Vanderburgh County, Indiana Building Permit Guide

By the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimates, Vanderburgh County has 181995 residents: 116176 in Evansville, 1441 in the Town of Darmstadt and 64378 in the unincorporated balance. Building permits for unincorporated Vanderburgh County are issued by the Evansville-Vanderburgh County Building Commission (1 NW Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Civic Center Complex, Room 310; (812) 436-7885; Monday-Friday, 7:30am-4:30pm), but the zoning code, roads, drainage and sewage follow county rules.

This guide covers unincorporated Vanderburgh County; Evansville has its own city guide. Whether the Town of Darmstadt uses the Building Commission could not be confirmed, so check with the Town before filing there.

What requires a building permit in Vanderburgh County?

The county has adopted its own floodplain management regulations, which the Building Commission administers with FEMA and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. Lot standards outside Evansville come from the Vanderburgh County Code, Title 17 (Land Use and Zoning), Table A in § 17.38.010, which also requires green space of 100% of the front yard in all zones.

Before construction starts on a Class 1 structure — one used by the public, by three or more tenants, or by anyone working as another’s employee — Indiana requires a state Construction Design Release, unless the work is exempt under 675 IAC 12-6-4. One- and two-family dwellings and qualifying townhouses are Class 2 and are permitted locally where an ordinance requires it. Indiana enforces the 2014 Indiana Building Code and the 2020 Indiana Residential Code. Class 1 and Class 2 in Indiana

Who handles permitting in Vanderburgh County?

The local building department issues the building permit and inspects the work. On a Class 1 structure the state design release, issued by IDHS or a certified local unit, must come before construction starts; IDHS has 10 business days to respond to a complete application and 20 for a plan review. Plans for Class 1 work over 30,000 cubic feet must be prepared by a registered architect or engineer. The Construction Design Release

County roads, drainage and sewage

County roads

The County Engineer issues the Road Access Permit for new driveways and driveway culvert replacement, plus permits for utility work and for cutting or occupying the right-of-way; office hours are Mon-Fri 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Unless deeds, plats or Commissioners’ records show otherwise, the County assumes its right-of-way is only the paved surface, edge of pavement to edge of pavement, so each property’s right-of-way must be researched separately. The County Highway Department, at St. Joseph Avenue and Mill Road, maintains 158 bridges and over 550 miles of county roads (road problems: 812-435-5777).

Drainage

The County Surveyor reviews drainage plans for the Vanderburgh County Drainage Board under the County Drainage Code (revised effective 01/01/2018). Work in a legal drain easement needs a Drainage Easement Encroachment Agreement from the Surveyor’s Office, open Monday-Friday 8:00AM-4:30PM.

Septic

Onsite sewage permits, site evaluations and inspections for new and repaired systems come from the Vanderburgh County Health Department, 420 Mulberry Street, Evansville; Mon.-Fri. 8:00 am-12:00 pm and 12:30 pm-4:30 pm; health_environmental@vanderburghcounty.in.gov.

Sewer taps

Outside Evansville city limits, an EWSU sewer tap request must include a Waiver of Annexation and a site plan, emailed to EWSUAttachments@ewsu.com. EWSU also reviews water and sewer availability during Area Plan Commission site review; questions go to privatedevelopment@ewsu.com.

How to get a building permit in Vanderburgh County

A design release expires if work has not started within one year, with one extension of up to 180 days; the local permit runs on its own clock, so track both on Class 1 work. How long a design release lasts

Official Vanderburgh County permitting resources

These are the primary sources behind this guide. Codes, fee schedules and procedures change — confirm the position for your filing date.

• Evansville-Vanderburgh County Building Commission
• Area Plan Commission
• Board of Zoning Appeals
• County Engineer
• County Surveyor
• Vanderburgh County Code § 17.38.010
• Health Department onsite sewage
• EWSU residential water and sewer tap

Frequently asked questions

Who issues building permits in unincorporated Vanderburgh County?

The Evansville-Vanderburgh County Building Commission, Room 310 of the Civic Center Complex, (812) 436-7885.

Who permits a new driveway on a county road?

The County Engineer, with a Road Access Permit.

Do I need a Waiver of Annexation for a sewer tap?

Yes, outside Evansville city limits: EWSU requires it with a site plan.

Simplify Vanderburgh County permitting with Alliance Permitting

• Check Title 17 lot standards, floodplain status and the property’s right-of-way
• Line up the Improvement Location Permit, road access, drainage and septic or sewer approvals
• File the building permit with the Building Commission

Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company in Indiana. We prepare your paperwork, file it correctly and coordinate with the permitting authority through issuance. We are not a contractor and we do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your licensed team and the jurisdiction.

This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Vanderburgh County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.