[alivia]

We plan to build a completely off-the-grid house on raw land within a few years. We have purchased the land in a very rural county in Indiana. The county itself has seen a minor influx of new "city folks" but mostly it is very conservative & traditionally made up of several farming communities.

When I first approached the "Office of Planning," who issues the permits, about our grand plan (this was while we were in contract on the land), they were polite, but aloof. I asked if they had the building codes published anywhere so that I could see what we would or wouldn't be allowed to do, & they said just to call & they can answer whatever I need.

This is frustrating for me. It might be the way things are done in this county, but I don't like it. The codes have to be published somewhere, don't you think? I want to see them -- ALL of them -- so I can get a big idea & look it up first before I get my heart set on it & cross-reference things by their expense vs. the restrictions vs. long-term value.

I certainly don't want to call them every time I have an idea that I might or might not ever use. Anybody know where I might find the building codes published?

-Julie

ETA: They have nothing on their county's official website.

 

[snv1492]

Most jurisdictions use the standard International Building Code as the bases of their code, and then make minor amendments to suite their region. You should be able to get the state's amendments and your counties amendments from whatever Indiana has that is comparable to a Department of Housing or Building Permitting.

Indiana's building codes are based on the 2000 International Building Code, the 2003 International Residential Code, and the 1997 Uniform Plumbing Code.

The ICC manuals aren't cheap, but you can find them at http://www.iccsafe.org

 

[snv1492]

They also have all of Indiana's amendments on that site.

http://www.iccsafe.org/e/prodcat.htm...axujPdcn8847|4

 

[alivia]

Wow! Thanks for the info! After browsing the site you linked, plus a few more about the IRC manuals, I think the Office of Planning was probably trying to be helpful more than anything, knowing how expensive the books are. I never realized the list of codes wouldn't be free.

Now I feel kind of dumb, but grateful!