Bolthole Index

Clinton County, Indiana

Building permits, zoning and septic in the Town of Mulberry, Indiana

The Town of Mulberry, Indiana uses the Clinton County Area Plan Commission for building permits and inspections; applications start digitally by email.1 The commission also administers zoning and subdivision ordinances for Mulberry.2 Private sewage disposal requires a town permit from the Superintendent, with additional Clinton County Health Department requirements potentially applying.34

At a glance

Building permits
Clinton County Area Plan Commission; digital applications by email1
Zoning and subdivisions
Area Plan Commission serves Mulberry; request the applicable district standards2
Private sewage disposal
Town Superintendent permit plus county health requirements; town permit and inspection fee is $37534
Public sewer
Qualifying properties must connect within 90 days after written notice when the sewer is within 300 feet of the property line5
RV and tiny-home living
We could not confirm parcel-specific occupancy rules; ask Area Plan before buying6
Private wells
We could not confirm a Mulberry well-permit requirement; ask Clinton County Health Department78

Who to call

Building permits

Clinton County Area Plan Commission

Building permits, building inspections, zoning questions and subdivision administration inside Mulberry. Town sewage approvals and county health review are separate.

765-659-6302

[email protected]

2 E Washington St. Ste 104

Also useful

Town of Mulberry Town Hall

Contact point for reaching the town Superintendent about sewer connections and town private sewage disposal approval.

(765) 296-2455

[email protected]

123 S Glick St. Mulberry, IN 46058

Septic permits

Clinton County Health Department

County health review and residential onsite sewage permits; coordinate with Mulberry’s separate town approval.

(765) 659-6385

1234 Rossville Ave., Ste B Frankfort, IN 46041

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 12, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Town of Mulberry means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Do you need a building permit in the Town of Mulberry, IN?

Start a Mulberry home project with the Clinton County Area Plan Commission, which issues building permits and arranges inspections for the town.1 Email project details to the commission to begin the digital application process.6

The commission’s published exceptions include portable structures of 200 square feet or less, provided setbacks and other ordinance standards are met.6 Decks under 30 inches above natural grade do not need a building permit unless attached to an existing structure.6 Ask Area Plan to confirm that a proposed shed or deck qualifies before construction; the shed exception still requires compliance with placement standards.6

Who handles building permits and zoning for the Town of Mulberry?

The Clinton County Area Plan Commission explicitly serves Mulberry, so the county commission is the correct building-permit counter for an address inside town.6 Send project details to the commission’s application email listed above; the published process is digital.6 Mulberry building inspections require at least 24 hours’ notice, a valid building permit and prepaid inspections before scheduling.1

Building approval does not replace Mulberry’s private sewage disposal approval: the town Superintendent signs that separate permit, and county health requirements may also apply.34 Contact Town Hall to reach the Superintendent and Clinton County Health Department for the health review.910

Does the Town of Mulberry have zoning, lot-size and setback rules?

Mulberry is served by the Clinton County Area Plan Commission, which administers zoning and subdivision ordinances.2 Obtain the official Unified Development Ordinance from the commission rather than treating a downloaded copy as the final authority.2 Ask Area Plan to identify the parcel’s district and the standards that apply to the proposed use.6

We could not confirm Mulberry’s district-specific minimum lot sizes, setbacks, lot coverage or height limits; request those answers from Area Plan before committing to a building layout.6 A small portable structure’s building-permit exception does not waive setback guidelines or other location standards.6

How do septic permits and sewer connections work in the Town of Mulberry?

Mulberry requires sewer connection for qualifying properties abutting a street, alley or right-of-way containing public sanitary or combined sewer, when the sewer is within 300 feet of the property line; connection is due within 90 days after written notice.5 Where public sewer is unavailable under the town code, private sewage disposal requires a written Superintendent permit before construction and a $375 town permit and inspection fee when applying.3

County health approval remains part of residential onsite sewage permitting: Clinton County Health Department handles septic permits, and applications require a soils evaluation and compliant plans.1011 Mulberry’s Superintendent must receive notice for final inspection before underground portions are covered; the town code calls for inspection within 72 hours after notice.12 Coordinate both offices’ inspection procedures before covering the system.413

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in the Town of Mulberry?

