Apply for a Permit

Apply for a Permit
Instructions

Please choose the correct type of permit you are applying for: 

1. Application for a Demo/Remodel Permit: This application is for the removal of an existing primary or accessory structure and/or remodel of an existing structure including roof, gutters, windows, doors, and interior remodels equal to or exceeding $500. This does not include additions of square footage to any structure. 

2. Application for New Single Family Home or Addition: This application is for a new single family home or addition to a pre-existing structure. This does not include mobile homes, but does include modular or manufactured homes. For permits for mobile homes please contact the office for more information.

3. Application for an Accessory Structure Permit: This application is for accessory structures including but not limited to garages (attached and detached), pole barns, sheds, decks, patios, solar panels, and signs. 

Currently, commercial and industrial buildings or any structure requiring a state release is not permitted online. Please contact our office for more information. If you do not see your project listed above, please contact the office to ensure you are filling out the correct application. 

Flood Zone Information: 

If you are unsure if your property is located in a flood zone, you can check on the Indiana Floodplain Information Portal 2.0. If your property is located in a flood zone, additional information will be required. 

Site Plan/Location: 

If you do not have a professional site plan showing the location of the new home/addition/structure, you can use Beacon to depict where it will be located. Instructions are available here: How to Use Beacon to Show Location. 

After you have a depiction of the location, please email it to areaplan@vigocounty.in.gov. A site plan/location is required for most permits (see application). 

Contact Information: 

Area Planning Department
159 Oak St, Terre Haute, IN 47807

Monday-Friday: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Phone: 812-462-3354

Email: areaplan@vigocounty.in.gov

Building Inspection (to arrange payment and pickup of permit)
151 Oak St, Terre Haute, IN 47807

Monday-Friday: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Phone: 812-462-3365

Email: carrie.lindsay@vigocounty.in.gov

Word Document:

If you would like to fill out the Word Document for the Application for an Improvement Location Permit, you can access it here: ILP Application Word Document. The document can be emailed to the Area Planning Department (email above) or you can bring in the application to the Area Planning Department in person during business hours. 

*We may need additional information to grant your permit. Staff will email you if additional information is required. Some permits may not be able to be granted via email depending on a project's complexity.

The Area Planning Department is permitted five (5) business days by the Vigo County Unified Zoning Ordinance Section 5(A)(3) to grant a permit. Additional time may be required by the Vigo County Health Department or the Building Inspection Department. 

Floodplain Information

Floodplain Management

The Vigo County Area Planning Department provides educational materials and issues permits in flood prone areas to ensure property owners take appropriate measures to help minimize property damage from flood-related events.

Residents may obtain flood risk information such as Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) information, elevation certificates on file, historical flood data, and permits for proposed and existing structures by visiting the Vigo County Area Planning Department. 

Vigo County Area Planning Department
159 Oak St.
Terre Haute, IN 47807

You may also email the Floodplain Administrator at sydney.holmberg@vigocounty.in.gov.

Important Floodplain Information

Know Your Flood Hazard
Vigo County Flood Control Ordinance
Floodsmart
Flood Maps
Flood Insurance
Protect Your Property
Real-Time Gage for the Wabash River
Flood Resource Links

Plan Commission

The planning statutes found in the Indiana Code provide the authority for each city, town, and county in the state to create a plan commission. Once established, this body becomes the unit of local government with the authority for comprehensive planning and zoning. In developing planning laws, the legislature carefully defined the responsibilities and duties of the plan commission and placed great emphasis on two points: 1) planning must be comprehensive, 2) it must be on a continuing basis.

The Vigo County Area Plan Commission is in a unique position in local government. It is a semi-independent commission made up of elected and appointed officials as well as private citizens. Primarily, it is an advisory to the governing body, other local governmental departments and officials, public agencies, such as park boards and school boards and to private developers and other individuals on matter related to the physical development of the community.

The potential for the plan commission to carry out this advisory function is greatly enhanced by its position in the structure of local government. It has been placed in midstream of the flow of information throughout the community. Plans and proposals from individuals and groups, who help develop the community such as business people, developers, manufacturers, private citizens, and governmental units, pass through the plan commission. Any one of these can be made aware of the plans and proposals of the other. This central coordination function can be extremely valuable to the community and its elected and appointed officials.

Functioning as an advisory arm of local government, the Vigo County Area Plan Commission has many important responsibilities, which include:

-- To prepare and recommend to the legislative body a comprehensive plan for the physical development of the City of Terre Haute, Town of Riley, Town of Seelyville, Town of West Terre Haute, and Unincorporated Area of Vigo County.

-- To prepare and recommend to the Common Council of Terre Haute, Town Board of Riley, Town Board of Seelyville, Town Board of West Terre Haute, and Vigo County Commissioners zoning and subdivision control ordinances.

-- To develop and recommend for adoption other tools useful for implementing the comprehensive plan (i.e. housing and building codes).

-- To review and approve or disapprove all subdivision plats.

-- To review all petitions for amendments to the zoning ordinance and map, and recommend their approval or disapproval to the legislative bodies.

-- To participate in the preparation of a capital improvement program (CIP) for the jurisdiction, based upon the comprehensive plan.

-- To do special studies as requested by the legislative bodies and develop special plans, surveys, and reports treating new problems as they arise.

-- To hold public hearings, as necessary.

