County Building Permits
Howard County, IN - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Howard County, Indiana. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
The county plan commission is the public-facing permit and zoning contact for Howard County outside city limits. Howard County FAQ says the Kokomo Plan Commission can assist with permits and is a city / county commission that can help whether you are in the county or city.
- Department
- Kokomo-Howard County Plan Commission
- Address
- 224 N. Main Street, Kokomo, IN 46901
- Phone
- 765-456-2330
- khcpc@cityofkokomo.org
Online Permit Portal
Platform: IN.gov hosted department page with linked PDF forms and ordinance documents • Account required: No • Submission: In-person only
Application Process
General Requirements
County fee schedule lists an Improvement Location Permit for both Kokomo and Howard County, at $1.00 per $1,000 estimated cost with $100 minimum and $1,000 maximum.
Fees
- Minimum permit fee
- $100 minimum for Improvement Location Permit
- Plan check fee
- The published schedule does not label a separate plan check fee for the county ILP. Separate planning application fees exist for rezoning, subdivision, site plan, and variance cases.
- Permit fee formula
- $1.00 per $1,000 estimated cost, up to $1,000 maximum
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the Kokomo-Howard County Plan Commission to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
Typical inspection sequence: Fee schedule references certificate of occupancy inspections for non-residential and residential categories, but no full inspection sequence was published on the county page reviewed.
The fee schedule includes an after-the-fact surcharge for unpermitted work. Stormwater permits are managed separately through the county stormwater district.
Additional Resources
- Howard County ordinance document center
- Howard County fee schedule
- Howard County FAQ
- Howard County stormwater permits
- Howard County zoning / ordinance center
- 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 Kokomo-Howard County Plan Commission before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Howard County Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Howard County, IN?
- County fee schedule lists an Improvement Location Permit for both Kokomo and Howard County, at $1.00 per $1,000 estimated cost with $100 minimum and $1,000 maximum.
- How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Howard County, IN?
- The minimum permit fee is $100 minimum for Improvement Location Permit. Fees are calculated as: $1.00 per $1,000 estimated cost, up to $1,000 maximum. Plan check fee: The published schedule does not label a separate plan check fee for the county ILP. Separate planning application fees exist for rezoning, subdivision, site plan, and variance cases..
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