38-25 Amending Articles 1 Through 7 and Article 11 of Chapter 6 of the South Bend Municipal Code to Update Regulations Governing the Building Department

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Fiicd in Clerk's Office J U N U it 2025 BILL NO. Bianca Tirado ORDINANCE NO. City Clerk,South Bend, IN AN ORDINANCE OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA,AMENDING ARTICLES 1 THROUGH 7 AND ARTICLE 11 OF CHAPTER 6 OF THE SOUTH BEND MUNICIPAL CODE TO UPDATE REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT STATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND INTENT Chapter 6 of the South Bend Municipal Code provides the regulations governing the operations of the Building Department within the City of South Bend, among other topics. The proposed ordinance provides key updates to the Articles within Chapter 6 pertaining to the Building Department to address topics such as fee adjustments, procedural improvements, definition updates, and process clarifications in order to support the Building Department's operations and enforcement capabilities. The proposed ordinance increases permit fees to account for inflation and generate revenue necessary to support Building Department operations. The revised fee structure ensures that the costs associated with permit processing, inspections, and enforcement are adequately funded without creating an undue burden on applicants. The proposed ordinance updates definitions to align with state definitions to ensure consistent application and enforcement and minimize ambiguities in interpretation. The proposed ordinance clarifies operational cooperation between the Building and Fire Department in promoting compliance. It also clarifies the process for issuing a stop work order, identifying abandoned projects, and the Building Department's inspection authority. The proposed ordinance provides for a red tag and citation cadence for enforcement of violations of the Building Code to ensure effective enforcement. The proposed ordinance also clarifies demolition requirements, including compliance with Indiana Department of Environmental Management requirements, access to the right-of-way, handling of construction and demolition waste, and leaving the site in a buildable state. The proposed ordinance clarifies the process for contractor registrations contained in Articles 6 and 7, including the requirements for an application and the process for approval. It also includes requirements for suspending or revoking a registration. The proposed ordinance also contains updated fee schedules for mechanical, plumbing, and electrical permits to ensure that the fee schedules set forth in the ordinance align with Building Department forms to avoid confusion. Page 1 of 42