Fort Wayne building department

The Allen County Building Department issues building permits, inspects construction, issues certificates of occupancy, licenses contractors and performs minimum housing inspections for Fort Wayne and the rest of its jurisdiction. It enforces building, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, sanitation and sign codes. The office is at 200 East Berry Street, Suite 180, in downtown Fort Wayne. The county posts an online jurisdiction map so you can confirm whether your parcel falls under Allen County’s building department.

What needs a permit

The county’s examples of home projects that need a permit:

• Re-roofing
• Installing electrical outlets
• Replacing windows
• Remodeling kitchens or bathrooms
• Installing a pool, spa or hot tub
• Building an addition, including a seasonal room
• Installing or replacing furnaces, boilers, water heaters, fireplaces and space heaters

The department works directly with the licensed, registered contractor awarded the project and won’t discuss projects with third parties. Separate application forms cover building, electric and sign, heating and non-sanitary piping, and plumbing permits. The county also publishes guidelines for basements, demolition and commercial remodels.

Plan review happens at the state level

Allen County does not do plan review. Projects that need one are reviewed by the Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS), which issues a Construction Design Release (CDR) number. The contractor must provide that number when applying for the county permit. IDHS publishes guidance on which projects need a state filing. The county doesn’t offer permit expediting. Online applications are processed in the order received, and counter applications in the order of arrival.

Codes

Building work must meet Indiana’s statewide codes under Title 675 of the Indiana Administrative Code. For homes, the county lists the Indiana Residential Code, based on the 2018 IRC with Indiana amendments, effective December 26, 2019. The full list of current codes is on the department page.

Homeowner permits

Owner-occupants who want to do their own work can qualify for a homeowner permit. Check the county’s Homeowner Guidelines first. Then complete:

• The Permit Application
• The Homeowner Affidavit
• The Advanced Structural Affidavit

Bring the completed forms and a valid state-issued ID in person to 200 E. Berry Street. Homeowner permits can’t be filed online. The county’s Homeowners page lists office hours of Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.

Contractor licensing

All contractors and subcontractors must be licensed in Allen County. There are two ways to qualify:

• Reciprocity: Transfer an existing license from another jurisdiction. The license must have been earned through a national ICC or Prometric exam. NASCLA, PSI and similar exams don’t qualify.
• County exam: Get sponsored by Allen County to take an exam. Pick the license type using Chapter 1 of the department’s Rules and Regulations (Nineteenth Edition, effective September 6, 2024). Mail the structural or trade sponsorship application with a $25 fee by check or money order. Exams are open-book with a 4-hour limit, and the testing company sets its own fees.

Construction superintendents register separately. Licenses are renewed in Citizen Access.

Applying and requesting inspections in Accela

Allen County and the City of Fort Wayne share one Accela Citizen Access portal (ACFW). There you can apply, pay fees, track status and request inspections. Contractors log in with their contractor license number as the user name and their PIN as the password. If the login fails, the contractor may not be registered; call (260) 449-7131.

To request an inspection:

1. Open the Building tab.
2. Choose Search Applications and Permits.
3. Select the permit by its application number.
4. Click Request next to the inspection type.

The portal also searches records for:

• Planning
• Neighborhood Code
• Health
• City Utilities Development Services
• Historic Preservation
• ROW/Public Works
• County Highway

Lookup Property Information shows what is already on file for a parcel.

Online payments are by credit card or e-check. The processor adds 2.95% for cards (minimum $3.99), or $3.99 per e-check. The permit fee schedule is a PDF on the county site.

Portal notes:

• Account access: For Building Department accounts, call (260) 449-7342 or email [email protected]. For technical or payment problems, call (260) 427-5982 or email [email protected].
• Email: Add [email protected] and [email protected] to your trusted senders. [email protected] is a do-not-reply mailbox that no one reads.
• Scam warning: An August 4, 2026, notice warns of fake emails claiming to be from the Department of Planning Services. They include fake invoices and wire-transfer requests.

Planning and zoning

Building permits are separate from land-use approval. Allen County and Fort Wayne planning staff worked with the Building Department on the county’s Before You Remodel brochure, a homeowner checklist of questions to answer before starting a project. It is posted on the Remodeling Reference page.