Bloomington, IN Building Safety: Plumbing Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Adopted code
- Indiana Plumbing Code (675 IAC Article 16)
- Administering official
- transportation and traffic engineer
- Plumbing contractor definition
- qualified installer serving the general public
- Journeyman plumber definition
- qualified plumber working for hire
- Owner-occupant exemption
- can do own work, permit still required
- Default penalty
- general penalty clause § 1.01.130
Summary
In the City of Bloomington, plumbing installations must follow the Indiana Plumbing Code, adopted into Bloomington Municipal Code § 17.04.060 by reference as part of the city's Construction Regulations. A plumbing contractor or journeyman plumber must be qualified under state and city standards, and § 17.04.090 requires a permit whenever plumbing work equals or exceeds the scope this title sets, even for a property owner working on their own home.
(g)"Plumbing contractor" means a person engaged in the plumbing business for the general public, or who maintains a plumbing shop, and is qualified to install plumbing in accordance with the standards and regulations set forth by the state and in this chapter. ... (a)Building rules of the Indiana Fire Prevention and Building Safety Commission as set out in the following articles of Title 675 of the Indiana Administrative Code are hereby incorporated by reference in this title, and shall include later amendments to those Articles as the same are published in the Indiana Register or the Indiana Administrative Code with effective dates as fixed therein: ... (3)Article 16 - Plumbing Codes.(A)Indiana Plumbing Code. ... No section or provision in this title is to be interpreted as prohibiting a property owner from doing work on a residence which he or she owns and in which he or she lives or plans to live. Property for resale is not included in this exemption. Permits are required when work or construction equals or exceeds the scope set forth in this title.
Full Breakdown
Title 17, Construction Regulations, administers the state's technical codes locally; § 17.04.020 sets its purpose as protecting life, safety, welfare and energy conservation in the design and construction of buildings. Section 17.04.060(a)(3) incorporates Article 16 of Title 675 of the Indiana Administrative Code, the Indiana Plumbing Code, by reference, including later amendments published in the Indiana Register or Administrative Code. Section 17.04.050(g) defines a plumbing contractor as a person engaged in the plumbing business for the general public, or who maintains a plumbing shop, and who is qualified to install plumbing under state and city standards; § 17.04.050(f) similarly defines a journeyman plumber as a person engaged in plumbing for hire who meets those same qualifications.
The transportation and traffic engineer administers Title 17 under § 17.08.010, appointing building inspectors and other technical officers, and may issue a written stop-work order under § 17.08.010(b) whenever plumbing work proceeds contrary to the title. Section 17.04.090 lets a property owner perform plumbing work on a residence they own and occupy without hiring a licensed contractor, an exemption that does not extend to property being prepared for resale, but a permit is still required once the work equals or exceeds the scope this title sets.
Noncompliance with the adopted Indiana Plumbing Code, or any other Title 17 requirement, is a violation under § 17.04.040, punishable under the city's general penalty clause, § 1.01.130, where the title does not set a more specific fine.
Violations & Fines
Plumbing work that ignores the adopted Indiana Plumbing Code or proceeds without the required permit violates Title 17 under § 17.04.040 and falls back on the general penalty clause, § 1.01.130, when no specific fine applies. The transportation and traffic engineer can issue a stop-work order under § 17.08.010(b), and the site must be returned to its original condition before work resumes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for plumbing work on my own house in Bloomington?
What plumbing code applies in Bloomington?
What is the difference between a plumbing contractor and a journeyman plumber in Bloomington?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bloomington
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