Howard County, IN Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit trigger
- Cost over $100
- Permitting official
- County Building Commissioner
- Exempt work
- Painting, cosmetic repairs
- Minimum fee
- $5 (costs up to $5,000)
- Appeal path
- Board of Appeals, then state council
- Max penalty
- $2,500 per day (§ 10.99)
Summary
Howard County Code § 150.05 requires a permit from the Building Commissioner before any construction, alteration, extension, or plumbing, electrical, heating, ventilation or air conditioning work with a cost over $100 begins in the unincorporated county, though painting and cosmetic repairs are exempt.
(A) Prior to the construction of any building, structure, dwelling or any part thereof, no extension, repair or alteration of any existing building, no plumbing, no electrical work, no heating work, no ventilation work, nor air conditioning work having a contract price or estimated cost of more than $100 shall be started until a statement in writing of the work proposed to be done shall first be submitted by the contractor or individual in charge of the work to and approved by the Building Commissioner, and a permit issued by him or her for the proposed construction, alteration, repair or extension work. ... (D) No permit shall be required for any outside or inside painting or other cosmetic repair or maintenance where the building is not altered or extended.
Full Breakdown
05(A) is the general permit trigger for Howard County's building code: before construction of any building, structure or dwelling, or any extension, repair or alteration of an existing one, and before plumbing, electrical, heating, ventilation or air conditioning work with a contract price or estimated cost of more than $100, the contractor or person in charge must submit a written statement of the proposed work to the Building Commissioner and get a permit approved before starting. 02 backs this up by making it unlawful for any owner, lessee or occupant to erect, construct, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert, demolish, equip, use, occupy or maintain a building or structure, other than a fence, out of conformance with the chapter.
The Commissioner can require detailed plans and specifications, must keep a copy on file, and must approve any change before it is made; the Commissioner must refuse a permit outright if the proposed work would violate a state statute or county ordinance. 05(D) exempts outside or inside painting and other cosmetic repair or maintenance that does not alter or extend the building. 50 per required inspection. 07.
Violations & Fines
Starting covered construction, alteration or utility work without the Building Commissioner's approved permit violates §§ 150.02 and 150.05, punishable under the county's general penalty section, § 10.99, by a fine of up to $2,500 with each day of continued violation a separate offense; the Commissioner can also issue a stop-work order under § 150.08 to halt the job.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Howard County require a building permit?
Is painting exempt from Howard County's building permit rule?
Can I appeal a denied Howard County building permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Howard County
Compare Howard County to another location·View the Indiana building safety overview
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