Morgan County, IN - 2026 Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

all activities concerning land use and development in the county's unincorporated areas; the department issues building permits, conducts inspections, administers floodplain protections, and handles 911 addressing

Department

Morgan County Planning and Zoning Department

Address

180 S Main St., Martinsville, IN 46151

Phone

765-342-1050

Website

https://morgancounty.in.gov/department/

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Confirm zoning and permit applicability with Planning and Zoning.
2. Prepare permit application and supporting documents.
3. Submit through the Online GEOPERMITS portal.
4. County staff reviews for zoning, development standards, and code compliance.
5. Permit is issued once requirements are satisfied.
6. Inspections are scheduled during construction and final closeout.

Source: Morgan County Planning and Zoning Department

General Requirements

county page states the department issues building permits for the unincorporated county; the fee schedule covers new dwelling, accessory structure, remodel, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, pools, driveways, demolition, and more

Permit validity

fee schedule states first permit renewal is 25 percent for an additional 6 months if progress has been completed; additional renewals without progress require full permit fee

Building code

Morgan County Unified Development Ordinance references compliance with applicable building codes and the Indiana State Building Code framework; the county zoning ordinance and fee schedule are the best published public references

Fees

Minimum permit fee

$50 for some residential items such as driveway or certain accessory structure calculations; some petition and administrative fees are also $40 per hour or $50

Plan check fee

not separately published in the fee schedule; outside consultant reviews may apply to plan commission petitions

Permit fee formula

examples include new one and two family dwelling $200 plus $0.10 per sq ft over 1500 sq ft; commercial new construction $400 plus $0.006 per sq ft under 500,000 sq ft or $400 plus $0.005 per sq ft over 500,000 sq ft

Reinspection fee

1st reinspection $50 residential / $100 commercial-industrial; 2nd reinspection $100 residential / $200 commercial-industrial; 3rd+ reinspection $200 residential / $300 commercial-industrial

Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• Public fee schedules suggest the permit program covers structural, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, pools, driveways, accessory structures, demolition, and similar work

Inspections

How to Schedule

Typical inspection sequence: county fee schedule indicates base inspections are included for commercial and industrial permits; additional inspections may trigger additional base inspection fees

see fee schedule above

Additional Resources

• Building code: Morgan County Unified Development Ordinance references compliance with applicable building codes and the Indiana State Building Code framework; the county zoning ordinance and fee schedule are the best published public references
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Unified Development Ordinance / county documents
• Fee document center
• License lookup guide: Indiana Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: Indiana Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
• Indiana hub: Indiana Contractor License & Permit Hub

Frequently Asked Questions

Morgan County Building Permit FAQ

Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Morgan County, IN?

county page states the department issues building permits for the unincorporated county; the fee schedule covers new dwelling, accessory structure, remodel, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, pools, driveways, demolition, and more

How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Morgan County, IN?

The minimum permit fee is $50 for some residential items such as driveway or certain accessory structure calculations; some petition and administrative fees are also $40 per hour or $50. Fees are calculated as: examples include new one and two family dwelling $200 plus $0.10 per sq ft over 1500 sq ft; commercial new construction $400 plus $0.006 per sq ft under 500,000 sq ft or $400 plus $0.005 per sq ft over 500,000 sq ft. Plan check fee: not separately published in the fee schedule; outside consultant reviews may apply to plan commission petitions.

How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Morgan County, IN?

1. Confirm zoning and permit applicability with Planning and Zoning. 2. Prepare permit application and supporting documents. 3. Submit through the Online GEOPERMITS portal. 4. County staff reviews for zoning, development standards, and code compliance. 5. Permit is issued once requirements are satisfied. 6. Inspections are scheduled during construction and final closeout.

What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Morgan County, IN?

The following work is generally exempt: Public fee schedules suggest the permit program covers structural, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, pools, driveways, accessory structures, demolition, and similar work.