Administrative overview · FIPS 18119
Owen 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
Owen County Building and Planning Department
For a project in or near Owen 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
812-829-5033 (administrator); 812-821-5356 (building inspector)
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
86 E Market Street, Spencer, IN 47460
Operating hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.; closed noon-1:00 p.m.
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 Owen County
Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?
Owen County Building and Planning Department 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 812-829-5033 (administrator); 812-821-5356 (building inspector) 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?
Contact Heather Huntington at 812-829-5033 or Building Inspector Shawn Stevens at 812-821-5356. The department performs plan checks and inspections and instructs applicants to contact the office before sending payments; a $25 reinspection fee is listed in the effective fee schedule and $50 in the fee schedule effective August 11, 2026.
Which codes and exemptions should I review?
Owen County Code of Ordinances, Chapter 151 Building Code, current posted version 2025 S-2, and Chapter 155 Zoning and Subdivision Control, together with applicable Indiana building requirements. N/A; the county provides an Application for Exemption but the reviewed page does not publish a complete minor/cosmetic exemption list. Contact the department before relying on an exemption.