South Bend, IN Business Licensing & Operations: Auto Repair on Residential Property (2026)

The definition covers 'any location where motor vehicle repair, servicing, and/or storage is done on the premises for a fee,' so a driveway or garage operation that charges customers falls under the same license as a commercial shop. The application must list the site's zoning, the number of off-street parking spaces, the age and construction of the building, the square footage set aside for stored vehicles, and the specific repair services offered; the Department of Code Enforcement and Fire Prevention Bureau review and inspect before the Controller issues the $200 annual license.

A 'stored vehicle' is any vehicle, or part of one, left on the premises more than seventy-two consecutive hours in a week, and any outdoor area used to store vehicles or vehicle parts must be enclosed by a six-foot-high opaque fence of uniform color and construction, with every stored vehicle kept inside that fenced area. No vehicle or vehicle part can be parked in the property's required front yard as set by the zoning chapter, or on the public right-of-way, and no vehicle can be parked on a street, alley, or public way for repair or servicing except when an emergency requires it. Buildings used for spraying or dipping flammable finishes must meet NFPA 30 standards, electrical work must follow the National Electrical Code, and walls or ceilings around that work need a one-hour fire-resistance rating with Fire Department-specified extinguishing equipment.

The Fire Prevention Bureau and Department of Code Enforcement inspect every licensed center at least twice a year. A violation carries a fine of at least $50 and up to $2,500, with each day of noncompliance counted as a separate offense.