County Building Permits
Brown County, IN - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Brown County, Indiana. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
Brown County permit materials describe county permit administration for residences, duplexes, additions, remodeling, accessory structures, swimming pools, electric upgrades, and commercial work.
- Department
- Brown County Planning and Building Office
- Address
- 201 Locust Lane, Nashville, IN 47448
- Phone
- 812-988-5490
- Website
- https://www.browncounty-in.gov/
Application Process
- Determine whether the proposed work requires a county permit based on the permit information guide.
- Prepare project information, applicant name, property owner and mailing address, contractor information, contractor license number, proof of ownership, site plan, and plans or specifications drawn to scale.
- Submit the permit application to Brown County for review.
- If the permit is approved, obtain the permit and keep the contractor license number available for issuance.
- Arrange inspections during construction as required by the county.
- Complete final inspection and close out the permit when applicable.
General Requirements
Brown County publishes permit information for residences, duplexes, additions, remodeling, accessory structures, swimming pools, electric upgrades, and commercial work.
Required Documents
- Project information
- Applicant name
- Property owner and mailing address
- Contractor information
- Contractor license number
- Proof of ownership
- Site plan
- Plans or specifications drawn to scale
- Building code
- The permit guide states plans must conform to the adopted Indiana Building Code.
- Contractor requirements
- All contractors must obtain a Brown County Contractor's License annually as required by Ordinance 12-17-90-A, and the license number must be provided when the permit is issued.
Fees
- Minimum permit fee
- $50
- Permit fee formula
- Residences $125 plus $0.07 per square foot; duplexes $250 plus $0.07 per square foot; additions or remodeling $65 plus $0.07 per square foot; commercial new structures $250 plus $0.07 per square foot; remodeling or additions to public buildings $125 plus $0.07 per square foot.
- Reinspection fee
- If more than five inspections are required for a residential use, an additional fee established by the Area Plan Commission will be assessed.
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the Brown County Planning and Building Office to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
Typical inspection sequence: The county materials imply plan review first, permit issuance second, then inspections during construction. For sign permits, the guide says to call the zoning inspector when ready for sign inspection.
Additional Resources
- Building code: The permit guide states plans must conform to the adopted Indiana Building Code.
- Zoning information: View zoning info
- Building permit information
- County government home
- County staff directory
- License lookup guide: Indiana Contractor License Requirements
- Contract template: Indiana Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
- Indiana hub: Indiana Contractor License & Permit Hub
Information on this page was last verified: March 2026. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with the Brown County Planning and Building Office before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Brown County Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Brown County, IN?
- Brown County publishes permit information for residences, duplexes, additions, remodeling, accessory structures, swimming pools, electric upgrades, and commercial work.
- How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Brown County, IN?
- The minimum permit fee is $50. Fees are calculated as: Residences $125 plus $0.07 per square foot; duplexes $250 plus $0.07 per square foot; additions or remodeling $65 plus $0.07 per square foot; commercial new structures $250 plus $0.07 per square foot; remodeling or additions to public buildings $125 plus $0.07 per square foot..
- How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Brown County, IN?
- 1. Determine whether the proposed work requires a county permit based on the permit information guide. 2. Prepare project information, applicant name, property owner and mailing address, contractor information, contractor license number, proof of ownership, site plan, and plans or specifications drawn to scale. 3. Submit the permit application to Brown County for review. 4. If the permit is approved, obtain the permit and keep the contractor license number available for issuance. 5. Arrange inspections during construction as required by the county. 6. Complete final inspection and close out the permit when applicable.
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