Fort Wayne, IN Building Safety: Door Locking Hardware (2026)
Key Facts
- Applies to
- occupied dwelling structures
- Deadbolt doors
- exempt from key-free egress rule
- Window lock threshold
- within 12 feet of grade
- Enforcing agency
- Neighborhood Code Compliance / Code Official
Summary
Fort Wayne dwellings must have working locks on every exterior door, window, and basement hatchway, and any door besides a marked exit with a deadbolt must open without a key from the inside.
Doors, windows or hatchways for a structure shall be provided with devices designed to provide security for the occupants and property within. All such devices shall be installed according to the manufacturer's specifications and maintained in good working order. (a) Exterior door hardware. Doors providing access to a structure other than marked exit doors equipped with a deadbolt lock shall be designed to open from the side which egress is to be made without the need for keys, special knowledge or effort.
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 Minimum Housing and Maintenance Standards require every door, window, and hatchway providing access to a dwelling to carry a working security device. Under § 152.04(D)(15)(a), any exterior door other than a marked exit door fitted with a deadbolt must open from the egress side without a key, special knowledge, or effort: a local anti-barricade rule. Operable windows within 12 feet of grade or a walking surface need a window sash lock, and basement hatchways must be weather-tight, rodent-proof, and equipped with a locking device that secures the unit from unauthorized entry. Neighborhood Code Compliance enforces the standard.
Violations & Fines
The Code Official issues a written notice of violation with 60 days to correct most § 152.04 defects; three violations within 12 months can trigger injunctive relief through the City Law Office.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do exterior doors need to open without a key from inside?
What about windows and basement hatchways?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fort Wayne
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