INSPECTIONS AND INVESTIGATIONS

Indianapolis-Marion County Revised Code tit. III, ch. 591, art. II, div. 2

in effect

Indianapolis-Marion County Revised Code § 591-221 Right to enter buildings and premises.

Sec. 591-221. - Right to enter buildings and premises. (a) Pursuant to IC 36-8-17, authorized personnel of each fire department or bureau may, at all reasonable hours, enter any structure (except private dwellings) within its jurisdiction for the purpose of conducting inspections or investigations pursuant to this chapter. The right to enter shall extend to new structures under construction as well as to existing structures being renovated or remodeled. (b) An inspector or investigator may be required by the owner or occupant to produce satisfactory proof of his authority or identity. (c) If an inspector or investigator is denied access, the fire prevention chief may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction for an order allowing inspection or investigation. (G.O. 43, 2002, § 2)

Indianapolis-Marion County Revised Code § 591-222 Fire inspections; fees.

Sec. 591-222. - Fire inspections; fees. (a) Each fire department shall perform inspections under the administrative supervision of the fire chief pursuant to IC 36-8-17. (b) Each fire department may, as often as may be reasonably necessary inspect every structure, building, place and public way, except the interiors of private dwellings, for compliance with fire safety laws. (c) Upon the request of an owner or a primary lessee who resides in a private dwelling, the Indianapolis Fire Department may inspect the interior of the private dwelling to determine compliance with IC 22-11-18-3.5 for the fee listed in section 131-502 of the Code. (d) The fire prevention chief may implement a self-inspection program for monitoring compliance with fire safety laws. Property owners or primary lessees that are eligible, as determined by the fire prevention chief, for the fire safety law compliance self-inspection program shall adhere to the requirements of such program as implemented by the fire department and shall be subject to the fee provided in section 131-502 of the Code. (e) The fees for Indianapolis Fire Department inspections performed under this section shall be provided in section 131-502 of the Code. (f) Following the issuance of an inspection report that contains a violation of a fire safety law, pursuant to the enforcement procedures under division 4 of this article, the Indianapolis Fire Department may re-inspect a structure, building or place to ensure the violation has been remedied. If a violation cited in the inspection report is not remedied upon the Indianapolis Fire Department's re-inspection, the owner or, if applicable, primary lessee of the structure, building or place shall be subject to the fee provided in section 131-502 of the Code for any subsequent re-inspections of such violation. (G.O. 43, 2002, § 2; G.O. 36, 2006, § 1; G.O. 46, 2012, § 2)

Indianapolis-Marion County Revised Code § 591-223 Fire investigations.

Sec. 591-223. - Fire investigations. (a) Each fire department shall perform fire investigations under the administrative supervision of the fire chief pursuant to IC 36-8-17. (b) Each fire department shall investigate, assist in the prosecution of, and support suppression of arson and other crimes associated with the destruction or attempted destruction of property by fire in their respective jurisdiction, shall take immediate charge of the physical evidence, notify any other authorities designated by law to assist in the investigation of such matters, and cooperate with such other authorities in the prosecution of the case. Reports prepared pursuant to this section shall be in the form prescribed by the chief of the division and shall contain a statement of all facts relating to the cause, origin and circumstances of the fire, the extent of damage, the approximate loss, the amount of insurance upon the property, and any other appropriate information concerning the fire. (G.O. 43, 2002, § 2)

Indianapolis-Marion County Revised Code § 591-224 Records and reports.

Sec. 591-224. - Records and reports. (a) Each fire department shall keep a record of all fires and the facts concerning them, including statistics as to the extent of fires and the losses sustained. Such reports shall be prepared into an annual summary and submitted to the jurisdictional fire chief. The annual summary, together with recommendations for change, shall be submitted, when requested, to the director of the office of public health and safety or appropriate township trustee. (b) The fire department shall maintain files containing reports of all properties that have been inspected, all orders issued, of all complaints and fires investigated, and the location of all buildings containing hazardous occupancies. (G.O. 43, 2002, § 2; G.O. 33, 2016, § 2)

Source: Consolidated City of Indianapolis and Marion County, Revised Code (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/in/indianapolis_-_marion_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TITIIIPUHEWE_CH591FIPRPR_ARTIIADEN_DIV2ININFetched: 10/27/2026