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

Rules another office applies inside Johnson Township

Johnson 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

  Building permits for construction in unincorporated Clinton County, including unincorporated Johnson township, issued by the Clinton County Area Plan Commission

  • The APC page says it issues use and building permits and that a building permit is needed for work it covers; the page says the building permit is handled digitally.
  • Exemptions stated on the same page: portable structures of 200 square feet or less do not require a permit, but must follow setback and other ordinance standards; decks under 30 inches above natural grade do not require a permit unless attached to an existing structure; replacing only shingles and/or decking does not require a permit.
  • Repairs or modifications to the framing or roof require permits.
  • Johnson township inclusion is inferred from its unincorporated status; the APC page does not name it.

  portable structure size exempt from permit (maximum): <= 200 square feet (footings or foundations not required, but must follow setback guidelines and other ordinance standards) · deck height exempt from permit (natural grade to top of deck): < 30 inches (permit required if attaching to an existing structure)

  “a permit is not required for replacing only shingles and/or decking, however any repairs or modifications to the framing or the roof do require permits.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Indiana Residential Code for one- and two-family dwellings, applies statewide including inside Johnson township

  • Adopted as 675 IAC 14-4.4 (2020 Indiana Residential Code) based on the 2018 International Residential Code for One- and Two-Family Dwellings; the state page lists it as currently in effect.
  • Local enforcement of this code inside Johnson township was not verified.
  • Manufactured homes are not covered by this code (not verified on the cited page).

  “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”

• InspectionsRequired

  Building inspections for permitted construction in unincorporated Clinton County, including unincorporated Johnson township, performed by the Clinton County Area Plan Commission

  • 24-hour notice is required to schedule an inspection.
  • A valid building permit and pre-paid inspections are required before an inspection can be scheduled.
  • All footers, walls, and under-floor plumbing inspections must be completed before any concrete is poured, per the APC inspection FAQ.
  • Johnson township inclusion is inferred from its unincorporated status.

  inspection notice: >= 24 hours

  “24 hour notice is required for all inspections. you must have a valid building permit and pre-paid inspections before scheduling one.”

• Local zoningVaries (with conditions)

  Zoning in unincorporated Clinton County, including unincorporated Johnson township. This is an aggregate claim: it does not establish that Johnson township adopted its own zoning ordinance.

  • The Clinton County Area Plan Commission administers the zoning and subdivision ordinances for the county and for the towns of Mulberry, Rossville, Kirklin and Colfax as the APC page states; the conclusion aggregates township and municipal zoning.
  • The APC page does not name Johnson township. Its inclusion in the unincorporated areas is inferred from its status as an unincorporated township, not stated on the page.
  • The county Unified Development Ordinance text (2015, revised 8/15/2024) was not readable in this run, so its district standards are not verified.
  • Johnson township's own adoption of zoning is not verified; see the township-specific unknown local_zoning claim.

  “the area plan commission of clinton county serves mulberry, rossville, kirklin, colfax, and the unincorporated areas in clinton county.”

• Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

  Onsite sewage (septic) systems on residential land inside Johnson township, administered by the Clinton County health department under the state rule

  • The state rule 410 IAC 6-8.3 is administered by local boards of health through their health officers, so the state sets the standard and the local health department issues permits.
  • The Clinton County health department page states it serves Clinton County and its municipalities; that its service area covers unincorporated Johnson township is inferred, not stated.
  • Clinton County's own local ordinance on septic systems was not found; any local ordinance is not verified.

  “this rule shall be administered by the local boards of health through their health officer and his or her the health officer's authorized representatives.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Residential onsite sewage system construction permits for new systems, and for additions, alterations, replacements or repairs of existing systems, on land inside Johnson township, issued by the Clinton County local health department

  • The application must be made on a form provided by the local health department.
  • The rule text as published says the local health department shall issue or deny a permit in writing within 'forty-five (45) thirty (30)' days of receipt of an application and plan submittal; the amendment text shows both numbers, so confirm the final codified deadline with the health department.
  • The lead-in sentence listing when a permit is required was not fully captured; the list items shown are (5) reconstruction, (6) expansion or remodeling that may increase bedrooms or design daily flow, (7) addition, alteration, replacement or repair of an existing system, and (8) installation for an existing residence without a system.
  • Construction may proceed only after the permit is issued; the local health officer may require scale drawings of the site and system.
  • Clinton County health department's specific forms and fees were not found.

  “the application for a construction permit shall be made on a form provided by the local health department.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision of land in unincorporated Clinton County, including unincorporated Johnson township, administered by the Clinton County Area Plan Commission

  • The APC page says it administers the subdivision ordinance; the APC also holds primary and minor subdivision plat petitions, per its applications list.
  • The procedure, standards and fees of the subdivision ordinance were not read (UDO PDF unreadable).
  • Johnson township inclusion is inferred from its unincorporated status.

  “administering the zoning and subdivision ordinances to guide development towards the goals in the adopted comprehensive plan.”

• Permit processPartial

  Building permit process for unincorporated Clinton County, including unincorporated Johnson township, through the Clinton County Area Plan Commission

  • Applicants email project details to the APC administrative assistant, who helps start the process; the page does not list the steps, forms, or fees.
  • Permit must be valid before inspections are scheduled, and inspections require pre-paid fees.
  • Johnson township inclusion is inferred from its unincorporated status.

  “if you need a building permit, we do those digitally. please email your project details to [email protected] and she will assist you in getting started.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption from permit or licensing for a home in Johnson township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for a new dwelling in Johnson township
• Zoning districts — Zoning districts applying to parcels in unincorporated Johnson township
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in the main single-family residential district and any agricultural or rural-residential district in unincorporated Johnson township
• Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size in the main single-family residential district and any agricultural or rural-residential district in unincorporated Johnson 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.