Lafayette, IN Building Safety: Building Inspections (2026)

Section 13.01.090(A) authorizes the City Engineer and the Engineer's authorized representatives to inspect any construction, alteration, or repair of a building or house in the City of Lafayette to check compliance with the Building Code, entering the project upon presentation of proper credentials at any reasonable time during daylight hours. The inspection fee schedule at Section 13.01.090(B) makes the first inspection and the first re-inspection free of charge, as is the first inspection and first re-inspection for an electric-meter-only job. After that, fees climb quickly: a re-inspection following one failed inspection, the property's third inspection trip, costs $100.00, and every inspection from the fourth trip onward costs $200.00 each.

A contractor who fails to call for a required inspection owes a flat $150.00, and canceling a scheduled inspection with less than 24 hours' notice costs $100.00. These fees apply on top of, not instead of, the underlying improvement location permit fees set in Section 13.01.060(F). If the City Engineer finds work proceeding contrary to the Building Code during an inspection, Section 13.01.100 lets the Engineer issue a written stop order, and anyone doing the work must halt until the Engineer authorizes it to continue.

No certificate of occupancy can be issued under Section 13.01.110 unless the inspected work complies with the chapter, and it is unlawful to occupy the building until that certificate, full, partial, or temporary, has been issued by the Building Commissioner.