Grading and earthwork in South Bend answer to two systems. A site of one acre or more needs a site development permit and stormwater plan under City Code Chapter 17, Article 12, and altering a regulated drain requires St. Joseph County Drainage Board approval under IC 36-9-27.
Moving earth in South Bend triggers the city's construction stormwater rule when it disturbs one acre or more, requiring a site development permit and a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan under Chapter 17, Article 12, plus coverage under the Indiana Construction Stormwater General Permit. Separately, the St. Joseph County Surveyor and County Drainage Board administer regulated drains under Indiana's county drainage law, IC 36-9-27, so a property owner cannot fill, obstruct, or reroute a regulated drain without Drainage Board approval. Grading that concentrates runoff onto a neighboring lot creates civil liability under Indiana drainage law. Within the MS4 area, the city's post-construction detention and drainage standards apply on top of the state permit.
Grading one acre or more without a site development permit, or altering, filling, or obstructing a regulated drain without County Drainage Board approval, brings stop-work orders, city and IDEM enforcement, and civil liability for resulting drainage damage.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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No South Bend or Indiana law limits holiday lights, inflatables, or yard displays on residential property. The city acts only through neutral rules against o...
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South Bend handles garage-sale signs through its zoning sign ordinance. A sign on your own property with the owner's consent is allowed and must come down af...
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South Bend regulates signs through its Chapter 21 zoning ordinance, but political signs on private property are protected speech the city cannot restrict by ...
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South Bend requires every non-owner-occupied rental to register annually by September 1 for a $5 fee, and to pass a Rental Safety Verification Program inspec...
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South Bend cannot require just cause to evict — Indiana bars cities from regulating the landlord-tenant relationship under IC 32-31-1-20. Evictions follow st...
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South Bend has no rent control, and Indiana law forbids it. IC 32-31-1-20 bars any city, town, or county from regulating rental rates unless the General Asse...
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