What the law actually requires
Here's exactly what Illinois now mandates for commercial buildings — and where skylight screens fit into the compliance picture.
Skylight compliance
All skylights and roof openings must be glazed with materials meeting the roof's live load requirements, or protected by a compliant guard, parapet, or extended masonry under IBC Section 1015.
Skylight screens satisfy the guard requirement — custom-fitted to your openings, tested to structural standards, and installed without major roof modification.
IBC §1015 · SB1742 Section 10(2)
Roof edge protection
Low-slope roof edges adjoining a shaft, court, or enclosed vertical drop must have a parapet, extended masonry, or a guard meeting IBC Section 1015 requirements.
Not sure whether your roof edges are in scope? Our team walks through this with you on the initial call — no guesswork on your end.
IBC §1015 · SB1742 Section 10(1)
Municipal survey — Jan 2027
Every Illinois municipality must survey all buildings with skylights or roof openings by January 1, 2027, then every two years after. Results are shared with local police and fire departments.
Getting compliant now means you're documented as compliant before that survey happens — rather than flagged and chasing a remediation deadline.
SB1742 Section 15 · Biennial renewal
CAD dispatch integration — Cook County
In counties over 1 million residents — including Cook County — rooftop hazard data must be integrated into computer-aided dispatch systems. First responders see your building's compliance status before they arrive.
This is the requirement that surprises most building owners. Non-compliance isn't just a fine exposure — it becomes a permanent data point tied to your address in emergency systems.
SB1742 Section 15(c) · Cook County applies
Where things stand — and what comes next
The law is in effect. The surveys haven't started. Right now is the window where you can get compliant on your own schedule, before a municipal notice is driving the conversation.
Law took effect
SB1742 is enforceable. Skylight and roof edge requirements apply now to all applicable Illinois commercial buildings.
Act now — on your terms
Surveys haven't started. There's no inspector, no notice, no rushed timeline. Get compliant now and you control the process — the schedule, the budget, and the outcome.
Get a free quote →Surveys begin
Every Illinois municipality documents buildings with skylights and roof openings. Non-compliant properties are flagged and shared with local authorities and dispatch systems.
We can typically measure, configure, and quote your skylights in under 48 hours. Most installations are complete well before any survey window opens.
Call 1-866-527-2275Unprotected skylights are the leading rooftop fall hazard in Illinois
SB1742 was passed because a firefighter died. The law exists to fix a specific, documented problem — and the risks it addresses apply to your workers too, not just first responders.
- Illinois winters mean snow and ice cover skylights entirely — making them indistinguishable from solid roofing for anyone working or responding on that roof.
- First responders can't identify compliant skylights from non-compliant ones during emergency access. SB1742 was written specifically to eliminate that guesswork before someone gets hurt.
- Non-compliance creates documented liability exposure that touches permitting, insurance coverage, occupancy renewals, and your ability to defend against an incident claim.
- Starting in 2027, your compliance status is on record with local fire and police. In Cook County it goes directly into dispatch systems — tied to your address permanently.
"Firefighters cannot distinguish between reinforced skylights and non-reinforced units, especially in smoke, darkness, or snow-covered conditions. Unprotected skylights represent one of the highest rooftop fall risks in Illinois commercial properties."
— Illinois Rooftop Safety for First Responders Act, legislative findingsNot sure what your building needs? Our experts will tell you straight — what applies, what it takes to comply, and what it costs. No obligation.
Talk to an expert →Get compliant before the surveys start
January 2027 is closer than most building owners expect. The companies that act now do it on their schedule and their budget. The ones that wait tend to do it under pressure.
- Flagged in the municipal survey
- Compliance status on record with authorities
- Rushed timeline, less control over cost
- Ongoing liability exposure until resolved
- Compliant before surveys begin
- Your timeline, your budget, no scramble
- Compliance documentation in hand
- Workers and first responders both protected
