As many of you heard today, Governor J.B. Pritzker has issued an immediate Executive Order requiring Illinois residents to stay at home in an effort to curb the spread of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The order begins at 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 21 and is scheduled to last until April 7, 2020.

Illinois REALTORS® is here to help you navigate the challenges and uncertainties of COVID-19 and its impact on your business.

We know that many of you are wondering what the Executive Order—and its mandate that only those employed in essential businesses and operations be allowed to report to work—will mean for you.

Illinois REALTORS® worked with the State of Illinois to ensure that real estate-related activities are specifically allowed to continue while the Executive Order is in effect.

The Executive Order provides that among the essential businesses and operations permitted are professional services, which includes real estate services. Among those, the Executive Order also specifically includes appraisal and title services.

The Executive Order also expressly permits the continued operation of government services and work by government employees that work for or to support businesses that can operate under the Executive Order. This authority is critical to the continued functioning of services provided by county recorders, clerks and inspectors who often play a role in real estate transactions.

Please keep in mind that local officials may enact their own, more strict standards for continued operations, including restricting access or office hours. Finally, financial institutions, such as banks, consumer lenders and title companies are specifically allowed to continue operating under the Executive Order.

Be advised the Executive Order contains guidance requiring the continued observance of the previously ordered preventive measures such as social distancing, hand washing and disinfecting.

The Executive Order is aimed at preventing the further spread of COVID-19 in Illinois. With the help of Illinois REALTORS®, the measures implemented by the Executive Order will add to the safety of the community, while protecting an industry that is critical to the economy of the state and the nation.

Illinois REALTORS® will continue to monitor the impact of the spread of COVID-19 on our state and the real estate industry.

Visit www.IlllinoisRealtors.org/covid19 for the most up-to-date information, including our continuing efforts to work with state officials on government actions that may impact your business.

Collectively we are stronger—working through these unique circumstances to support each other, our industry and our communities.

You can read more about the Executive Order, but here is a brief summary of the other general guidelines from our legal team.

According to the Executive Order, all individuals currently living within the State of Illinois are ordered to stay at home. All non-essential businesses must cease all activities, except Minimum Basic Operations. Public and private gatherings outside of homes are prohibited and places of amusement, like play centers, amusement parks, bowling alleys and movie theaters must remain closed for the duration of the Executive Order.

Illinois residents subject to the Executive Order are permitted to leave their homes to perform “essential activities.” These include visits to doctor’s offices and pharmacies, as well as to veterinarians for a family pet. Residents may leave their homes to obtain necessary services or supplies, like groceries, consumer products, home office supplies and any product necessary to maintain the safety or operation of their home. The Executive Order permits residents of the state to continue using outdoor spaces, provided they adhere to social distancing guidelines, which are outlined in the Executive Order.

Of course, the Executive Order also permits residents to leave their homes to perform work if they work for an essential business or another business permitted to stay open under the Executive Order.