Electrical Contractor Permit Requirements in Fort Wayne, IN

1. EIN (Employer Identification Number)

   Required if you have employees or operate as an LLC or corporation. Free from the IRS.

   Official government source for EIN (Employer Identification Number) (opens in a new tab)

   Free·Immediate (online application)

   Free

   Immediate (online application)

1. Indiana Department of Revenue — Registered Retail Merchant Certificate

   Required for all businesses selling tangible personal property at retail in Indiana. Indiana charges a flat 7% state sales tax with no additional local sales tax. Register online via INBiz.

   Official government source for Indiana Department of Revenue — Registered Retail Merchant Certificate (opens in a new tab)

   $25 one-time registration fee·Immediate (online via INBiz)

   $25 one-time registration fee

   Immediate (online via INBiz)

1. Allen County Building Department — Electrical Contractor License

   There is no statewide Indiana electrical contractor license, and the Fire Prevention and Building Safety Commission does not issue one — it adopts building codes. Electrical contractors working in Fort Wayne must instead be licensed by the Allen County Building Department (200 E. Berry St., Suite 180; 260-449-7131), which treats sign, electrical, HVAC, and non-sanitary contractors as subcontractors that must be licensed to operate within Allen County. Licenses are granted only after passing a specialized exam administered by one of two outside testing agencies: you apply with the fee at the Building Department first, then make a second application to the testing agency.

   Official government source for Allen County Building Department — Electrical Contractor License (opens in a new tab)

   Not published as a single figure — the city's Starting a Business guide states only that "Fees for licenses vary," and the Building Department publishes its own fee schedule. Contact the Allen County Building Department at 260-449-7131 for the current license fee; testing-agency exam fees are charged separately.·Driven by exam scheduling rather than a fixed processing window: depending on which test applies, it is offered weekly or six times a year in Fort Wayne. Confirm with the Building Department which exam you need before setting a start date.

   Not published as a single figure — the city's Starting a Business guide states only that "Fees for licenses vary," and the Building Department publishes its own fee schedule. Contact the Allen County Building Department at 260-449-7131 for the current license fee; testing-agency exam fees are charged separately.

   Driven by exam scheduling rather than a fixed processing window: depending on which test applies, it is offered weekly or six times a year in Fort Wayne. Confirm with the Building Department which exam you need before setting a start date.

2. Fort Wayne — No General Business License

   Fort Wayne has no general city business license, and there is no "Department of Neighborhood Code Enforcement" business license. The city's official Starting a Business guide states: "The City of Fort Wayne does not currently require a general business license." What does apply: register your business name with the Allen County Recorder if it does not include the owner's last name, verify zoning with the Allen County Department of Planning Services, and obtain a Certificate of Occupancy from the Allen County Building Department after final inspection of any commercial space.

   Official government source for Fort Wayne — No General Business License (opens in a new tab)

   $0 — no general business license exists. Related fees: Certificate of Assumed Business Name $25 (Allen County Recorder); Allen County Building Department permit and contractor license fees vary by project.·Not applicable — there is no general license to apply for. Certificate of Occupancy timing depends on Allen County Building Department plan review and final inspection.

   $0 — no general business license exists. Related fees: Certificate of Assumed Business Name $25 (Allen County Recorder); Allen County Building Department permit and contractor license fees vary by project.

   Not applicable — there is no general license to apply for. Certificate of Occupancy timing depends on Allen County Building Department plan review and final inspection.

3. Allen County Building Department — Electrical Permit

   Every electrical project in Fort Wayne and Allen County requires a permit from the Allen County Building Department, which serves as the building authority for both the city and county. Only a contractor registered with Allen County may pull the permit. Allen County performs no plan review — commercial plan review happens at the state level and the construction design release number must be provided at submission. A final inspection is required on completion; re-inspections cost $60.

   Official government source for Allen County Building Department — Electrical Permit (opens in a new tab)

   $0.03 per sq ft of gross floor area per floor, $60 minimum (commercial and residential); temporary service, pool/spa wiring and septic hook-ups $60 each; electrical contractor registration $90/year, supervisor $25, journeyman $15, apprentice $10·1–5 business days

   $0.03 per sq ft of gross floor area per floor, $60 minimum (commercial and residential); temporary service, pool/spa wiring and septic hook-ups $60 each; electrical contractor registration $90/year, supervisor $25, journeyman $15, apprentice $10

   1–5 business days

Official Sources

• Indiana Electrical Inspections and Licensing — Electrical Contractor License
• City of Fort Wayne Department of Neighborhood Code Enforcement

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