County Building Permits
Madison County, IN - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Madison County, Indiana. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
Official county page says the Planning Commission covers all unincorporated areas of Madison County and separately serves as the Building Commission for the Town of Orestes.
- Department
- Madison County Planning Commission
- Address
- Madison County Government Center, 16 East 9th Street, Anderson, IN 46016
- Phone
- (765) 641-9544
Online Permit Portal
Platform: iWorQ Citizen Portal • Account required: Yes • Submission: In-person only
Application Process
- Open the iWorQ portal and start the Building Permit Application.
- Upload a complete application packet; the portal says partial submittals will not be accepted.
- Submit the required plans and supporting documents, including site plan, elevations, and driveway and sewer or septic approvals when applicable.
- County staff reviews the package; the portal states normal review is 7 to 10 business days after all required documents are submitted.
- The office contacts the applicant by email or phone when the permit is ready.
- Pay at issuance and post the permit before work starts.
Typical processing time: 7 to 10 business days after complete submittal
General Requirements
County fee schedule lists building permits for new construction, additions, remodeling, detached accessory structures over 121 square feet, pools, telecom towers, demolition, driveway or curb cuts, signs, and meter bases; non-structural permits are listed for earthmoving, ponds, and change of use.
Required Documents
- Portal requires blueprints or building plans, site plan drawn to scale, elevations, driveway permit when applicable, and sewer or septic approval for new homes.
- Building code
- County planning page references Indiana State Law; county fees and permitting operate under Indiana statewide construction codes and local land use controls
Fees
- Minimum permit fee
- $20 demolition permit; $55 listed inspection fee
- Plan check fee
- Included in listed permit fees unless engineering review is separately billed
- Permit fee formula
- Mostly flat plus area or unit formulas; for example one or two family new construction is $650 plus $0.10 per square foot over 1,200 square feet
- Payment note
- Portal states payment is due when permit is issued; check, cash, or credit card accepted; exact cash only; 4 percent processing fee on credit card payments
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
- Detached accessory structures 120 square feet or smaller are not listed in the county building permit fee table
Inspections
How to Schedule
- Not fully described on the public county pages; coordinate with the Planning Department (contact)
Typical inspection sequence: County fee schedule lists footing, underslab, foundation, rough-in, drywall, meter base or panel, final, and other building inspector inspections
Reinspection fee is $55
Additional Resources
- Building code: County planning page references Indiana State Law; county fees and permitting operate under Indiana statewide construction codes and local land use controls
- Zoning information: View zoning info
- Other useful links
- Other useful links
- 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 Madison County Planning Commission before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Madison County Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Madison County, IN?
- County fee schedule lists building permits for new construction, additions, remodeling, detached accessory structures over 121 square feet, pools, telecom towers, demolition, driveway or curb cuts, signs, and meter bases; non-structural permits are listed for earthmoving, ponds, and change of use.
- How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Madison County, IN?
- The minimum permit fee is $20 demolition permit; $55 listed inspection fee. Fees are calculated as: Mostly flat plus area or unit formulas; for example one or two family new construction is $650 plus $0.10 per square foot over 1,200 square feet. Plan check fee: Included in listed permit fees unless engineering review is separately billed.
- How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Madison County, IN?
- 1. Open the iWorQ portal and start the Building Permit Application. 2. Upload a complete application packet; the portal says partial submittals will not be accepted. 3. Submit the required plans and supporting documents, including site plan, elevations, and driveway and sewer or septic approvals when applicable. 4. County staff reviews the package; the portal states normal review is 7 to 10 business days after all required documents are submitted. 5. The office contacts the applicant by email or phone when the permit is ready. 6. Pay at issuance and post the permit before work starts.
- How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Madison County, IN?
- Typical processing time is 7 to 10 business days after complete submittal.
- What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Madison County, IN?
- The following work is generally exempt: Detached accessory structures 120 square feet or smaller are not listed in the county building permit fee table.
- How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Madison County, IN?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: Not fully described on the public county pages; coordinate with the Planning Department.
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