Indiana building permits

Where to get a building permit in Indiana

Apply to the building department of the city, town or county where the property is (the steps).

Our Indiana city guides, with each department's contacts, fees, inspections and project rules:

• Indianapolis

Indiana state agencies

These offices set statewide codes or license the trades. They do not issue permits for most home projects.

Building code in Indiana

For homes, the residential code is the 2020 Indiana Residential Code⁴, in effect since December 26, 2019⁴ (statewide; local amendments not allowed⁸).

Every code family, edition and effective date is on Indiana building codes.

State rules on which work needs a permit

675 IAC 14-4.4-2; IC 36-7-2-9

• The state residential code replaces IRC R105 with an additions-and-alterations section. Delete SECTION R105 and substitute to read as follows: SECTION R105 ADDITIONS AND ALTERATIONS…⁷
• The state residential code also deletes the IRC administration sections R108 to R114. (8) Delete SECTIONS R108, R109, R110, R111, R112, R113, and R114 in their entirety without substitution.⁷
• Class 2 plans follow local ordinance. Plans shall be submitted for Class 1 structures as required by the General Administra tive Rules (675 IAC 12-6) and for Class 2 structures as required by local ordinance.⁷
• Work exempt from state filing may still need a local permit. All work, including that exempted from filing with the state, may require local permits.⁹
• Local units keep authority to require a building permit. However, HEA 1575 did not eliminate the authority of local jurisdictions to adopt and enforce administrative provisions in building and fire safety ordinances, which include, among other things: (1) the establishment of departments; (2) the requirement to obtain a building permit or plan review; (3) the creation of inspection schedules; (4) the establishment of fines; or (5) the creation of an order review process.⁸
• Agricultural-only buildings are not Class 1 structures. Buildings used only for an agricultural purpose on the land where they are located and not used for retail trade are not Class 1 structures.³
• Who inspects agricultural buildings. Who inspects agricultural buildings? Local units of government if they have an ordinance requiring inspection.¹
• Many localities require permits; check locally. Many localities require permits for building projects.¹⁰

Homeowners doing their own work

IC 25-28.5 (unread); local ordinances

• Local example: Merrillville plumbing permit for a homeowner with drawing and affidavit. However, a homeowner may be issued a permit upon submission of an isometric drawing of the plumbing lines, to be approved by the plumbing inspector, and upon signing an affidavit that the homeowner will be doing the plumbing installation.¹¹
• Local example: Merrillville electrical permit for a homeowner with drawing and affidavit. However, a homeowner may be issued a permit upon submission of a schematic drawing to be approved by the electrical inspector, and upon signing an affidavit that homeowner will be doing the electrical installation.¹¹
• Local example: Merrillville mechanical permit for a homeowner with affidavit. However, a homeowner may be issued a permit upon signing an affidavit stating the homeowner will be doing the heating/air conditioning installation.¹¹

Contractor licensing

IC 25-28.5 (plumbers); IC 24-5-11 (unread)

• Plumbers are regulated by a state commission under IC 25-28.5. Title 25 Article 28.5 - Plumbers…⁶
• Local example: town-level contractor licensing. Merrillville requires that all contractors be licensed with the Town.¹¹
• Local example: plumbing permits go to town-registered, state-licensed contractors. This permit will only be issued to a plumbing contractor registered with the Town and licensed through the State of Indiana.¹¹
• $150. Indiana law requires home improvement contracts exceeding $150 to be in writing.¹⁰
• Down payment guidance: no more than one third. Do not pay more than 1/3 of the total cost as a down payment.¹⁰

Deadlines for permit decisions and inspections

IC 36-7-2.5 (unread; HEA 1005 of 2025)

• 7 business days. All permits require a basic plan review within seven business days of receipt of a complete application for compliance with applicable ordinances.¹²
• 3 business days. You will be sent electronic notice within three business days of submittal as to the completeness of your application.¹²
• 3 business days. Either jurisdictional staff can perform all the required inspections within three business days of receiving a written request or you may choose and pay an architect, engineer, or Certified Building Official that meets the requirements of HB 1005 (IC 36-7-2.5) to perform all inspections for you and submit their results in proper form.¹²
• State Class 1 filings: 10-business-day clock. The submission of an application starts an automatic 10-business-day clock.³

