IC 22-13-4
    Chapter 4. Standards for Building Rules; Exemption From DesignRelease Requirement

IC 22-13-4-1
Conditions to be promoted by rules
    Sec. 1. (a) The building rules adopted by the commission togovern new construction must promote the following:
        (1) Safety.
        (2) Sanitary conditions.
        (3) Energy conservation.
        (4) Access by a person with a physical disability to Class 1structures.
    (b) Rules that:
        (1) are adopted by the commission or the rules board under thisarticle; and
        (2) are not covered by subsection (a);
must promote safety.
As added by P.L.245-1987, SEC.2. Amended by P.L.23-1993,SEC.151.

IC 22-13-4-1.5
Compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act
    Sec. 1.5. (a) The commission shall adopt building rules for thepurpose of complying with and implementing the Americans withDisabilities Act (42 U.S.C. 12181 et seq.) and any amendments andregulations relating to the Act, to be consistent with the Americanswith Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines (28 CFR 36.101 etseq.).
    (b) The rules adopted under this section must:
        (1) require that new construction must be readily accessible toand usable by individuals with disabilities, unless it isstructurally impracticable to meet the accessibility requirementsaccording to the standards established by the Americans withDisabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines (28 CFR 36.101 etseq.);
        (2) require that an alteration of an existing facility must bemade so that the alteration complies with the readily achievablebarrier removal provisions of the Americans with DisabilitiesAct Accessibility Guidelines (28 CFR 36.101 et seq.); and
        (3) allow the use of reasonable and cost-effective alternativemeans of public access or service if the alternative means areconsistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C.12181 et seq.).
As added by P.L.118-1994, SEC.3. Amended by P.L.168-1997,SEC.1.

IC 22-13-4-2
Industrialized building systems and mobile structures
    Sec. 2. The commission shall adopt building rules to govern the

construction of industrialized building systems and mobile structures.In these rules, industrialized building systems and mobile structuresmay be exempted from requirements that otherwise apply tobuildings or other structures.
As added by P.L.245-1987, SEC.2.

IC 22-13-4-3
Models or offices for sale of family dwellings; buildings usedprimarily as dwellings; exemption from rules and design releaserequirement
    Sec. 3. (a) This section applies to a building or other structure thatis:
        (1) temporarily used as a model or office for the sale of a one(1) or two (2) family dwelling; or
        (2) used for an occupation that is compatible, as determined bycriteria established by the commission, with its primary use asa dwelling.
    (b) The commission may adopt building rules that exempt abuilding or other structure described in subsection (a) from:
        (1) building rules that otherwise apply to Class 1 structures; and
        (2) the design release requirement under IC 22-15-3.
As added by P.L.245-1987, SEC.2.

IC 22-13-4-4
Minor construction; exemptions
    Sec. 4. The commission may adopt building rules that exemptminor construction (as defined in the rules adopted by thecommission) from the design release requirement under IC 22-15-3and the regulated lifting device installation or alteration permitrequirement under IC 22-15-5.
As added by P.L.245-1987, SEC.2.

IC 22-13-4-5
Conversion of buildings; exemption from rules
    Sec. 5. (a) The commission shall adopt building rules that allowa person to convert a building or other structure, in whole or in part,from one (1) class of occupancy and use established under thecommission's rules to another without complying with all of thecommission's rules governing new construction.
    (b) The rules adopted under this section must protect the publicfrom significant health hazards and safety hazards.
    (c) Subject to subsection (b), the rules must promote thefollowing:
        (1) The preservation of architecturally significant andhistorically significant parts of buildings and other structures.
        (2) The economically efficient reuse of buildings and otherstructures.
    (d) The rules adopted under this section may condition anexemption upon:
        (1) passing an inspection conducted by the department; and        (2) paying the fee set under IC 22-12-6-6.
As added by P.L.245-1987, SEC.2.

IC 22-13-4-6
Class 1 structures within seismic zone 2A; structural resistance toearthquakes
    Sec. 6. (a) This section applies to Class 1 structures that arepartially or entirely located within the geographic area included inseismic zone 2A.
    (b) As used in this section, "seismic zone 2A" refers to thegeographic boundaries that comprise seismic zone 2A as establishedin the rules adopted by the commission.
    (c) The commission shall adopt building rules under IC 4-22-2that prohibit or limit occupancy or use of Class 1 structures that donot comply with the commission's rules governing structuralresistance to earthquakes.
    (d) The rules adopted under this section must cover essentialbuildings and public utility services:
        (1) designated by the department of homeland security; and
        (2) needed for disaster recovery operations.
    (e) The rules adopted under this section may not apply to a Class1 structure if construction of the structure began before July 1, 1993.
As added by P.L.204-1993, SEC.1. Amended by P.L.1-2006,SEC.361.

IC 22-13-4-7
Visitability standards
    Sec. 7. (a) This section applies only to new construction of thefollowing dwellings:
        (1) A detached one (1) or two (2) family dwelling.
        (2) A townhouse.
    (b) This section does not apply to a mobile structure or anindustrialized building system.
    (c) As used in this section, "environmental controls" meansswitches or devices that control or regulate lights, temperature, fuses,fans, doors, security system features, or other features.
    (d) As used in this section, "new construction" means theconstruction of a new dwelling on a vacant lot. The term does notinclude an addition to or remodeling of an existing building.
    (e) As used in this section, "townhouse" means a single familydwelling unit constructed in a row of attached units separated byproperty lines and with open space on at least two (2) sides.
    (f) As used in this section, "visitability feature" means a designfeature of a dwelling that allows a person with a mobility impairmentto enter and comfortably stay in a dwelling for a duration of time.The term includes features that allow a person with a mobilityimpairment to get in and out through one (1) exterior door of thedwelling without any steps and to pass through all main floor interiordoors, including a bathroom door.
    (g) If a person contracts with a designer and a builder for

construction of a visitability feature in the new construction of adwelling, the designer and builder shall comply with the standardsadopted by the commission under this section for the constructionand design of the visitability feature. The standards adopted underthis section:
        (1) shall be enforced by a political subdivision that enforces thecommission's standards with respect to Class 2 structures; and
        (2) may not be enforced by the department.
    (h) The commission shall adopt minimum standards by rule underIC 4-22-2 for visitability features in the new construction of adwelling. The rules shall include minimum standards for thefollowing:
        (1) Entrances to the dwelling, including paths from the dwellingto the street.
        (2) Room dimensions.
        (3) The width of exterior and interior doors.
        (4) The width of interior hallways.
        (5) The grade of interior thresholds and hallways.
        (6) The height and location of environmental controls.
        (7) The reinforcement of bathroom walls sufficient to attachgrab bars.
As added by P.L.112-2003, SEC.1. Amended by P.L.97-2004,SEC.85.