We could not confirm a Mulberry rule authorizing residential RV occupancy, temporary camping or tiny-home occupancy on a private lot; ask Area Plan about the exact proposed dwelling and use.6 Request answers about occupancy, accessory dwellings and any minimum dwelling-size requirement before purchasing a unit.6

Mulberry’s sewage rules still matter to an off-grid proposal: private sewage disposal is allowed only through the town code’s compliant system, permit and inspection route where public sewer is unavailable.14 Indiana’s residential onsite sewage rules do not allow drywells or cesspools as sewage treatment.15 Sewage approval alone does not settle the unconfirmed RV or tiny-home land-use question; ask Area Plan separately.6

Building a home in the Town of Mulberry: what steps come first?

  1. Ask Area Plan to identify the parcel’s zoning and review the proposed home, placement and any subdivision proposal.62
  2. Ask the town Superintendent about sewer availability; if private sewage disposal is needed, arrange town approval and county health review before construction.5311
  3. Email project details to Area Plan to start the building-permit application.1
  4. Schedule building inspections with the required notice and prepaid inspections, and coordinate separate sewage inspections before covering underground work.11213

We could not confirm a Mulberry owner-builder exemption or certificate-of-occupancy requirement; ask Area Plan to resolve both before setting the construction schedule.6 For land outside town, use the Clinton County guide for the unincorporated-area building and zoning answers.1617

Watch-outs

  • Mulberry’s $375 residential or commercial building-sewer permit and inspection fee is a sewer approval fee, not the general building-permit price.18
  • We could not confirm private-well approval requirements inside Mulberry; ask Clinton County Health Department before planning a well.78
  • A Mulberry agricultural-purpose exemption depends on use and location; a state design-release exemption does not establish a blanket exemption from local zoning or inspections.1920

Sources

  1. Clinton County - Area Plan (Town of Mulberry), quoted and re-checked
  2. Clinton County Area Plan zoning and subdivision administration (Town of Mulberry), quoted and re-checked
  3. § 51.03 Private Sewage Disposal Systems (Town of Mulberry), quoted and re-checked
  4. § 51.03 Private Sewage Disposal Systems (Town of Mulberry), quoted and re-checked
  5. § 51.02 Mandatory Connection (Town of Mulberry), quoted and re-checked
  6. Clinton County Area Plan Commission (clintonco.com)
  7. Recommended Standards For Private Water Wells (Indiana statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  8. Clinton County Health Department (in.gov)
  9. Town of Mulberry Town Hall (townofmulberry.com)
  10. Clinton County: Staff, quoted and re-checked
  11. 410 IAC 6-8.3 Residential Onsite Sewage Systems, quoted and re-checked
  12. § 51.03 Private Sewage Disposal Systems (Town of Mulberry), quoted and re-checked
  13. 410 IAC 6-8.3 Residential Onsite Sewage Systems, quoted and re-checked
  14. codelibrary.amlegal.com (Town of Mulberry), quoted and re-checked
  15. 410 IAC 6-8.3 Residential On-Site Sewage Systems (Indiana statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  16. Clinton County Area Plan Commission (2026 county census)
  17. Clinton County - Area Plan (2026 county census)
  18. § 51.03 Private Sewage Disposal Systems (Town of Mulberry), quoted and re-checked
  19. Class 1 Structure Agricultural Purpose Exemption (Town of Mulberry), quoted and re-checked
  20. Plan Review FAQs (Indiana statewide rule), quoted and re-checked

Written October 12, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Town of Mulberry

Town of Mulberry’s own rules

  • Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

    Private sewage disposal inside Mulberry town.

    • Mulberry's Superintendent issues the town private sewage disposal permit and inspection.
    • The town code states that additional requirements may be imposed by the County Health Department.
    “additional requirements that may be imposed by the County Health Department.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Private sewage disposal systems inside Mulberry town where a public sewer is unavailable under § 51.02(D).

