Fort Wayne, IN Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Cite
- Fort Wayne Code § 94.14
- Sign-off required
- Building Dept and Fire Dept both
- Trigger
- Final inspection before occupancy
- Plan review
- Fire Dept reviews permit plans too
- Penalty
- $20-$2,500 civil forfeiture, per day
Summary
Before any new building in Fort Wayne can be occupied, both the Building Department and the Fire Department must sign off on the Certificate of Occupancy following a final inspection under Fire Prevention Code § 94.14.
A Certificate of Occupancy must be obtained from the Building Department. This certificate must be signed by both the Building Department and the Fire Department, after a final inspection of the building or structure is made. Issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy shall not be construed as an approval of any violation of the provisions of this code or of other ordinances of the city or of rules and regulations of the State of Indiana Fire Prevention and Building Safety Commission.
(D) The Fire Department shall be charged with the duty of enforcing divisions (A), (B) and (C) hereof. (Ord. G-28-99, passed 12-28-99; Am. Ord. G-23-14, passed 11-18-14) **** ON-SITE FIRE PROTECTION ****
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-60: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ord. G-19-26, passed 7-14-26, and Res. 83-19, passed 12-17-19 State legislation current through Legislative Service, 2025 Acts, Pamphlet No. 3).
Full Breakdown
Fort Wayne's Fire Prevention Code routes construction permit paperwork through two departments. Site and building plans submitted to the Building Department in support of a permit application also go to the Fire Department for review, which checks them against State Fire Prevention and Building Safety Commission rules and the local Fire Department ordinance (§ 94.14(A)-(B)). That review doesn't excuse any other code violation. Once construction wraps up, § 94.14(C) requires a Certificate of Occupancy that must carry both the Building Department's and the Fire Department's signatures, issued only after a final inspection of the building or structure.
Violations & Fines
Violating this chapter draws a civil forfeiture of $20 to $2,500 per offense under § 94.199, with each day the violation continues counted as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has to sign off before I can occupy a new building in Fort Wayne?
Does the Fire Department review my building permit plans?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fort Wayne
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