Building Safety in St. Joseph County, IN (2026)

3 rules for unincorporated St. Joseph County, Indiana.

Verified from official government sources

Note: These county rules apply to unincorporated areas of St. Joseph County. If you live within an incorporated city, that city's own rules apply: see the city list below.

Building Permits

Any construction, alteration, repair, or demolition job in unincorporated St. Joseph County costing more than $500 needs a permit from the building commissioner before work starts. Painting and minor repairs under 15% of a structure's value are exempt unless they change the structure itself.

St. Joseph County Building Permit Requirements

Some Restrictions

St. Joseph County, Ind., Code of Ordinances § 151.05(A)-(B)

(A)No construction, extension, repair, alteration or demolition of any building, structure within the county, or any work related thereto, including but not limited to construction, building, plumbing, heating, air conditioning, ventilating, electrical, brick and masonry work, having a total project contract price or estimated cost of more than $500.00, shall be started until a permit for the p...

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Electrical Permits

St. Joseph County adopts the Indiana Electrical Code and requires a county permit before any electrical connection is made to equipment that needs one, plus a county Class A or B electrical license for anyone doing the wiring work for pay.

St. Joseph County Electrical Permit Requirements

Some Restrictions

St. Joseph County, Ind., Code of Ordinances § 151.02(A)(4); § 151.20(A), (C)

§ 151.02(A) Pursuant to IC 22-13-2-3(b), the 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 code and shall include any later amendments to those rules. ... (4) Article 17- Indiana Electrical Code. ... § 151.20(A) No person shall make connections ...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Plumbing Permits

St. Joseph County adopts the Indiana Plumbing Code and requires a building department permit before any plumbing installation or alteration, plus a licensed or county-registered contractor, except for owner-occupants working on their own homes.

St. Joseph County Plumbing Permit Rules

Some Restrictions

St. Joseph County, Ind., Code of Ordinances § 151.02(A)(3); § 151.52(A)-(B)

§ 151.02(A) Pursuant to IC 22-13-2-3(b), the 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 code... (3) Article 16 - Indiana Plumbing Code. ... § 151.52(A) No person shall perform or cause to be performed the installation or alteration of any plu...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

All St. Joseph County ordinances

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