Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Jeffersonville, Indiana

Jeffersonville’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction, enlargement, or remodel of a home or building inside Jeffersonville city, administered by the city Building Commission

  • The city's Building Commission page says the permitting system is required under state code and local ordinance.
  • Permits are not required for every project; the page lists the categories requiring a permit (construction, enlargement or remodel; electrical, gas, HVAC or plumbing work; demolition).

  “in broad terms, permits are required to (1) construct, enlarge or remodel a building or home;”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Jeffersonville city limits: the city's own Unified Development Ordinance (zoning and subdivision control) administered by the Jeffersonville Planning & Zoning Department

  • The city's Unified Development Ordinance replaced the 2000 zoning ordinance and the 1996 subdivision control ordinance, as stated in the city's adoption notice.
  • The city continues to amend the UDO by ordinance (for example, Article 8.10 short-term rental text amendment, 2024).

  “this ordinance approves a new unified development code to replace and update the existing zoning and subdivision control ordinances including fines, penalties and fees.”

• Accessory dwellingsLimited

  Accessory dwelling units on residential lots inside Jeffersonville city, under the UDO special use standards (Article 8)

  • Planning department reviews all accessory dwelling applications for compliance before any permit is granted (per the Article 8 text in the 2024 staff report attachment).
  • Manufactured homes, shipping containers, recreational vehicles, semi-tractor trailers, boats, motor vehicles, and trailers may not be used as an accessory dwelling unit.
  • The 2024 staff report attachment is a text amendment packet; the adopted version and the district-level permission for ADUs were not verified.

  “c. types: no manufactured homes, manufactured homes, shipping containers, recreational vehicles, semi-tractor trailer, boat, motor vehicle, or trailer, in part or in whole shall be used as an accessory dwelling unit.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision of land inside Jeffersonville city limits

  • Subdivision standards now sit in the Unified Development Ordinance, which replaced the 1996 Subdivision Control Ordinance (1996-OR-28).
  • Specific subdivision procedures and plat standards were not opened.

  “this ordinance approves a new unified development code to replace and update the existing zoning and subdivision control ordinances including fines, penalties and fees.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Residential building permit fees inside Jeffersonville city, set by the city Building Commission residential fee list

  • Fees are paid in full when permits are issued; card payments carry a 2.95% convenience fee (Building Commission page).
  • The fee list states a $35 minimum permit fee for residential permits; fee amounts are per the official fee list and may change.
  • Commercial fees and zoning/improvement-location fees are on separate schedules and were not opened.

  minimum permit fee (residential): 35 USD · certificate of occupancy fee: 25 USD (for permits for new construction, renovations, additions and alterations to livable structures)

  “permits issued for new construction, renovations, additions and alterations to livable structures will also be subject to a $25 certificate of occupancy fee.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building permit application and payment process inside Jeffersonville city

  • Applications and permits are filed and paid online through the city's online permitting system; free accounts are available.
  • Office hours are Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Building Commission page).
  • Inspection scheduling and plan-review steps were not verified on an official page.

  “free accounts can be set up and all permits and applications can now be filed and paid for online by visiting the online permitting site.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Jeffersonville or Clark County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for homeowners doing their own construction in Jeffersonville city
• Building code adopted — Construction codes applied to new homes inside Jeffersonville city
• Inspections — Inspections for permitted residential work inside Jeffersonville city
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new or altered residential structures inside Jeffersonville city
• Zoning districts — Zoning district list and map for Jeffersonville city

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.