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
All properties in unincorporated areas of Madison County.
- 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 • Account required: Yes • Submission: Online only
Application Process
- Open the iWorQ portal and start the Building Permit Application.
- Upload a complete application packet; the portal requires all required documents to be submitted at once.
- Submit required plans and supporting documents, including site plan, elevations, and driveway and sewer or septic approvals when applicable.
- County staff reviews the package; 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
Building permits are required for new construction, additions, remodeling, detached accessory structures over 121 square feet, pools, telecom towers, demolition, driveway or curb cuts, signs, and meter bases.
Required Documents
- Blueprints or building plans
- Site plan drawn to scale
- Elevations
- Driveway permit when applicable
- Sewer or septic approval for new homes
- Building code
- Indiana State Law and Indiana statewide construction codes
Fees
- Minimum permit fee
- $20 demolition; $55 inspection
- Plan check fee
- Included in listed permit fees unless engineering review is separately billed
- Permit fee formula
- Mostly flat plus area formulas; one or two family new construction is $650 plus $0.10 per square foot over 1,200 square feet
- Reinspection fee
- $55 reinspection; double permit fee for work without permit
- Penalty (no permit)
- Zoning penalties escalate from $100 to $500 and can rise further
- Payment note
- 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
Important: Work types beyond the county fee table are not summarized as exempt on public pages; confirm with Planning Department.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- Madison County Planning Commission (765) 641-9544 (phone)
- Inspection hours
- Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Typical inspection sequence: County fee schedule lists footing, underslab, foundation, rough-in, drywall, meter base or panel, final, and other building inspector inspections
Additional Resources
- Building code: Indiana State Law and Indiana statewide construction codes
- Zoning information: View zoning info
- County Fee Schedule
- 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?
- Building permits are required for new construction, additions, remodeling, detached accessory structures over 121 square feet, pools, telecom towers, demolition, driveway or curb cuts, signs, and meter bases.
- How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Madison County, IN?
- The minimum permit fee is $20 demolition; $55 inspection. Fees are calculated as: Mostly flat plus area formulas; 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 requires all required documents to be submitted at once. 3. Submit required plans and supporting documents, including site plan, elevations, and driveway and sewer or septic approvals when applicable. 4. County staff reviews the package; 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. Note: Work types beyond the county fee table are not summarized as exempt on public pages; confirm with Planning Department.
- How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Madison County, IN?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: Madison County Planning Commission (765) 641-9544.
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