Kokomo, IN Building Safety: Building Inspections (2026)

Kokomo's building code, Chapter 150, requires anyone doing new construction, alterations, repairs, or remodeling within city limits to obtain a permit from the Department of Engineering, Traffic and Inspection Services before work starts, per § 150.04(A). The fee schedule at § 150.04(B)(2) sets inspection and reinspection charges at $25 per visit and fixes how many inspections each project type needs: new house, 4; new garage, 3; new commercial building, 6; new industrial building, 6; billboard, 2; swimming pool or hot tub, 2; remodeling, 4; and porch or carport, 2.

Section 150.05 places responsibility for all inspections required by the chapter on the City Civil Engineer or his delegate. No one may occupy or use a structure covered by the chapter until the City Civil Engineer issues a certificate of occupancy, and applications for that certificate must be made in writing to the City Civil Engineer under § 150.07. Under § 150.08, the certificate cannot issue until after a final inspection, cannot issue for work that fails to meet applicable building standards, and the City Civil Engineer must approve or deny it within three days of that final inspection.

Failing to secure a permit before construction begins triggers the penalty set in § 150.99, and § 150.15 puts enforcement of §§ 150.01 through 150.09 in the hands of the City Civil Engineer, assisted by other city officers and employees. A denied or disputed decision by the Building Commissioner can be appealed first to the Board of Public Works and Safety and then to the state's Fire Prevention and Building Safety Commission under § 150.18(A), citing IC 22-13-2-7 and IC 4-21.5-3-7.