in-20260930-IR-675260352NRA: FIRE PREVENTION AND BUILDING SAFETY COMMISSION

FIRE PREVENTION AND BUILDING SAFETY COMMISSION Department of Homeland Security NONRULE POLICY DOCUMENT TITLE: Residential Covered Porch Construction DOCUMENT #: 2026-3-DHS DATE ISSUED: September 9, 2026 ADOPTED BY: Indiana Department of Homeland Security OVERVIEW This policy addresses local units of government requiring a design professional to stamp plans for Class 2 structures that include a covered porch. BACKGROUND The Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS) received complaints from industry professionals that there were local units of government requiring a design professional to stamp plans for Class 2 structures that included a covered porch. Indiana law generally prohibits a local unit of government from requiring that a plan for a Class 2 structure be stamped by a design professional when constructed as prescribed by the Indiana Residential Code: The covered porches at issue do not propose the use of alternative materials, appliances, equipment, or methods of design or construction. Moreover, the structural elements do not exceed the limits of Section R301 of the Indiana Residential Code, nor are they explicitly nonconforming with any specific provision of the Indiana Residential Code. POLICY Accordingly, it is the policy of IDHS that IC 36-7-2.5-35 prohibits a local unit of government from requiring that plans for a Class 2 structure be stamped by a design professional based solely on the fact that a structure includes a covered porch. Additionally, a local unit of government seeking to have additional requirements included in the Indiana Residential Code may submit a proposal to the Indiana Fire Prevention and Building Safety Commission, as outlined in IC 22-13-2-5.6. Such proposal shall include the following statutorily required documentation: Replaces Policy Document: New