Building Department

Annex Building
204 East Jefferson St. Suite 5
Goshen, IN 46528

Office hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Main Office Phone: 574-534-1811
Fax: 574-533-8626
E-mail: building@goshencity.com

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STAFF

Department Head:	Mark Brinson, 574-537-3824
Assistant Building Commissioner/ Commercial Building Inspector:	Myron Grise, 574-534-2104
Residential Building Inspector:	Jim Ramer,  574-537-3875
Property Maintenance Inspector:	Ryan Conrad, 574-537-3822
Code Enforcement Officer:	Travis Eash, 574-533-5863
Office Assistant:	Jean Nisley, 574-534-1811

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The City of Goshen Building Department was established in 1973 to instill pride in all properties around the City and to promote safe and secure occupancy for all of its residents.

The Goshen Building Department follows and enforces the Indiana Building Code, the City of Goshen Municipal Code, and the State Energy Code as they pertain to construction, electric, plumbing and mechanical phases of a project.

The Building Department issues permits that are required for the construction, alteration, remodeling, rehabilitation, or additions to any building or structure or the placement of a mobile home.  This would include roof replacement, siding and windows.  Permits are also required for new or altered electrical, mechanical or plumbing systems, which include water heaters and water softeners.

The Building Department also registers and inspects rental properties to insure compliance with the Neighborhood Preservation Ordinance (City Ordinance 4860).

NOTICE:  Per City Ordinance 4899, Section 7.01, effective January 1, 2021, all fees will increase by 3%.  Please contact the Building Department for any questions regarding the new fees.

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APPLYING FOR PERMITS

Thank you for visiting the Building Department's webpage.  All permits must be paid for at the time of issuance.  Permits may be obtained by visiting the Building Department in person by visiting the Annex Building, 204 E Jefferson St, or by applying online.  To apply for a permit using the The City of Goshen's web portal, please click on the picture above or by clicking on the link below:  

http://cityportal.goshencity.com

For basic instructions on how to apply for permits online: Applying for Permits Online Instructions

For a list of current fees:  2021 Building Department Fees

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CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS

All new commercial construction (and some remodel / renovation ) projects will be required to follow the Site Plan Review Process through the Planning & Zoning Department.  Before any permits may be issued, the following is required for the Building Dept.:

• 1 set of Construction Drawings (*digital drawings are reviewed by the Planning, Engineering and Fire Departments)
• Plan Submittal Cover Sheet must be submitted with the Plans (fillable form here: Plan Submittal Cover Sheet) or the plans will not be accepted.
• You must upload a Permit Request through the Portal with *electronic Plans
• Zoning Clearance form signed by the Planning/Zoning and Engineering Departments
• Construction Design Release (State Release) from the State of Indiana (if applicable)
• Plan Certification Form completed by the design professional submitting plans to the State
• Form 393 - Advanced Structural Components Firefighter Safety Notification (if applicable)

All new residential construction will also need to be reviewed by the Planning/Zoning and Engineering Departments.  Before any permits can be issued, a zoning clearance form signed by both Planning/Zoning and Engineering Departments is required.  Fees for electrical, HVAC and plumbing permits for new residential construction are included in the building permit fee; however, separate permits will be issued, but at no charge. Subcontractors are responsible for applying for their own permits, not the General Contractor.  No inspections for electrical, HVAC or plumbing will be performed until the subcontractor permits have been issued.

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LICENSING

General contractors do not have to be licensed by the City of Goshen nor is a bond required.  However, any electrical or HVAC/Refrigeration contractor working within the city limits of Goshen must be licensed by the City.  Plumbing contractors must be licensed by the State of Indiana.  Licensing information can be found below:

• Licensing Ordinance
• Licensing Requirements

Renewals:  Electrical and HVAC licenses are approved for 3 calendar years.  In November of the expiration year, a notice will be sent out to the contractor with renewal information.  A late fee will be charged for licenses that are not renewed by February 28th.  As a reminder, the City of Goshen DOES NOT require licensing bonds.

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PAYMENT FOR FEES/LICENSING

Payment for permits and rental registrations can be made by cash, check, money order or credit card.  Payment can be made in person, by mail or on-line.  Credit card payment cannot be accepted over the phone through the Building Department.

CREDIT/DEBIT CARD

• Paying in person - 3% convenience fee - minimum charge of $2.00
• Over the phone via PAYGOV (1-866-480-8552) - 3.95% convenience fee - minimum charge $2.50*
• Via internet (www.paygov.us) - 4.95% convenience fee - minimum charge of $3.00.  No permit number needed.

