Zoning, building permits and septic rules in German Township, Indiana

Rules another office applies inside German Township

German Township does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

• Building permitRequired

  New residential construction (new homes, modular and mobile homes, accessory buildings over 200 sq ft) on unincorporated land inside German township

  • A permit is required before construction, alteration or repair whose cost exceeds $300.
  • The county page says a permit is required for most improvements, including sheds, garages, decks and pools.
  • Requirement applies under the county building code; land inside Columbus city limits is governed by city rules.

  permit threshold (cost of work above which a permit is required): > 300 USD (permit required for most improvements regardless of cost, per the same page)

  “a permit shall be obtained before beginning construction, alteration or repair of any building or structure, the cost of which exceeds three hundred dollars ($300.00), using the forms furnished by the department of technical code enforcement”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Residential construction on unincorporated land inside German township

  • The county list also names the 2020 Indiana Residential Code (675 IAC 14-4.4); the county page is a partial list of codes.

  “2020 indiana residential code: (675 iac 14-4. 4) 2018 international residential code with indiana amendments, effective december 26, 2019”

• InspectionsRequired

  Permitted residential construction on unincorporated land inside German township

  • Inspections are scheduled at least 24 hours in advance by calling 812-379-1535; phone-ins accepted until 4:30 pm the day before.
  • Required stages include footing, foundation, rough-in (framing, electrical, plumbing, HVAC) and final inspections.
  • All fees and fines must be paid before the final inspection is scheduled.

  “all inspections require 24-hour advance scheduling. all scheduling must be made by calling the office at 812-379-1535.”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Bartholomew County zoning districts (joint county ordinance) for unincorporated land inside German township; German township has no district map of its own that was located

  • The district text captured is the 2024/05 PDF; the planning page states the ordinance was last updated July 14, 2026 and reflects revisions through City of Columbus Ordinance 15, 2026, so the current district text must be checked.
  • Land inside Columbus city limits (and other city/town jurisdictions) is governed by those jurisdictions rather than this county ordinance.

  “for the purpose of this ordinance, the planning jurisdiction subject to this ordinance is divided into the following zoning districts.”

• Minimum dwelling sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Agriculture: general rural (AG) district, unincorporated land inside German township

  • Applies to minimum living area per dwelling; manufactured homes follow section 6.7(a)(2)(a) of the ordinance, which was not reviewed.

  minimum living area per dwelling: >= 1000 square feet (see section 6.7(a)(2)(a) for manufactured homes)

  “minimum living area per dwelling • 1,000 square feet (see also section 6.7(a)(2)(a) for manufactured homes)”

  2 more reviewed findings on this topic

  • District specific (with conditions) — Residential: rural (RR) district, unincorporated land inside German township

    “minimum living area per dwelling • 1,000 square feet (see also section 6.7(a)(2)(a) for manufactured homes)”

  • District specific (with conditions) — Agriculture: preferred (AP) district, unincorporated land inside German township (a non-residential agricultural district; listed because it is the other agricultural district with a dwelling minimum)

    “minimum living area per dwelling • 1,000 square feet (see also section 6.7(a)(2)(a) for manufactured homes)”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Agriculture: general rural (AG) district, unincorporated land inside German township

  • Side and rear setbacks for an agricultural structure and primary structure are 20 feet; accessory structure 15 feet; side/rear 5 feet where the adjoining lot is 2 acres or less (per source footnote).
  • Front setbacks vary by street class as listed.

  side and rear setback, primary structure: 20 feet (5 feet on lots of 2 acres or less where the applicable side or rear lot line adjoins a property of 2 acres or less) · side and rear setback, accessory structure: 15 feet (5 feet on lots of 2 acres or less where the applicable side or rear lot line adjoins a property of 2 acres or less) · front setback, arterial street or road: 50 feet

  “minimum side & rear setback • agricultural structure: 20 feet • primary structure: 20 feet* • accessory structure: 15 feet* * 5 feet on lots of 2 acres or less where the applicable side or rear lot line adjoins a property of 2 acres or less”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Residential: rural (RR) district, unincorporated land inside German township

    “minimum side & rear setback • primary structure: 5 feet • accessory structure: 5 feet”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  Agriculture: general rural (AG) district, unincorporated land inside German township

  • Coverage limit applies to non-agricultural structures only; agricultural structures have no maximum.

  maximum lot coverage, non-agricultural structures: <= 35 percent (agricultural structures: none)

  “maximum lot coverage • agricultural structures: none • non-agricultural structures: 35%”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Agriculture: preferred (AP) district, unincorporated land inside German township

    “maximum lot coverage • agricultural structures: none • non-agricultural structures: 35%”

• Building heightSpecified

  Agriculture: preferred (AP) district, unincorporated land inside German township

  • Agricultural structures have no height maximum.

  maximum height, primary structure: <= 40 feet (agricultural structure: none) · maximum height, accessory structure: <= 35 feet (agricultural structure: none)

  “maximum height • agricultural structure: none • primary structure: 40 feet • accessory structure: 35 feet”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  On-site wastewater (septic) systems for homes on land inside German township, administered by the Bartholomew County health department

  • Cited page lists the onsite rule 410 IAC 6-8.3 and a county permit application; it does not restate the state rule's text.
  • Rule-maker in practice is the county health department; the state rule is cited for its standards.

  “permit application for on site wastewater disposal system”

• Septic permitRequired

  New septic systems for homes on land inside German township

  • The county page says a health department release for septic systems is needed for a building permit, if applicable.
  • Permit application for onsite wastewater disposal is listed by the health department.

  “health department release for septic systems, if applicable”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land division inside German township outside city limits, under the Bartholomew County subdivision control ordinance

  • The zoning ordinance says land division in every zoning district must comply with the subdivision control ordinance and is limited as specified in the district article.
  • Rural residential (RR) use is meant only where public streets are available and either public sewer and water are provided or well and septic can be accommodated.

  “the subdivision of land in every zoning district shall comply with the provisions of the subdivision control ordinance.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  New driveway connecting a home inside German township to a road, where applicable

  • Permit comes from the state or county highway department depending on the road; the county page says it applies 'if applicable'.

  “driveway permit from state or county highway department, if applicable”

• Permit processPartial

  Building permit application process for residential construction on land inside German township

  • The county says the items listed may be required, and applicants should call the office for the specific items required for a project.
  • Typical items include construction plans, a site plan certified by a surveyor for lots under two acres, a septic health-department release, a driveway permit, and a zoning compliance certificate from the planning department.

  “the following items may be required by the department of technical code enforcement prior to the issuance of the permit”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask German Township or Bartholomew County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption from permit or licensing for work on a home inside German township
• Local zoning — Whether German township itself adopts and administers a zoning ordinance for land inside its limits
• Minimum lot size — Agriculture: general rural (AG) and Residential: rural (RR) districts, unincorporated land inside German township
• Living in an RV — Long-term RV occupancy on private land inside German township
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside German township

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.