Administrative overview · FIPS 18175
Washington 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
Washington County Plan Commission / Building Commissioner
For a project in or near Washington 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
812-883-0139
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
601 Anson Street, Salem, IN 47167
Operating hours
N/A; call ahead to confirm Building Commissioner availability.
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 Washington County
Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?
Washington County Plan Commission / Building Commissioner 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 812-883-0139 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 the Washington County Building Commissioner at 812-883-0139 to arrange inspections. The county application requires a site sketch, septic information where applicable, contractor information, and permission for county on-site evaluation.
Which codes and exemptions should I review?
Washington County Zoning Ordinance and county building regulations incorporating Indiana State Building, Fire and Building Safety, Residential, Plumbing, Electrical, Mechanical, Energy, Swimming Pool, Fire, and Fuel Gas codes by reference. A specific 2026 technical code edition was not identified. The county zoning jurisdiction excludes incorporated cities and towns and Salem's extraterritorial planning area, which may require municipal permits. The reviewed county materials did not publish a broad cosmetic-work exemption list; agricultural and other special structures may have separate ordinance rules.