Pre-Approved Building Plans Catalog 2025

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18'-0"MIN. SIDE SETBACK MIN. SIDE SETBACKMIN. FRONTSETBACK8'-0"34'-0"MIN. REAR SETBACKMIN. LOT WIDTH OF 32' 24'-0" - 1 - South Bend Neighborhood Infill | Process Step 1: Site Select a building type from the available pre-approved plans catalog. Note, the Small Apartment will require consultation with an architect and/or engineer to develop and complete the drawings provided to the applicant. A professional’s stamp will be required. Confirm that the selected building type is allowed in the applicable zoning district and can fit on your property, including all setbacks required by the development standards of Section 21-03 of the South Bend Zoning Ordinance. Reach out to the Department of Community Investment to purchase the Permit Set for your building type. Locate or purchase a survey of your property from a local licensed land surveyor. Identify the preferred site configuration and orientation for your lot. Draw a site plan to show that all development standards are met. Site plans must be drawn to an engineer scale (e.g. 1” = 20’) and include the size of the property (lot dimensions and area) as well as the size and setbacks of all proposed structures located on the property. Step 2: Select from the available elevation design options, including all applicable details, and an exterior siding material per the provided building set. Review the list of acceptable minor design deviations and discuss with the City. If any proposed changes are not listed, you are required to hire an architect to adjust the plans and submit updated drawings to the City for review and approval. Identify your General Contractor and any sub-contractors (electrician, plumber, and HVAC information) that you will be working with to complete your pre-approved building. Ensure that they are familiar with the pre-approved building requirements and any design selections you desire. Contractors should be notified of the selected plan orientation and elevation option. Any pages of the permit set that do not apply to your selected elevation option should be removed or marked to avoid confusion. Confirm the estimated cost of labor and materials with your contractor. Use the Small Developer Handbook for guidance on base assumptions and selections. Step 3: Submit your site plan, application, and associated fees to the Building Department. All buildings except Small Apartment shall use the “New House Permit Application.” The Small Apartment shall use the “Commercial Building Permit Application.” The Building Department will review your application within 2 business days. They will issue an approval or let you know if any additional information or changes are required. The Small Apartment will be subject to an additional review period at the State level. Pre-approval may not be granted if your property is in a floodplain; requires an additional drainage report; or if your site plan does not meet the site configuration guidelines or requires a variance. Once construction of a pre-approved building begins, on-site review of selected details and building elements may be scheduled by a member of the Zoning Administration team. This inspection will happen concurrently with the required building inspections. The City of South Bend seeks to support neighborhood infill and economic opportunities for locals by offering a set of pre-approved building types. Created in collaboration among the City of South Bend, J Griffin Design LLC, Jennifer L. Settle LLC, Patrick Lynch Architect, and Electric Housing, this resource assists with small to middle scale housing development in South Bend neighborhoods. A “Sears Catalog” of housing options offer a range of contextually appropriate plans to individuals and developers that are interested in pursuing new construction infill projects within the City of South Bend. Pre-approved building types are permitted to be used in any zoning district throughout the City of South Bend that allows the selected building type per the current Zoning Ordinance. This process offers high-quality plans and designs with contingent building and site development approval. In exchange for significant time and cost savings, the buildings must be built to match the floor plans and building design, including all details, with minor variations permitted. Each plan has been vetted specifically for South Bend with careful consideration given to current zoning regulations, typical lot configurations, common construction techniques, and market conditions. The process below outlines what you can expect once you initiate a permit set for a pre-approved building from the City.