Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Town of Walton, Indiana

Town of Walton’s own rules

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Occupancy of land or a structure for which a Walton town improvement location permit was issued

  • The certificate is issued to ensure full compliance with the terms of the improvement location permit.
  • Section 904 declares violations a class C infraction (fine stated in the ordinance) — not reviewed further.

  “prior to occupancy of land or structure for which an improvement location permit was issued, a certificate of occupancy must be obtained”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside the corporate limits of Walton town, Cass County, Indiana. The ordinance also covers the Walton jurisdictional fringe area, which is outside town limits and is not covered by this claim.

  • Ordinance 88-1 was adopted May 2, 1988 and took effect May 20, 1988; the copy reviewed is marked as amended through 2016.
  • The document is hosted on the Cass County site but its title and enacting clause are the Town of Walton's own ordinance (ordinance enacted by the town of walton, county of cass, state of indiana).

  “this ordinance shall apply to all land within the corporate limits of the town of walton and within the jurisdictional fringe area of the town of walton as established on march 15, 1988”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts of the Town of Walton and its jurisdictional fringe area, as set out in section 302 of the Walton zoning ordinance. Districts seen in the opened text: ag (agricultural), sr (suburban residential), nr (neighborhood residential), tc (town center). The full list and zone maps (section 301) were not opened.

  • Districts apply to the town and its fringe; the claim for town-limit land rests on the same ordinance.
  • District-specific dimensional limits are not stated in this claim; see the unknown dimensional claims.

  “the town of walton and the jurisdictional fringe area is divided into the following zoning districts for purposes as stated”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Mobile homes located in Walton town under the zoning ordinance

  • Section 506 lists exterior requirements a mobile home must meet (structurally sound and weather-tight exterior walls and roof, uniform surface materials, weather-tight windows and doors).
  • Which districts allow mobile homes (Table A) and the section 508 modular home rules were not opened.

  “506 mobile home: mobile homes shall meet the following requirements:”

• Accessory dwellingsLimited

  Accessory apartments inside Walton town created by converting an existing structure

  • Allowed only through conversion of a structure to add one dwelling unit beside the single-family residence, or several units where the building also has a commercial use.
  • Section 516 requires no visible exterior change except added windows and changes needed to meet 516.04, and requires compliance with applicable building and health codes (516.02).

  “a structure may be converted to allow the incorporation of one dwelling unit in addition to the single-family residence, or multiple dwelling units in addition to the commercial use of the building, to extend the economic life of a large, older building. accessory apartments are subject to the following requirements:”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Improvement location permits (zoning permits) for land use and structure work inside Walton town, issued by the town zoning administrator under section 902 of the Walton zoning ordinance.

  • An improvement location permit is required before occupying or using land, constructing, reconstructing, moving, altering or enlarging a structure, changing use, or changing a nonconforming use, except as provided in section 902.02.
  • Section 902.02 exempts water management and use facilities, yard improvements listed in section 306.04, and land preparation for gardens and yards.
  • After approval the applicant may proceed to secure any other applicable permits, e.g., building permits. Those other permits are not described in the opened text.

  “except as provided below, an improvement location permit shall be obtained before any person may:”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Town of Walton or Cass County directly.

• Building permit — Building permits for new construction inside Walton town
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for permits in Walton town
• Building code adopted — Building code applicable to construction inside Walton town
• Inspections — Building inspections for construction inside Walton town
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling floor area in Walton town, by district

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.