Home inspectors would face local contractor licensing and insurance requirements

Cities and counties that license general, building, and residential contractors would require home inspectors to meet the same licensing standards. This covers limited visual inspections of residential buildings with no more than four attached units and consultations presented as home inspections. Covered visual inspections check at least three readily accessible home systems or components. Code inspections and specialized checks, such as pest or mold checks, are excluded. Applicants would need at least 75% to pass and would pay uniform exam and licensing fees. Inspectors registered under the former Kansas home inspector law before it expired would not need an exam if their registration was not subject to revocation. Officials would use the designated contractor exam and could not add questions, except through the separate option for local exams. If enacted, these requirements would take effect after publication in the statute book.

Participating cities and counties would accept certificates showing that an inspector passed the designated exam and recognize licenses based on that exam. Recognition would apply in cities and counties covered by the proposed contractor-based licensing requirements for home inspectors. An inspector presenting the exam certificate would receive a local license without another exam and pay the uniform licensing fee. Inspectors would need a valid license in good standing to practice. Cities and counties could use alternative exams following the form and manner of their contractor exams, but only for licenses to work within their own boundaries. If enacted, these recognition rules would take effect after publication in the statute book.

Cities and counties that require contractor liability insurance would require the same coverage for home inspectors. This covers people performing the home inspections defined in the proposal. The requirement would apply where a city or county requires liability insurance for general, building, and residential contractors. If enacted, the insurance requirement would take effect after publication in the statute book.