Fire Prevention and Building Safety Commission
Hours
8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday – Friday
except state-observed holidays
Indiana Dept. of Homeland Security
Indiana Government Center-South, Room E208
302 W. Washington St.
Indianapolis, IN 46204-2739
Call us: 317-232-2222
Email us: buildingcommission@dhs.in.gov
Upcoming Commission Meeting
Meeting Information
Variance applicants, submitters and other stakeholders with essential business before the Commission may be afforded the opportunity to participate in meetings and address the Commission. However, direct participation in the Commission's meetings is not mandatory, and testimony is afforded at the discretion of the Commission's chair.
If your variance application has been "tabled" by the Commission or if you have received notice that IDHS has "referred" your variance application to the Commission for determination, please contact staff at variances@dhs.in.gov with any questions or concerns. Questions or concerns regarding any other business before the Commission should be directed to buildingcommission@dhs.in.gov.
Proposed 2023 Rulemaking Schedule
All reviewed model codes are 2021 Version (for Plumbing Code: 3rd Printing, for all others: Printing as of January 1, 2023). Submissions must be made using the Code Comments and Proposals form and are due by 4:30 p.m. Eastern on the listed due date. Late submissions will not be accepted.
View previously submitted code comments and proposals.
- Submissions Deadline: January 3
- Meeting Date: February 7
- Submissions Deadline: February 7
- Meeting Date: March 7
- Submissions Deadline: March 7
- Meeting Date: April 4
- Submissions Deadline: April 4
- Meeting Date: May 3
- Submissions Deadline: May 3
- Meeting Date: June 6
- Submissions Deadline: June 6
- Meeting Date: July 6
- Submissions Deadline: July 6
- Meeting Date: August 1
- Submissions Deadline: August 1
- Meeting Date: September 5
About the Fire Prevention and Building Safety Commission
The Fire Prevention and Building Safety Commission (Commission) is an 11-member commission established in Ind. Code Chapter 22-12-2 that meets monthly to conduct its business. In general, the commission is tasked with: (1) creating a statewide code of fire safety laws and building laws; (2) reviewing variance requests to codes it has adopted; (3) reviewing local ordinances containing building and fire safety laws; and (4) reviewing orders enforcing fire and building safety laws.
Subcommittees
- Members
Name Title Mike Beard Logan Cook Harold Davidson Joe Heinsman David Henson Todd Hite Jim Murua Scott Pannicke Vice Chairman Michael Popich Chairman John Watson Michael Zehner
Resources
- Order Review
Pursuant to its statutory authority, the Commission performs two different forms of review: (1) administrative reviews conducted pursuant to the Administrative Orders and Procedures Act (AOPA); and (2) non-AOPA review of certain orders issued state agencies and political subdivisions. For an overview of the orders reviewed by the Commission, see the document below:
For general information about the administrative review process, how to file a petition for review, and to review the database of final order issued by the Commission, please review the information contained on the link below:
For an overview of the process and procedure of the Commission’s review of orders mentioned in Ind. Code § 22-13-2-7(a), see the policy below:
- Ordinance Review
Pursuant to Ind. Code § 22-13-2-5, the Commission is tasked with reviewing and approving the fire safety and building laws adopted in the ordinances and other regulations of political subdivisions before they can become effective. If your local jurisdiction is interested in adopting a fire safety or building law, the ordinance templates and the information contained in the link below will help guide you through this process. Additionally, if you have any questions concerning this process, or if you would like to submit your ordinance for pre-adoption review or for Commission approval, please direct your correspondence to the Commission Staff, at this email address: buildingcommission@dhs.in.gov.
Ordinance Templates
The following ordinance templates have been prepared by the Commission and are recommended to be utilized when drafting an ordinance. The use of these templates will expedite review of your ordinance and assist in avoiding potential conflicts and defects.
- Building Ordinance Template (PDF)
- Building Ordinance Template (Word)
- Fire Prevention Ordinance Template (PDF)
- Fire Prevention Ordinance Template (Word)
- Unsafe Building Ordinance Template
Approved Local Ordinances (January 1, 2018, to present)
- City of Auburn Ordinance No. 2017-03
- City of Rushville Ordinance No. 2017-35
- Porter County Ordinance No. 17-23
- Town of Chesterton Ordinance No. 2017-12
- Michigan City Ordinance No. 4461
- Order of Approval - Long Beach Ordinance No. 2017-06
- Order of Approval - Thorntown Ordinance No. 2018-1
- Order of Approval - City of Scottsburg Ordinance No. 2018-5
- Order of Approval - Town of Warren Ordinance No. 2018-4
- Order of Approval - Town of Roanoke Ordinance No. 2018-4
- Order of Approval - Town of Mount Etna Ordinance No. 2018-3
- Order of Approval - Town of Markle Ordinance No. 2018-5
- Order of Approval - Town of Andrews Ordinance No. 2018-7
- Order of Approval - Huntington County Ordinance No. 2018-8
- Order of Approval - City of Columbus Ordinance No. 2, 2019
- Order of Approval - Town of Trail Creek Ordinance No. 6-2019
- Order of Approval - Town of Ellettsville Ordinance No. 2020-15
- Order of Approval - Town of Ogden Dunes No. 855
- Order of Approval - Town of Clarksville No. 2022-G-02
- Rules, Rulemakings and Interpretations
The Commission is granted broad authority to create fire safety, building, and equipment rules. To supplement and clarify these rules, the Commission may adopt non-rule policies and the State Building Commissioner may issue written interpretations. Below you will find links to: (1) a list of the Commission’s current and previous rules; (2) non-rule policies and written interpretations of the Commission's rules; (3) a flow chart summarizing the rulemaking process; (4) information on how to request a written interpretation; (5) current rulemakings the Commission is undertaking; and (6) a web form which may be utilized to submit comments or proposals regarding any of the Commission's rules.
- Variances
Generally speaking, all fire safety and building laws must be followed. However, under certain circumstances, a variance may be granted to the Commission’s rules. See Ind. Code § 22-13-2-11. To qualify for a variance, you must pay the required fee and submit facts showing that compliance with the rule will impose an undue hardship and non-compliance with the rule (or compliance with an alternative) will not be adverse to the public health, safety, or welfare. Visit the pages below if interested in requesting a variance, viewing the variance databases or reading more information about the variance process.
- Other Resources