Amending Chapter 6 Generally known as the Building Ordinance

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CITY of SOUTH BEND PETER J. NEMETH, Mayor COUNTY -CITY BUILDING SOUTH BEND, INDIANA 46601 1977 Thomas J. Brunner, Jr. May 18, 279/284.9241 City Attorney Robert M. Parker Chief Deputy South Bend Common Council 4th floor Council Chambers County -City Building 227 W. Jefferson Blvd. South Bend, Indiana 46601 Re: Ordinance Amending Building Code Dear Council Members: The attached bill would bring the South Bend Building Code into conformity with the rules and regulations adopted by the Indiana State Administrative Building Council under I.C. 1971, 22- 11 -5 -1 et sue. Under statute, these rules and regulations preempt all conflicting local ordinances. As a result it has been difficult to determine whether part or any of the BOCA Basic Building Code, which is still part of the Municipal Code of South Bend, should be enforced. With the foregoing in mind, it was decided to update the entire Building Code. Included are the Indiana Construction Rules and Regulations, Plumbing Rules and Regulations, Mechanical Rules and Regulations, One and Two- -- Family Dwelling Code and the National Elec- trical Code (the latter by separate bill since it was in a different chapter of the Municipal Code). With the ABC's rules and regulations as a basis, city ordinances may go into more detail if desired or may contain more stringent provisions, provided they do not conflict with any rule or regulation of the ABC. Thus, parts of the existing municipal code dealing with the aforementioned areas were incorporated into the ABC's rules and regulations, which rules and regulations are included in the attached bill. After drafting, this bill was approved for introduction to the Common Council by the State Building Commissioner, who is also the Chairman of the ABC. Recently the Common Council adopted a new Unsafe Building Ordinance. The administration feels that it is necessary to adopt