County Building Permits
Owen County, IN - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Owen County, Indiana. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
The county page states the office is a joint building department for Owen County and the Town of Spencer, and that permits must be obtained there. The checklist says the property must be in Owen County jurisdiction.
- Department
- Owen County Building Department, joint with the Town of Spencer
- Address
- 86 E Market St, Spencer, IN 47460
- Phone
- 812-829-5017
Application Process
- Confirm the project is in Owen County jurisdiction.
- Obtain planning department approval.
- Obtain septic approval copy.
- Obtain recorded deed or contract copy.
- Obtain driveway permit if required.
- Prepare site plan and a set of floor plans on 8.5 x 11 paper.
- Provide tax parcel number, driving directions, and 911 address.
- Show proof of paid property taxes.
- Submit the permit package to the Owen County Building Department at 86 E Market St, Spencer.
- Building department reviews plans and conducts plan checks and inspections.
General Requirements
The county page says it issues permits for commercial and residential building and conducts plan checks and inspections. The checklist is for residential permits and requires county jurisdiction, planning approval, septic approval, deed or contract, site plan, floor plans, parcel number, directions, 911 address, and proof of paid property taxes.
Required Documents
- Planning approval, septic approval, recorded deed or contract, site plan, floor plans, parcel number, directions, 911 address, proof of paid property taxes, driveway permit if required.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the Owen County Building Department, joint with the Town of Spencer to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
Typical inspection sequence: Plan review first, then inspections after permit issuance.
Additional Resources
- Zoning / ordinance URL
- County health / septic page
- County recorder page for deed records
- County instructions PDF mentioning building permits and zoning questions
- 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 Owen County Building Department, joint with the Town of Spencer before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Owen County Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Owen County, IN?
- The county page says it issues permits for commercial and residential building and conducts plan checks and inspections. The checklist is for residential permits and requires county jurisdiction, planning approval, septic approval, deed or contract, site plan, floor plans, parcel number, directions, 911 address, and proof of paid property taxes.
- How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Owen County, IN?
- 1. Confirm the project is in Owen County jurisdiction. 2. Obtain planning department approval. 3. Obtain septic approval copy. 4. Obtain recorded deed or contract copy. 5. Obtain driveway permit if required. 6. Prepare site plan and a set of floor plans on 8.5 x 11 paper. 7. Provide tax parcel number, driving directions, and 911 address. 8. Show proof of paid property taxes. 9. Submit the permit package to the Owen County Building Department at 86 E Market St, Spencer. 10. Building department reviews plans and conducts plan checks and inspections.
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