South Bend, IN Building Safety: Electrical Permits (2026)

Section 6-19(a) bars any connection from an electricity supply to equipment requiring a permit until the Building Department issues one, and Section 6-24(a) makes that permit mandatory for the installation or alteration of any electrical wiring or equipment, including fire alarm systems on or within any building, structure or premises within the City. The city adopted the Indiana Electrical Code, Article 17 of Title 675 of the Indiana Administrative Code, by reference under Section 6-5(a)(4), so permitted electrical work must meet that state code's standards.

As with plumbing, Section 6-24(b) triples the permit fee as a penalty for anyone who proceeds with electrical work before obtaining a permit, without excusing any other penalty. The fee schedule in Section 6-24(c) sets a $60 minimum and itemizes work by type: $7 to $50 for switchboards and panel boards scaled by amperage, $5 per new or replaced circuit, $7 for the first horsepower of machinery wiring, and $60 flat fees for backup generators of 10 kV or less, pool wiring and bonding, fire alarm systems, and reinspections.

Section 6-23 requires anyone performing electrical installation, maintenance, alteration or repair to hold a Class A or Class B electrical contractor's registration from the Building Department, issued after a passing exam score, a $50 application fee, at least four years of documented experience, and a $10,000 surety bond for Class A contractors; owner-occupants wiring their own single-family dwelling are exempt. Section 6-25 requires the Electrical Inspector to inspect all permitted work, with 24 hours' notice before concealment and a $60 fee for any reinspection after a failed stage.