Residential Code

Details

Published: Tuesday, 22 October 2013 15:15

The Housing and Building Standards provide safety and aesthetic guidelines for residential and non-commercial buildings. Click here to review the residential code (Chapter 152: Housing and Building Standards).

If your property has been cited and you would like to request additional time, you may be able to submit a work plan. The purpose of the Work Plan Extension is to establish time lines toward the correction of individual violations cited. If requested, Neighborhood Code is willing to assist with specifics by scheduling an on-site meeting between the owner and/or representative and a Code Officer.

To file a complaint about a residential property, you can call 311.

Orders to Repair -- Repair Hearing Docket

Orders to Demolish -- Hearing Docket

Housing Registration Form
All owners of residential property who do not occupy the property themselves must register the property with Neighborhood Code by completing a Housing Registration Form. The form is required by City ordinance and provides Neighborhood Code Enforcement contact information in case any issues or concerns are reported about the home. Filled out forms may be submitted to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or faxed to 260-427-1409. They can also be sent via mail to Neighborhood Code Enforcement, 200 E. Berry Street, Suite 320, Fort Wayne, IN 46802.

Instructions for completing the Housing Registration Form can be found here. You can download the form here or call 311 to find out more.

Financial and Home Repair Assistance

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Published: Tuesday, 22 October 2013 15:10

Help may be available to individuals needing assistance in making repairs to their home to bring it into compliance with city code. Support may be in the form of financial assistance, physical completion of repairs, assistance with utility bills, emergency housing, or a combination of these. The list of agencies below is not all inclusive, but it provides a homeowner with a starting point in seeking assistance. If these agencies are not able to provide support, you may need to pursue other avenues (for instance with various faith based groups).

211 – United Way Allen County
Free access to health and human service information and referral
Dial 2-1-1

NeighborLink Fort Wayne
Invites Fort Wayne residents to seek free assistance from their neighbors.
2614 S. Calhoun St. 46807
260-209-0074

Office of Housing & Neighborhood Services
Home repair programs run periodically
200 E. Berry Street 46802
Dial 3-1-1

Volunteer Lawyer Program of Northeast Indiana
Free legal services for low income individuals and families
927 S Harrison St 46802
260-407-0917

Demolition Information

Details

Published: Tuesday, 22 October 2013 15:06

Neighborhood Code Compliance utilizes the Indiana Unsafe Building Law for the criteria of determining unsafe building standards. The links below provide the relevant codes and ordinances which address this topic.

Chapter 150: Minimum Conditions and Maintenance of Commercial, Industrial, and Other Property or Premises

Chapter 152: Housing and Building Standards

Indiana Code (IC), Title 36, Article 7, Chapter 9 (IC 36-7-9-4 describes unsafe buildings and unsafe premises)

Based on the above codes and ordinances, a Neighborhood Code Compliance officer and the Deputy Director will determine when a structure on a property exhibits the criteria of being an unsafe building. These properties are then grouped together and put into an Order to Demolish (OTD) Hearing where all persons who have a substantial property interest are notified of the requested action. A hearing is scheduled to determine the status and future action to be taken. Action by the hearing officer may be to 1) affirm the order, 2) rescind the order, or 3) modify the order.

** If at any time a structure on a property becomes an immediate danger to life, safety, or property, an Emergency Order to Demolish can be issued without causing an OTD Hearing or giving notice.**

Information above is subject to change. For information call 427-1087. 

Commercial Code

Details

Published: Tuesday, 22 October 2013 15:00

In 2009, the City of Fort Wayne passed the commercial code ordinance that allows Neighborhood Code Enforcement to cite non-residential and commercial properties for lack of maintenance. To review the Commercial Code (Chapter 150: Minimum Conditions and Maintenance of Commercial, Industrial, and Other Property or Premises), visit the link here.

If your property has been cited and you would like to request additional time, you may be able to submit a work plan. The purpose of the Work Plan Extension is to establish time lines toward the correction of individual violations cited. If requested, Neighborhood Code is willing to assist with specifics by scheduling an on-site meeting between the owner and/or representative and a Code Officer.

To file a complaint about a commercial property, you can call 311.

Orders to Repair
See the repair hearing docket list below. Please contact us at (260) 427-1088, or visit Neighborhood Code Enforcement, 200 E. Berry St., Suite. 320, Fort Wayne, IN 46802 if you have any questions. You also may e-mail us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Abandoned and Inoperable Vehicles

Details

Published: Tuesday, 22 October 2013 14:36

City ordinance makes it illegal to abandon a vehicle on public or private property. Partially dismantled, non-operating, wrecked, or junked vehicles also may not be left within the city. State law defines an abandoned vehicle as, "a vehicle that is three (3) or more model years old and mechanically inoperable, and is left on private property for more than twenty (20) days." If a vehicle is tagged on private property and the owner makes no appointment within 20 days to show that it is operable, the vehicle may be towed and a $100 ticket could be issued to the owner.

Municipal code also requires parking vehicles (including cars, trucks, trailers, campers, boats, RVs, etc.) on approved surfaces, which are defined as: gravel, an area paved with asphalt or concrete, pervious pavement (block, concrete, similar modular pavers and grid pavers) or other approved all-weather hard surfaces free of overgrown vegetation. Violators can receive tickets of $100 per day, per violation.

Additionally, City Code requires all vehicles parked on private property and within public view to have valid license plates and current registration stickers. Vehicles without valid license plates or current registration tags will receive notice of the violation; tickets and even towing could result from non-compliance.

For additional information regarding parking violations and size limitations refer to City Ordinance 72.23 Parking in Residential Districts.

To make a complaint to Neighborhood Code about a vehicle on private property, call 311. An officer will be sent out within the next 2 working days to check the complaint. If you would like to submit a complaint electronically click here. If you would prefer to e-mail us, you may do so at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

To report an abandoned or inoperable vehicle on a public street, please call Parking Enforcement at 311 or click here.

Please provide the following information when reporting an abandoned vehicle:
1. Address where the vehicle is located. (Exact address please.)
2. Is car in the grass or in the driveway?
3. Type, color, and year of car (if possible).
4. If available, a plate number would be helpful.

Waiver to Remove an Abandoned Vehicle from Property
If you are a property owner and there is an abandoned vehicle that you would like to have removed, you can sign a waiver asking for the vehicle to be removed. We will then tag the vehicle and remove it if it is still there after 3 days.

These waivers are available at the Neighborhood Code Office, and we will fax one to you if you call 311. You may also click on the Waiver Form, print it out, and mail it to us or bring it to our office.