    • A written permit signed by the Superintendent must be obtained before construction.
    • The application must use a town form and may require plans, specifications, and other information.
    • A $375 permit and inspection fee is due when the application is filed.
    • County Health Department requirements may also apply.

    permit and inspection fee: 375 USD

    “written permit signed by the Superintendent.”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    Private sewage disposal systems constructed inside Mulberry town.

    • The Superintendent may inspect at any stage.
    • The applicant must notify the Superintendent for final inspection before underground portions are covered.
    • Inspection must be made within 72 hours after notice.
    • The permit becomes effective only after installation is completed to the Superintendent's satisfaction.

    final inspection response time: 72 hours

    “The inspection shall be made within 72 hours”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Private or off-grid sewage disposal inside Mulberry town.

    • It is unlawful to construct or maintain a privy, privy vault, septic tank, cesspool, or other sewage-disposal facility except as provided by Chapter 51.
    • Where public sewer is unavailable, a compliant private sewage disposal system may be used with a written town permit, inspection, state health recommendations, and any County Health Department requirements.
    “Except as hereinafter provided, it shall be unlawful”
  • Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

    Properties inside Mulberry town abutting a street, alley, or right-of-way containing a public sanitary or combined sewer.

    • Connection is required within 90 days after written notice.
    • The public sewer must be within 300 feet of the property line.
    • Where public sewer is unavailable under § 51.02(D), a private sewage disposal system is used subject to § 51.03.

    connection deadline: 90 days after written notice · maximum distance from property line: <= 300 feet (public sewer availability condition)

    “within 90 days after date of written notice”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Town private sewage disposal and building-sewer permits inside Mulberry town.

    • Private sewage disposal permit and inspection fee is $375.
    • Residential or commercial building sewer permit and inspection fee is $375.
    • Industrial building sewer permit and inspection fee is $500.

    private sewage disposal permit and inspection fee: 375 USD · residential or commercial building sewer permit and inspection fee: 375 USD · industrial building sewer permit and inspection fee: 500 USD

    “$375 for a residential or commercial building permit and $500 for an industrial building sewer permit”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Mulberry

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

  • Agricultural exemptionConditional

    Agricultural-purpose structures inside Mulberry town.

    • The structure must be used only for an agricultural purpose.
    • It must be located on the land where the agricultural operation is located.
    • It must not be used for retail trade; a farm-produce stand used for retail sales for more than 8 consecutive months in a calendar year does not qualify.
    • If the exemption applies, the structure is not a Class 1 structure, does not require a design release, and is not required to conform to the building code.

    retail farm-produce stand period: > 8 consecutive months in a calendar year (exemption does not apply)

    “If no, the agricultural exemption applies”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision and development inside Mulberry town administered through the Clinton County Area Plan Commission.

    • The Area Plan Commission serves Mulberry and states that it administers zoning and subdivision ordinances.
    • The official Unified Development Ordinance is available from the Area Plan Commission office; downloaded versions are identified as nonofficial.
    “administering the zoning and subdivision ordinances”
  • Permit processPartial

    Building-permit process inside Mulberry town.

    • The Clinton County Area Plan Commission serves Mulberry and issues building permits and inspections.
    • Applications are handled digitally by email.
    • A valid building permit and prepaid inspections are required before scheduling an inspection.
    • Twenty-four-hour notice is required for inspections.

    inspection notice: >= 24 hours

    “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 Town of Mulberry or Clinton County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for construction inside Mulberry town.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificate-of-occupancy requirements inside Mulberry town.
  • Local zoning — Zoning adopted and administered by Mulberry town within its corporate limits.
  • Zoning districts — Zoning districts and district maps inside Mulberry town.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside Mulberry town.
11 more unanswered
  • Minimum lot size
  • Setbacks
  • Lot coverage
  • Building height
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Well permit
  • Driveway access
  • Short-term rentals

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.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Town of Mulberry publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Clinton County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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