Gibson County, Indiana

Permits, utilities and flood notes for Gibson County, where the county seat is Princeton, plus the towns we cover here.

The Gibson County Courthouse, a red brick and limestone building with a tall clock tower and corner turrets
Photo: Nyttend, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons

Towns in Gibson County

Permits

Building department: City of Princeton Building Commissioner, 220 S Richland Creek Dr, Princeton (812-386-1333) for properties inside Princeton city limits; for flood-zone properties elsewhere in the county, Gibson County Floodplain Administration (EMA)

  • Princeton building permit application. The City of Princeton Building Permit Application asks for the parcel number, zoning, whether the site is in a flood plain, and a locate ticket number, and must be accompanied by a copy of the site plan and a copy of an approved Construction Design Release for Class 1 Structures. Source
  • State building code applies in Princeton. Princeton's city code notes that Indiana's statewide building rules (from the state administrative building council) govern construction, electricity and plumbing, and that the statewide code is enforced by local building officials. Source
  • Water heater / furnace permits: check with city. Neither Princeton's building permit application nor its city code chapter on buildings spells out whether replacing a water heater or furnace needs a city permit, so check with the City of Princeton Building Commissioner (812-386-1333) before the job. Source
  • Flood-zone permit (Princeton). In Princeton, no development may begin in a mapped special flood hazard area without first getting an improvement location permit from the zoning administrator (the building commissioner), and the application must show the elevation of the lowest floor, including the basement. Source
  • Substantial damage rule (Princeton). Under Princeton's flood hazard rules, buildings in the flood hazard area must be protected from flood damage below the flood protection grade when repairs to a damaged building are valued at 50 percent or more of the building's pre-damage market value (excluding land). Source
  • County floodplain permits. Gibson County's Floodplain Administrator (part of the county Emergency Management Agency, 903 W. Morton St., Oakland City; 812-664-7918) handles permit applications for flood-zone properties in the county and provides FIRMettes for flood insurance companies. Source
  • Sewer connection permit and fees. Princeton requires a building sewer permit to connect to the city sewage works; the connection fee for a single-family home is $600 (inspection included), connecting without a permit can bring a fine of up to $2,500, and a building left vacant more than two years owes a $600 re-connect fee. Source
  • Water service inspection. Princeton's water rules require all plumbing work and fixtures to be inspected by the water superintendent (or someone he authorizes) before lines are covered or the water is turned on, and the plumber must report the completed work to the water company. Source
  • Freeze protection and shut-off valve. Princeton's code says water service lines must be at least three feet below the street grade and protected from freezing, and every customer's plumbing must have a stop cock on the building side of the curb cock so water can be shut off in an accident or extreme cold. Source
  • Drainage responsibility. The Gibson County Surveyor's Office/Drainage Board maintains only legal (regulated) drains; for drainage problems inside town or city limits, residents should contact the town or city. Source
  • Haubstadt zoning permits. Haubstadt has its own zoning administrator (Joseph P. Gilpatrick, 812-779-6982) and its own Improvement Location Permit and Occupancy Permit applications; the forms say these permits are issued for zoning and land use compliance verification purposes only. Source

Rules change, so check with the department before work starts. A provider can usually tell you whether they pull the permit.

