Building Safety in Gary, IN (2026)
7 verified building safety rules for Gary, Indiana, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Lead Paint
Gary Municipal Code § 105-703 flatly bans applying lead paint to toys, furniture, or interior surfaces of any dwelling, roominghouse, or facility used by children, and bars selling or delivering lead-painted toys or furniture. The health commissioner can order a landlord to remove any lead paint that creates a hazard, under § 105-704.
Gary Ban on Lead Paint Near Children
Heavy RestrictionsGary Municipal Code § 105-703
No person shall apply lead paint to toys, furniture, or the interior surfaces of any dwelling, dwelling unit, roominghouse, rooming unit, or facility occupied or used by children. Interior surfaces include but are not limited to window sills, window frames, doors, door frames, walls, ceilings, stair rails, spindles, or other appurtenances. No person shall sell, transfer, or deliver toys or furn...
Fire Sprinkler Requirements
Gary requires automatic fire sprinklers in hotels, hospitals, theaters, schools, public buildings, and multi-family buildings over three stories, but City Code § 22-77 expressly exempts single-family dwelling units and fire-resistant structures unless the state fire marshal orders otherwise. The rule applies only to buildings built after the division's effective date; plans go to the state fire marshal, the Fire Prevention and Building Safety Commission, and the city's fire prevention bureau.
Gary Automatic Fire Sprinkler Mandate
Some RestrictionsGary Municipal Code § 22-77
Automatic fire sprinkler equipment shall be installed and maintained in all buildings and structures constructed after the effective date of the article from which this division is derived as set forth below. However, no automatic fire sprinkler equipment shall be required in a single-family dwelling unit and no automatic fire sprinkler equipment shall be required in a fire-resistant structure,...
Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Every residential building in Gary, including hotels and motels with fossil-fuel heat, must have an approved carbon monoxide alarm within 40 feet of each sleeping room, loud enough to be heard while asleep. City Code § 22-59 exempts all-electric buildings with no nearby combustion source and sets a $100 to $500 fine per day for violations, plus a separate fine for removing alarm batteries.
Gary Carbon Monoxide Alarm Requirement
Some RestrictionsGary Municipal Code § 22-59
(a)Location. ... Every building of residential or mixed occupancy in which there is one or more residential units shall be equipped with approved carbon monoxide alarms in accordance with this article.(1)Not less than one approved carbon monoxide alarm shall be installed in each residential unit and shall be installed within 40 feet of each room used for sleeping purposes and shall be easily au...
Building Permits
In the City of Gary, a building permit from the building commissioner is required before starting construction, alteration or repair of any building or structure, and all permit fees set by Chapter 20 must be paid to the building department before work begins, under Section 105-108 of the city code.
Gary Building Permit Requirement
Some RestrictionsGary Municipal Code § 105-108
A permit shall be obtained before beginning construction, alteration or repair of any building or structure using forms furnished by the building commissioner, and all fees required by chapter 20 shall be paid to the building department of the city.
Electrical Permits
In Gary, electrical work requires a permit from the Building Commissioner, and that permit can only go to a duly licensed electrical contractor or a homeowner working on their own residence. Homeowners doing their own wiring must pass a written and oral exam given by the electrical inspector. A wrongly issued or violating permit can be suspended or revoked.
Gary Electrical Permit and Contractor Rules
Some RestrictionsGary Municipal Code § 105-458
(a)Electrical permits shall not be issued by the building commissioner to anyone except a duly licensed electrical contractor or his duly authorized agent under the provisions of this division.(b)Electrical permits shall be granted to the actual owner of the premises in which he actually resides. Any permits issued to the owner of a residential property that is not the applicant's actual place ...
Plumbing Permits
Before starting most plumbing work in Gary, an applicant must file a written application with the Building Commissioner describing the job site, then pay the city controller a per-fixture fee for each sink, closet, bathtub or other fixture that discharges into the city sewer system. Simple leak repairs and pipe-clearing are exempt from the permit requirement.
Gary Plumbing Permit Requirements
Some RestrictionsGary Municipal Code § 105-519
(a)Before any job of plumbing may be started in the city, except repairs as defined in subsection (b) of this section, an applicant desiring to do the job of plumbing or plumbing work shall file a written application for a plumbing permit with the building commissioner, describing the premises where the plumbing work is to be done. This application shall at once be filed with the city controlle...
Building Inspections
After a Gary building permit issues, the building commissioner must inspect the work for compliance with the code and permit terms, may charge reinspection fees when work is incomplete or not ready, and can enter any building or premises at reasonable times on presentation of credentials, per Sections 105-140 through 105-142.
Gary Building Inspection Requirements
Some RestrictionsGary Municipal Code §§ 105-140, 105-141, 105-142
After the issuance of any building permit, the building commissioner shall make, or shall cause to be made, inspections of the work being done as are necessary to insure full compliance with the provisions of this article and the terms of the permit. Reinspections of work found to be incomplete or not ready for inspection are subject to assessment of reinspection fees as prescribed in this arti...
Looking for Lake County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Gary city rules.
Building Safety in Lake County →