Applies to

Class 2 structures, per a county description of HB 1005¹²

Private plan review and inspections

IC 36-7-2.5 (unread; HEA 1005 of 2025); IC 36-7-2.5-35

• Applicant may choose a qualified third party for plan review. Either jurisdictional staff can perform the plan review within seven business days or you may choose and pay an architect, engineer, or Certified Building Official that meets the requirements of HB 1005 (IC 36-7-2.5) to perform the review for you and submit their analysis in proper form.¹²
• Choice must be made at application. Choice of plan reviewer must be made at time of permit application and cannot be changed.¹²
• White County local fee for third-party use. If you choose to use a third party, their information must be submitted with your application and in addition to your permit fee you will also be charged an additional $100 Convenience Fee when you submit your application.¹²
• Units may not require a design professional for code-prescribed Class 2 work. (b) A unit may not require a design professional (as defined in IC 22-15-3.2-3) to prepare construction documents, plans, or other filings for a Class 2 structure as part of an application under this chapter when constructed as prescribed by 675 IAC 14-4.4 or a most recent published edition of the International Residential Code.¹³
• Design professional may be required to prove an alternate. (c) A unit may require a design professional (as defined in IC 22-15-3.2-3) to prepare construction documents, plans, or other filings for a Class 2 structure as evidence or proof of equivalence of proposed alternate materials, appliances, equipment, or method of design or construction and once provided shall be permitted by the unit as an alternate.¹³
• Covered porch alone cannot trigger stamped plans. Accordingly, it is the policy of IDHS that IC 36-7-2.5-35 prohibits a local unit of government from requiring that plans for a Class 2 structure be stamped by a design professional based solely on the fact that a structure includes a covered porch.¹³

Limits on permit fees

HEA 1001 (2026), reported IC 36-7-2.3 (unread)

• Bill-stage description of fee caps. Construction fees are capped, and affordable housing can be developed on land owned by religious groups if those groups retain ownership.¹⁴

Selling a home with unpermitted work

IC 32-21-5 (unread); State Form 46234

• Seller disclosure form is State Form 46234, current revision R9 (2-26). Seller’s Residential Real Estate Sales Disclosure Form – See State Form 46234 (R9 / 2-26)…¹⁵
• Form update rulemaking by the Professional Licensing Agency. Update to Indiana Seller’s Residential Real Estate Sales Disclosure Form, State Form 46234 (R9/ 2-26)…¹⁵
• Real estate commission page lists the conveyance statute. Title 32 Article 21 - Conveyance Procedures for Real Property…¹⁶

What local governments may change

IC 36-7-2-9; IC 36-7-2.5-35; IC 22-12-2.5-5; IC 22-13-2-5.6

• Ordinances setting substantive code rules are unenforceable, per IDHS. The information contained here provides an overview of the impacts of this legislation on building and fire safety ordinances and represents the position of IDHS that, in general, provisions of ordinances that establish substantive building and fire safety laws, outside of mere incorporation of the rules of the Fire Prevention and Building Safety Commission, are unenforceable and may not be adopted.⁸
• The Commission no longer reviews or approves ordinances, and any modification of the standards set by the Commission (e.g., new, more detailed, or heightened requirements) may only be completed through Commission rulemaking.⁸
• Statewide; local amendments not allowed. In effect, this legislation has created a framework where the substantive building and fire safety laws that are enforced throughout Indiana are the unamended rules of the Commission.⁸
• Local units may petition the Commission. In place of the repealed ordinance review program, Indiana Code 22-12-2.5-5 and 22-13-2-5.6 now establish processes by which local jurisdictions may petition the Commission to modify its rules.⁸
• DHS statement is not binding. Please be aware, the statements made here solely represent the position of IDHS on this issue and are not binding.⁸
• Units may not be stricter than IC 36-7-2.5. Sec. 35. (a) A unit may not adopt or enforce any rules, procedures, policies, qualifications, or standards more stringent than those prescribed in this chapter.¹³

Can local rules be stricter?

No⁸

Accessory dwelling units (ADUs)

HEA 1001 (2026), reported IC 36-7-1-1.5 (unread)

• Bill-stage: accessory dwelling unit within a single family dwelling as a permitted use. (2) An accessory dwelling unit within a single family dwelling.¹⁷
• Bill-stage status as of February 17, 2026. Status as of 2/17: Passed House, referred to Senate Tax and Fiscal Policy committee…¹⁷
• Bill-stage: automatic ADU approval unless opt out. Accessory dwelling units can be approved automatically, and local design standards and parking rules may be waived unless municipalities choose to opt out.¹⁴
• February 2026 statement: no statewide ADU rule. There is no statewide rule, but many cities and rural areas have set clear guidelines for adding small homes on single-family lots.¹⁴