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RENTAL PROPERTIES

Per Goshen City Ordinance 4860 (Neighborhood Preservation Ordinance) and Goshen City Ordinance 5001 passed by the Goshen Common Council on July 2, 2019, all residential properties that are used for rent and/or lease, must be registered and inspected by the Building Department. 

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HOUSING & EVICTION DURING COVID-19

For more information about State and federal housing protections in place during the public health crisis of COVID-19, please visit: https://www.in.gov/courts/covid/housing/ 

Please note: The Building Department cannot offer legal advice.  If you need legal help because you are facing eviction, or have another dispute with your landlord, you should seek advice from an attorney.  Please visit the link above for more information with assistance.

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RENTAL REGISTRATION FEES

Annual rental registration fees for all rental units in a rental unit community or for all rental units on a separate parcel of real estate is $5.00.  Annual rental registration fees for all hotels/motels/rooming houses is $77.00.

A late fee of $25.00 will be charged for any rental unit community or rental units on a separate parcel of real estate that is not paid within thirty (30) days of the expiration date or $50.00 for any hotel/motel/rooming house that is not paid within thirty (30) days of the expiration date.

RENTAL INSPECTION

Any rental unit which is not part of a rental unit community will not be inspected more than once every 3 years unless the City receives a specific complaint, has another specific reason to believe that a rental unit does not meet the requirements of Goshen City Code 6.3.1, or previous inspections showed the rental unit to be in an unsafe condition.

Rental units in a rental unit community will not be inspected more than once every 4 years provided that 80% of the rental units inspected within the previous 2 years passed inspections without the need for a follow up inspection.

If you have questions about a rental inspection or need to reschedule an inspection, please contact the rental inspector at 574-537-3822.

RENTAL INSPECTION FEES

The owner of a rental unit that is inspected must pay an initial inspection fee of $45.00.  This fee will increase to $50.00 on January 1, 2021 and to $55.00 on January 1, 2023.

If an inspection fee is not paid within 45 days of the City billing, the property owner will be assessed an additional $15.00 late fee.

A re-inspection fee per rental unit or hotel/motel or rooming house will be charged beginning with the second follow up inspection and for each subsequent inspection until the rental unit or hotel/motel/or rooming house is brought into compliance. This fee will be billed in accordance with Section 4.01 of the Building Department Fee Ordinance.

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CODE ENFORCEMENT

Another responsibility of the Building Department is code enforcement of all structures in the City.  Property owners are required to maintain structures in accordance with the standards established in the Neighborhood Preservation Ordinance.  For example, dilapidated structures, chipping and peeling paint, roof, soffits, siding, porches, trim, foundations and other parts of the exterior.

Code enforcement for trash, high grass, junk or unlicensed vehicles, parking in yards, etc. would need to be referred to the Code Enforcement Department at the City of Goshen Police Department - 533-8661.

The Building Department staff is available to answer any questions you may have regarding construction projects, rentals, permits and fees.  If you are unsure as to whether or not your project requires permits, please either contact the office by phone at 574-534-1811 or e-mail at building@goshencity.com. In addition, before making any conversions of single family homes, please call the department to check for zoning compliance.  We are here to help you in any way possible.

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APPEAL OF BUILDING DEPARTMENT ORDERS

Board of Building Appeals

Pursuant to Goshen Municipal Code 6.1.1.19, all persons have the right to appeal a decision from the Goshen Building Department.  Appeals will initially be heard by a five member panel known as the Board of Building Appeals.  Any appeal from the Building Department’s decision shall be made within 15 days of that decision. If the Goshen Board of Building Appeals does not grant the request to modify the Building Department’s decision, the applicant may appeal to the State Fire Prevention and Building Safety Commission. The Commission may modify or reverse any order that is issued by the City of Goshen.   Details on this appeals process can be found on the Indiana Department of Homeland Security website: www.in.gov/dhs.

For a copy of the City's Application for Appeal and instructions, click here.  

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ORDINANCES

• Neighborhood Preservation Ordinance (Ordinance 4860)
• Mechanical and Electrical Contractors Licensing and Registration (Ordinance 4702)
• An Amendment to the Building Department Fee Ordinance - Foundation Permit (Ordinance 4919)

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LINKS - FORMS

• Current Construction Codes
• Plan Certification Form for Architects
• Energy Code Information
• Form 393
• Plan Submittal Cover Sheet

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PERMIT ACTIVITY

ARCHIVE:

• Annual Permit Report - 2016
• Annual Permit Report - 2017
• Annual Permit Report - 2018
• January 2019
• February 2019
• March 2019

For current permit activity, please visit http://cityportal.goshencity.com/Dashboard.aspx