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

Rules another office applies inside Harrison Township

Harrison 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 construction on land inside Harrison township, Boone County, Indiana, if the land is unincorporated and within the Area Plan Commission jurisdiction

  • The Area Plan page says it serves the unincorporated areas of Boone County; that Harrison township is inside that area is inferred from its unincorporated status and is not stated by name.
  • Development plan approval from the APC is required before a building permit issues for residential construction, per the county residential packet.

  “issue improvement location permits (building permits) for new construction as directed by the boone county zoning ordinance, building regulations and boone county subdivision control ordinance.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  New one- and two-family dwellings built in Harrison township, Boone County, Indiana, under the state residential code

  • State rule, not a township adoption; the Fire Prevention and Building Safety Commission lists the 2020 Indiana Residential Code as currently in effect.
  • Draft 2024 IBC/IFC amendments for 2026 are pending on the page and are not final, so they are not treated as adopted.

  “675 iac 14-4.4 2020 indiana residential code free access (model code with incorporated amendments) 2018 international residential code for one- and two-family dwellings, first printing currently in effect effective: 12/26/2019”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  County zoning districts applying in the Area Plan Commission jurisdiction, including unincorporated Harrison township if within that jurisdiction

  • The county page states the jurisdiction is divided into districts in Table 1 (land use districts), with conservation, agriculture, residential and other districts.
  • Harrison township's inclusion in the APC jurisdiction is not named in the captured text.

  “the jurisdiction area is hereby classified and divided into districts designated in table 1, land use districts”

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Residential lots in unincorporated Harrison township, Boone County, Indiana, under the county zoning ordinance (main residential districts and the RE district)

  • Minimum lot area is 5,000 sq ft where public sewers are available; 2 acres without public sewers; 3 acres in the RE district.
  • Public water and public sewer connection is required in all districts for lots under one acre.
  • Agricultural district minimum lot size and the district-by-district mapping were not separated in the captured text and need follow-up.

  minimum lot area with public sewers: >= 5000 sq ft (all districts with public sewers) · minimum lot area without public sewers: >= 2 acres (all districts without public sewers) · minimum lot area in RE district: >= 3 acres (RE district)

  “minimum lot area: 5,000 square feet in all districts with public sewers. 2 acres in all districts without public sewers, and 3 acres in the re district”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Front yard setback for primary structures in unincorporated Harrison township, Boone County, Indiana, under the county zoning ordinance

  • Applies in all districts; not applicable to flag lots.

  minimum front yard: >= 20 feet (or 70 feet from the center of the road, whichever is greater)

  “minimum front yard (unincorporated areas): in all districts, 20 feet from the right of way or 70 feet from the center of the road, whichever is greater (not applicable to flag lots)”

  2 more reviewed findings on this topic

  • Specified — Rear yard setback for primary structures in unincorporated Harrison township, Boone County, Indiana, under the county zoning ordinance

    “minimum rear yard for primary structures: 20 feet in all districts”

  • District specific (with conditions) — Side yard setback in unincorporated Harrison township, Boone County, Indiana, under the county zoning ordinance

    “minimum side yard: 5 feet in all districts except the agricultural district.”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Septic systems for new homes in unincorporated Harrison township, Boone County, Indiana

  • Septic permits are issued by the Boone County Health Department; the service area is stated as the county, and the township is not named in the quoted page.

  “septic and well permits are obtained from the boone county health department, 116 w washington st, room b201, lebanon, in 46052, (765) 483-4458.”

• Septic permitRequired

  New homes needing an onsite septic system in unincorporated Harrison township, Boone County, Indiana

  • Septic permit comes from the Boone County Health Department, obtained as part of the building permit packet.
  • Fee amount not verified.

  “septic and well permits are obtained from the boone county health department, 116 w washington st, room b201, lebanon, in 46052, (765) 483-4458.”

• Well permitRequired

  New homes needing a private well in unincorporated Harrison township, Boone County, Indiana

  • Well permit comes from the Boone County Health Department as part of the same packet.
  • Fee amount not verified.

  “septic and well permits are obtained from the boone county health department, 116 w washington st, room b201, lebanon, in 46052, (765) 483-4458.”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  New residential lots in unincorporated Harrison township, Boone County, Indiana

  • Public water and public sewer connection is required for lots under one acre in all districts, per the zoning ordinance's dimensional table.
  • Lots of one acre or more are not covered by this quoted connection rule.
  • The residential packet says sewer release and proof of water service come from the local utility providers.

  “public water & public sewer connection: required in all districts for lots that are less than one acre in size.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Creating new lots by subdivision in unincorporated Harrison township, Boone County, Indiana

  • Governed by the Boone County subdivision control ordinance, administered through the Area Plan Commission; major subdivisions require APC approval.
  • Numeric subdivision standards were not opened.

  “the area plan commission has public hearings on text amendments to the subdivision control and the zoning ordinance”

• Driveway accessRequired

  New driveways and changes to existing driveways serving land in unincorporated Harrison township, Boone County, Indiana

  • Permit issued by the Boone County Highway Department; INDOT handles state-road access.
  • Applies to new driveways and changes to a site with an existing driveway, including redevelopment and new construction.

  “a driveway permit is required for new driveways and changes to a site with an existing driveway”

• Permit processPartial

  Permit process for new residential construction in unincorporated Harrison township, Boone County, Indiana

  • Covers APC development plan approval; the packet also lists driveway, drainage, health department and deed steps.
  • Full procedure and fee schedule not opened, so the process is only partly documented.

  “in addition, development plan approval from the apc is required prior to issuance of a building permit.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for a home built by the owner in unincorporated Harrison township, Boone County, Indiana
• Inspections — Building inspections for new homes in unincorporated Harrison township, Boone County, Indiana
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes in unincorporated Harrison township, Boone County, Indiana
• Local zoning — Whether Harrison township (Boone County, IN) adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in unincorporated Harrison township, Boone County, Indiana

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.