject to Section 2.5 of the Law.
The law also defines an “Irrigation employee” as a person, other than a licensed plumber or licensed apprentice plumber, who is employed by a registered irrigation contractor or a licensed plumber, and who designs, repairs, alters, maintains, or installs lawn sprinkler systems that are subject to Section 2.5 of the Law.
The Civil Penalties for Unregistered Irrigation Contractors section specifically references contractors who practice irrigation work without registration:
– A person who practices, offers to practice, or holds himself or herself out to practice as an irrigation contractor without being registered under the provisions of the Law
– A registered irrigation contractor, firm, corporation, partnership, or association, who directs, authorizes or allows a person to practice, offer to practice, attempt to practice, or hold himself or herself out to practice as an irrigation employee without being registered under the provisions of the Law
Source: https://www.ilga.gov/Commission/jcar/admincode/JCARTitlePart.asp?Title=077&Part=0892
Irrigation Specialist
“I love plants they all have different meanings. If you look at it that way they all have different reasons and just learning about them and as an irrigation specialist being part of the reason that they thrive or they rely on us to thrive it means a lot.” – Brett
Click the photo above for the downloadable and shareable video.
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