Lake County, IN Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)

Section 151.020(A) requires a separate permit for each building or structure before construction, alteration, repair or maintenance begins in the unincorporated county, issued by the County Planning and Building Department. Subsection (B) numbers permits consecutively each year by the last two digits of the year, and subsection (C) bars the county from issuing a local permit until the State Department of Fire and Building Services has released the plans it reviewed. Section 151.021 requires the application to include a plat or sketch showing lot boundaries and legal description, plans and specifications, and any information the Department requests, submitted as a sworn affidavit; additional work beyond the original application needs its own supplemental application.

Section 151.022 has the Building Administrator review every application for code compliance before issuing a permit. Section 151.023 makes a permit valid for two years from issuance, but any permit requiring a foundation inspection must start and complete that inspection within three months, and any other permit is void if construction has not begun within six months. Section 151.024 lets the Director extend an expiration by up to 30 days for good cause, and allows one renewal before expiration for 80% of the original fee for a full two-year term or 40% for a one-year term; a permit that lapsed for under 30 days can still be renewed for the same fee or 75% for a one-year term. Starting construction before applying draws a fee of three times the original building fee under § 151.024(F).