Gary, IN Rental Inspections: Inspection Programs (2026)

Section 105-260 of the Gary housing code names the building commissioner as the designated authority to administer the code and lets the commissioner deputize enough housing inspectors to run the program. Subsection (b) requires the building commissioner to establish a systematic and planned citywide housing code compliance program, drawing on the city's neighborhood analysis and community renewal program, aimed at slum prevention, structural rehabilitation and neighborhood conservation across the city. Subsection (c) has the mayor coordinate the building commissioner, planning director, health commissioner, fire chief and the redevelopment department's executive secretary toward the same slum elimination and prevention goals, and subsection (d) creates a board of appeals made up of the building commissioner, health commissioner, fire prevention chief, the human relations commission's executive director and one council member, which both hears appeals and runs an assistance program for owners and occupants trying to comply.

Section 105-262 supplies the actual inspection power behind the program: the building commissioner, health commissioner and fire chief are jointly and severally authorized to inspect the condition of dwellings, dwelling units and premises in the city to safeguard occupant and public health and safety, and may enter, examine and survey any dwelling, dwelling unit or rooming unit at reasonable times for that purpose. Owners, occupants or persons in charge must allow that access. The same section runs the duty the other direction too: every occupant must let the owner, or the owner's agents or employees, into the premises at reasonable times to make repairs, installations or alterations needed to bring the unit into compliance with the housing code.