Lake County, IN Building Safety: Building Inspections (2026)

Section 151.025 puts the burden on the owner or contractor to schedule inspections needed to confirm compliance with the code and the permit's terms after a permit issues. Subsection (A) requires no fewer than eight inspections for every permit, made in a set order unless the Director or a designated representative excuses one in writing for cause: footing pre-pour, footing, foundation, rough H.V.A.C., rough plumbing, rough electric, rough framing, electric service, final H.V.A.C., final plumbing, final electric, and final framing. For a new one- to four-family residential home, the general contractor must submit a foundation as-built survey stamped by an Indiana licensed land surveyor, matching the approved site plan, before the foundation inspection is scheduled.

Subsection (B) adds a $50 fee whenever an inspector finds work not ready or not in compliance with the code's intent, and subsection (C) charges another $50 for the required re-inspection once the defect is corrected. Section 151.026 gives permit holders the right to appeal a Building Department decision, first to the County Board of Zoning Appeals and then to the Indiana Fire Prevention and Building Safety Commission, under I.C. 22-12-7-11 or 22-12-7-12 as applicable. Section 151.027 requires all work done under a permit to comply with every other applicable county ordinance, not just the building code itself.