Utilities and rebates

  • Electric - Princeton. The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission's electric service territory map places Princeton (city center) in Duke Energy's electric service territory. Source
  • Electric - Fort Branch. The IURC electric service territory map places Fort Branch in the territory of Vectren Energy Delivery of Indiana (now CenterPoint Energy), so not all of Gibson County is Duke Energy electric territory. Source
  • Electric - Haubstadt. The IURC electric service territory map places Haubstadt in the territory of Vectren Energy Delivery of Indiana (now CenterPoint Energy). Source
  • Water - Princeton. Princeton's drinking water comes from the city-run Princeton Water Department, which uses groundwater from seven wells. Source
  • Water treatment. The Princeton Water Treatment Plant (1220 N Old Hwy 41) can treat 3 million gallons a day and currently treats about 1.2 million; the water is aerated to remove most of the elemental iron, disinfected with chlorine gas and fluoridated, and comes from a well field on County Road 350 West. Source
  • Wastewater. Princeton runs a Class III, 4.186-million-gallon-per-day oxidation ditch wastewater plant with ultraviolet disinfection that discharges into Richland Creek. Source
  • Utility contacts. For sewer questions or emergencies, Princeton lists (812) 385-3343, or (812) 385-3496 after hours. Source
  • CenterPoint furnace rebate (2026). CenterPoint Energy's 2026 Indiana residential rebate pays $200 for a 96% AFUE natural gas furnace and $250 for 97% or better, for homes with CenterPoint Energy of Indiana gas as the primary heat source; installation must be done in 2026 and the application filed within 60 days. Source
  • CenterPoint water heater rebate (2026). CenterPoint Energy's 2026 Indiana residential rebate pays $100 for a natural gas water heater with an Energy Factor of 0.67 or greater and $200 for a natural gas tankless water heater with an Energy Factor of 0.90 or greater, for installs completed in 2026. Source
  • Duke Energy Smart $aver rebates. Duke Energy's Smart $aver program (Indiana is one of the selectable states) offers home improvement rebates including HVAC and heat pump water heater rebates; only participating Smart $aver contractors qualify, the contractor submits the rebate form, and payment typically takes 4-6 weeks. Source
  • Solid waste: Bulk items, appliances and tires. Gibson County's Trash & Compost Yard (County Road 175 E, south of CR 350 S, Princeton; Tuesday-Saturday 7 am-3 pm) accepts household furniture, metal, appliances with freon removed, batteries, LP tanks, and tires, with a small charge for tires and some large items; construction and roofing materials are not taken. Source
  • Solid waste: Electronics and household hazardous waste. In Gibson County, electronics must go to the Recycle Center at 771 Old US Hwy 41 N, Princeton (Tuesday-Friday 10 am-5:50 pm, Saturday 7 am-2:50 pm), and household hazardous waste is taken only at the district's Spring and Fall HHW Days. Source

Flooding

  • Patoka River at Princeton - flood stage (minor). 18 ft Source
  • Patoka River flood categories. The National Weather Service flood categories for the Patoka River at Princeton gauge are action 16 ft, minor 18 ft, moderate 20 ft and major 23 ft. Source
  • Patoka River crests. The highest historic crest listed for the Patoka River at Princeton is 24.89 ft on May 4, 2011, and a preliminary crest of 23.97 ft (above major flood stage) was recorded on July 3, 2026. Source
  • Patoka River impacts. At 23 ft on the Princeton gauge, the NWS says extensive flooding hits the southern end of the town of Patoka (W River Rd, S West Street, S Wood St) and County Road 400 N east of Patoka near the bridge. Source
  • White River at Hazleton. For the White River at Hazleton (Gibson County), NWS flood stage is 16 ft and major flood stage is 28 ft; the record crest is 31.7 ft on January 22, 1937, and a preliminary 30 ft crest occurred on April 12, 2025. Source
  • Hazleton levee history. The NWS notes that during the January 1937 flood the Hazleton levee failed at 31.7 ft, and that in the January 2005 flood (31.5 ft) the levee was reinforced with an estimated 100,000 sandbags. Source
  • Wabash River at Mount Carmel. For the Wabash River at Mount Carmel, across the river from western Gibson County, NWS flood stage is 19 ft and major is 32 ft; the record crest is 34.02 ft on May 3, 2011, and the NWS says at 31 ft much of western Gibson County is underwater. Source
  • NFIP / flood maps. Gibson County participates in the National Flood Insurance Program, and its Floodplain Administrator can provide FIRMettes (flood map excerpts) for your flood insurance company. Source

Sources

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