Current Programs

Operation Safety

The East Chicago Building, Fire, Health and Police Departments are working together to insure the safety of all residents in areas of public assembly in our City.   City inspectors, in conjunction with Operation Safety, will be inspecting all areas of public assembly in the City to make sure all City ordinances and codes are being adhered to.

While inspectors of these various departments have ongoing safety inspections and programs individually throughout the year, what makes Operation Safety unique is that these follow-up inspections will be conducted jointly at the same time and location.
 
Also, joint unannounced inspections will be made at off-hours (nightly) to insure the safety of our citizens and proper compliance of East Chicago ordinances and codes.
 
Major areas of concern from each department will be as follows:

Fire Department (Phone No.  391-8472)

* Inspection of exit signs being maintained illuminated

* Inspection of conditions causing electrical hazards

* Inspection of fire extinguishers made available at all times

* Inspection for occupant load signs posted for any room of 50 or more

* Inspection for areas equipped with smoke/fire and carbon monoxide

detectors

* Inspection for exits being maintained free of obstruction

Building Department (Phone No. 391-8294)

* Inspection of all structural items, including stairs, handrails, ceilings,

walls and flooring

* Inspection of electrical, plumbing and mechanical items

* Inspection of handicap access

* Inspection of exit signs and lighting

Health Department (Phone No. 391-8414)

* Verification of City business licenses

* Inspection of sanitary and rodent control

Under Operation Safety, inspectors will inspect all business; however, this is not meant to imply that all hazards will be identified nor that other hazards do not exist.  Violations cited under Operation Safety must be corrected immediately.

Code Enforcement Division

Current Code Enforcement Programs

Blighted Structure Survey Program

The Code Enforcement Division of the East Chicago Building Department is  currently implementing a “Blighted Structures Survey Program” throughout each and every neighborhood in the City of East Chicago, Indiana.

The purpose of this survey is to make sure that all blighted structures in each neighborhood have been inspected, recorded, and compliance procedures are initiated on each blighted structure. The survey list will then be cross checked with Building Department Code Enforcement inspection reports on file.  If no report is on file, an inspection will be conducted and report made. The list will then be prioritized by first addressing those vacant structures with conditions that constitute a hazard to public health, safety and welfare.

The survey will entail conducting a visual exterior inspection of blighted structures, whether vacant or occupied, and unkeep grounds surrounding the structures.  The inspection survey will be conducted by Code Enforcement Inspectors on a previously announced date and time for a period of two (2) hours per selected date once a week until the entire neighborhood has been inspected.

Neighborhood residents may and are encouraged to participate and walk along with the Code Enforcement Inspectors through your neighborhood.  Flyers announcing the date and time of the walk-along inspections will be provided to each precinct committee person of their respective neighborhood for distribution to its residents.  The survey will begin in Marktown, Precinct 5-1 on Tuesday, June 24, at 1:30 p.m.  For exact starting point, contact your precinct committee person or the East Chicago Building Department at 391-8294.

In recognition of the problems created in a community by vacant structures, the Building Department finds that vigorous and disciplined action should be taken to ensure the proper maintenance and repair of such identified structures or grounds.