Administrative overview · FIPS 18077
Jefferson County permit authority
The first compliance decision is jurisdictional: identify the office with statutory authority over your parcel, then use its filing and inspection sequence to keep the project moving.
Jurisdictional status
County
This county profile is the primary starting point for unincorporated-area permitting.
Responsible agency
Jefferson County Surveyor, Zoning and Planning Office / Jefferson County Plan Commission
For a project in or near Jefferson County, this office is the identified point of contact for permit intake, statutory code enforcement, plan review coordination, and inspection release conditions. Confirm the parcel’s boundary and project type before relying on the county lane.
Direct contact
812-265-8900; Building Inspector 812-274-3929; Secretary 812-274-3928
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
300 E Main Street, Madison, IN 47250; Surveyor/Zoning/Planning Office, 315 Jefferson Street, Annex Building, Madison, IN 47250
Operating hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.; closed holidays
Review expectation
Ask the agency for its current review estimate
Compliance workbench
Choose the next project decision.
Apply online
Open the verified digital gateway, application form, and review timeline.
Open guide →Fees & penalties
Understand fee schedules, enforcement exposure, and stop-work liabilities.
Open guide →Codes & exemptions
Read the code framework, minor-work exemptions, and inspection lane.
Open guide →Agency website
Visit the primary public source for current notices and contact changes.
Open guide →Source trail
Official sources for this profile
Use these direct agency or licensing links to confirm current instructions before you file, pay, or schedule work. External pages control if their information differs from this directory.
Project questions
Frequently asked questions for Jefferson County
Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?
Jefferson County Surveyor, Zoning and Planning Office / Jefferson County Plan Commission is the identified county-level authority for this profile. Confirm that the property is in its service area before filing.
How should I begin an application?
No verified online portal was located in the reviewed public materials. Contact 812-265-8900; Building Inspector 812-274-3929; Secretary 812-274-3928 and request the current application route before preparing a final submittal.
How long might review take?
A typical review timeline was not verified. Ask the agency for its current completeness and review estimate.
How are inspections scheduled?
Call Building Inspector Josh Cline at 812-274-3929 or Secretary Taylor Baulac at 812-274-3928 to schedule appointments and inspections. Submit the application, site sketch, health/sewer approval, driveway approval, drawings, and estimated construction cost.
Which codes and exemptions should I review?
Improvement/building permits are required for most construction and improvements. All Class 1 commercial buildings require an Indiana Department of Homeland Security Construction Design Release before county application; the public county page does not identify a specific 2026 code edition. The county states that permits are required for most improvements or construction but does not publish a complete minor/cosmetic exemption list. A septic permit or public sewer tap is required before a building permit, and drawings must show plumbing, electrical, and HVAC where applicable.