Columbus, IN Building Safety: Electrical Permits (2026)

Two parts of the Columbus Municipal Code govern electrical work in the City of Columbus, Indiana: Chapter 5.08 licenses the tradespeople, and Chapter 15.04 adopts the technical code and sets permit fees.

Licensing: Section 5.08.020 makes it unlawful to operate or engage in the business of an electrician or electrical contractor within the city without a license from the Bartholomew County board of electrician examiners. The license is issued only in the name of the person, firm, corporation or partnership, and industrial manufacturing concerns are excused for customary electrical installation incident to their own operation. Anyone who wants to do electrical work must pass an examination before the board. The fee is fifty dollars for the first license and twenty-five dollars for each annual renewal, plus ten dollars for each additional person engaged in electrical work by the licensee. The chief code enforcement officer issues the license on the board's order. Licenses expire on December 31st, cannot be transferred, and can be renewed without reexamination if the renewal application and fee are filed within thirty days after expiration.

Technical code: Section 15.04.060 incorporates the building rules of the Indiana Department of Fire and Building Services in Title 675 of the Indiana Administrative Code, including Article 17, the Indiana Electrical Code, with later amendments published in the Indiana Register. Section 15.04.080 requires a permit before beginning construction, alteration or repair of any building or structure costing more than three hundred dollars, using forms from the chief code enforcement officer, and Section 15.04.100 sets the electrical permit fee at a minimum of thirty dollars for the first inspection plus thirty dollars for each additional inspection, with the same figure for residential and for commercial, industrial or multifamily work. Copies of the adopted codes are on file in the office of technical code enforcement.