City Building Permits
Bedford, IN - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in Bedford, Indiana. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
City of Bedford.
- Department
- Planning and Zoning Department
- Address
- 1102 16th Street, Bedford, IN 47421
- Phone
- 812-275-1631
- kjones@bedford.in.gov
- Website
- https://bedford.in.gov/
Online Permit Portal
Platform: City web forms; direct online submission with captcha. • Account required: No • Submission: In-person only
Application Process
General Requirements
Bedford lists residential new construction, remodels with structural, electrical, or plumbing changes, remodels over $500 without such changes, commercial new construction, foundation-only work, and remodels requiring inspection.
Required Documents
- Plans and specifications; Bedford also requires uploads for some permit types and reserves the right to require plan amendments. Commercial form states plans must match those released by Indiana Department of Fire and Building Services.
- Contractor requirements
- Commercial portal asks for general contractor details; sign portal asks for contractor license number.
Fees
- Plan check fee
- Not separately published in the snippet.
- Permit fee formula
- Residential new construction $50 plus $0.10 per sq ft. Commercial new construction and certain public buildings $200 plus $0.10 per sq ft.
- Reinspection fee
- Permit fees are doubled if work is started before permit issuance.
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
- Related guidance indicates fence and deck permits follow standard building permit procedures, so they are not exempt.
Inspections
How to Schedule
Typical inspection sequence: The commercial application requires plan submission, review, issuance, then inspection under the permit terms.
Additional Resources
- City home page
- Planning and zoning fees and permits page
- Noise permit form
- Commercial permit form
- Sign permit form
- Code violation complaint form
- 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 Planning and Zoning Department before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Bedford Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in Bedford, IN?
- Bedford lists residential new construction, remodels with structural, electrical, or plumbing changes, remodels over $500 without such changes, commercial new construction, foundation-only work, and remodels requiring inspection.
- How much does a building permit cost in Bedford, IN?
- Fees are calculated as: Residential new construction $50 plus $0.10 per sq ft. Commercial new construction and certain public buildings $200 plus $0.10 per sq ft.. Plan check fee: Not separately published in the snippet..
- What work is exempt from building permits in Bedford, IN?
- The following work is generally exempt: Related guidance indicates fence and deck permits follow standard building permit procedures, so they are not exempt..
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