Howard County, IN Building Safety: Building Inspections (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit trigger
- work costing more than $100
- Inspection fee
- $7.50 per required inspection
- Max permit fee
- $100
- Enforcing official
- Building Commissioner
- Appeal body
- Board of Appeals
- Penalty
- up to $2,500 per day, § 10.99
Summary
In unincorporated Howard County, anyone doing construction, alteration, plumbing, electrical, heating, ventilation or air-conditioning work costing more than $100 must get a permit from the Building Commissioner before starting. The Commissioner reviews plans, issues the permit, and charges a sliding-scale fee plus a $7.50 inspection fee for each required inspection. Cosmetic repairs and painting 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. ... (H) An inspection fee of $7.50 for each required inspection.
Full Breakdown
05 requires a written statement of proposed work submitted to and approved by the Building Commissioner before any covered construction, extension, repair or alteration begins, whenever the contract price or estimated cost exceeds $100. The Building Commissioner may require detailed plans and specifications before issuing the permit, and no work may deviate from the approved plans without a revised submission and re-approval. The Commissioner must refuse a permit if the proposed work would violate any state statute or county ordinance. 05(D). 35 per $1,000 above that, capped at a $100 maximum permit fee.
50. 08 lets the Building Commissioner issue a stop order; oral orders must be confirmed in writing within 35 hours excluding Saturday, Sunday and holidays, and continuing work in defiance of a stop order is itself unlawful. 07.
Violations & Fines
Working without a required permit, ignoring approved plans, or continuing after a stop order violates Chapter 150 and is punishable under the county's general penalty, § 10.99: a fine of up to $2,500 per offense, with each day a violation continues counted as a separate offense. The Building Commissioner may halt work immediately with a stop order enforceable whether or not it has yet been confirmed in writing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to paint my house in unincorporated Howard County?
How much does a Howard County building permit cost?
What happens if I build without a permit in the county?
Can I appeal the Building Commissioner's decision?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Howard County
Compare Howard County to another location·View the Indiana building safety overview
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