-- To receive comments from the public concerning changes to the plan, zoning ordinance, subdivision control ordinance, and other land use control regulations.

-- To review and revise the comprehensive plan, zoning ordinance, subdivision control ordinance, and capital improvement program to keep them up-to-date and adjusted to changing conditions.

-- To review and approve, modify, or disapprove a redevelopment or economic development plan submitted by the local redevelopment commission for conformity with the comprehensive plan.

-- To review and make recommendations to the governing bodies on certain issues related to the physical development of the jurisdiction. Many times a legislative body will ask for recommendations on how the community should respond to federal and state directives dealing with highways, parks, conservation areas, airports, schools, public buildings and structures, solid waste disposal, public water, housing rehabilitation, community development, and other activities involving public facilities or services.

-- To inform and educate the public about the purpose of planning and how specific local problems are being resolved.

Board of Zoning Appeals

When a zoning ordinance is adopted, the Indiana Code requires that a board of zoning appeals be created. As a quasi-judicial body, the board of zoning appeals provides a "safety valve" through which land owners can seek relief from strict application of a zoning ordinance. Further, the board functions to give greater assurance that zoning is fair and equitable, that it is properly interpreted, and does not cause excessive hardship. 

In general, the board's duties fan into three major categories: 1) appeals from administrative decisions; 2) the granting of special uses; and 3) the granting of variances/special exceptions from development standards.

Powers and duties of a Board of Zoning Appeals include: 

• To hear and determine appeals from and review any order, requirement, decision, or determination made by an administrative official, staff member, or board charged with the enforcement of a zoning ordinance; 
• To hear and determine special uses as detailed be terms of the zoning ordinance; and
• To authorize variances from the zoning ordinance in certain cases.

A variance from development standards such as height, size, and setback may not be granted unless it is determined in writing that: 

1. The grant will not be injurious to the public health, safety, morals, and general welfare of the community; 
2. The use and value of the area adjacent to the property included in the variance will not be affected in a substantially adverse manner; and 
3. The strict application of the terms of this Ordinance would result in an unnecessary hardship, excluding financial reasons, in the use of the property

Under AREA PLANNING LAW, no variance/special exception of use are permitted.

The Board of Zoning Appeals consist of two (2) divisions, which divisions shall be designated, for identification purposes, as follows:

1. Vigo County Board of Zoning Appeals, which has exclusive territorial jurisdiction over all matters properly before the board involving or affecting property within unincorporated areas of the Vigo County; the corporate boundaries of the Town of Riley, the corporate boundaries of the Town of Seelyville, or the corporate boundaries of the Town of West Terre Haute.
2. Terre Haute Board of Zoning Appeals, which has exclusive territorial jurisdiction over all matters properly before the board involving or affecting property within the corporate boundaries of the City of Terre Haute.

List of Surveyors

Vigo County Private Land Surveyors

If you are a land surveyor and would like to be added to the list, please email areaplan@vigocounty.in.gov with your information. 

Schedule of Fees

Schedule of Fees

Adopted October 17, 2016 Resolution #1-16 hereby establishes the Fee Schedule for the following items and is effective January 17, 2017.

   Adopted April 4, 2022 General Ordinance #2-2022 hereby establishes the Fee Schedule for the following items and is effective July 1, 2022.

Schedule of Fees for Vigo County:

Rezoning: $100

Subdivisions Primary: $100 + $5/Lot

Subdivisions Secondary: $100 + $5/Lot

Subdivisions Primary/Secondary: $200 + $10/Lot

Advertising Fee for Tabled Petitions: 50% of Initial Submittal Fee

Late Submittal Fee: $25

Zoning/Address Verification: $50/Parcel

Site Plan Review: $50

Schedule of Fees for the City of Terre Haute:

Subdivisions Primary: $100 + $5/Lot

Subdivisions Secondary: $100 + $5/Lot

Subdivisions Primary/Secondary: $200 + $10/Lot

*These fees are due at time of submittal. All amounts include sign and advertising fees.

Flood Zone Depiction on Subdivision Plats and Surveys

Indiana House Bill 1103 (IC 14-28-1-40) passed on March 15, 2022 with an effective date of July 1, 2022 provides that a local floodplain administrator shall utilize the best floodplain mapping data available as provided by the department and located on the Indiana Floodplain Information Portal when reviewing a permit application for a structure or a construction activity in, or near, a floodplain. Depiction of the best available data from INDR on a plat is now preferred to utilization of FEMA FIRM maps. Please begin using the Best available data on all plat submittals to Vigo County Area Planning for review and hearing before the Area Plan Commission.

Depiction of Rule 12 Compliance

Surveyors shall place a statement on the plat attesting to compliance with Rule 12 (865 IAC 1-12).

Cul-de-sac Construction

The right-of-way of a cul-de-sac shall have a minimum radius of 65 feet.  The radius of the paved portion of the turnaround (measured to the center line of the pavement) shall be at least 55 feet, without curb and gutter or may include curb and gutter so long as the minimum paved portions remain open and unimpeded. If the width exceeds the minimum, then the unpaved center of the turnaround area shall be landscaped and shall have a drainage outlet under the roadway*.

*Please note that the center turnaround area is not required to be landscaped. It may alternatively remain open so long as it is paved and unobstructed.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Vigo County Area Planning office at the information included at the top of page 1.