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

Rules another office applies inside Newville Township

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

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts for unincorporated DeKalb County land, including land inside Newville township; the county UDO applies as county zoning, not a township ordinance

  • The county's UDO covers land outside city and town planning jurisdictions.
  • The zoning map placing Newville township parcels in each district was not opened; the district list and tables are published in the UDO.

  “this unified development ordinance applies to all land within the county limits of dekalb county, indiana, excluding the legally established planning jurisdiction of the cities and towns within dekalb county.”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Single-family dwelling in the R1 low density residential district in unincorporated DeKalb County (applies only if the land is zoned R1)

  • Dimensional values from the county UDO PDF copy (2008 copyright); the 07/13/2026 UDO was not opened.
  • A1 district minimum dwelling size was not captured in the text reviewed.

  minimum dwelling size: >= 1500 square feet

  “minimum dwelling size: • 1,500 square feet”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Lots in the A1 conservation agricultural district in unincorporated DeKalb County, applies only if the land is zoned A1 (rural/agricultural district)

  • Lot width 160 feet; lot frontage 120 feet or 40 feet when designed to conserve agricultural land.
  • 1 acre minimum only if connected to municipal sanitary sewer; otherwise 2 net acres.
  • Dimensional values from the county UDO PDF copy (2008 copyright); the 07/13/2026 UDO was not opened.

  minimum lot area without municipal sewer: >= 2 net acres (excludes dedicated rights-of-way and recorded easements) · minimum lot area with municipal sanitary sewer: >= 1 acre (only if connected to municipal sanitary sewer)

  “minimum lot area: • 2 net acres (not including any dedicated rights-of-way and recorded easements) • 1 acre if connected to municipal sanitary sewer”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Single-family lots in the R1 low density residential district in unincorporated DeKalb County (applies only if the land is zoned R1)

    “minimum lot area: • 2 net acres (not including any dedicated rights-of-way and recorded easements) or 15,000 square feet with municipal sanitary sewer”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Structures in the R1 low density residential district in unincorporated DeKalb County (applies only if the land is zoned R1)

  • Dimensional values from the county UDO PDF copy (2008 copyright); the 07/13/2026 UDO was not opened.

  minimum front yard setback, primary and accessory: >= 35 feet · minimum side yard setback, primary structure: >= 25 feet · minimum side yard setback, accessory structure: >= 10 feet · minimum rear yard setback, primary structure: >= 25 feet · minimum rear yard setback, accessory structure: >= 10 feet

  “minimum front yard setback: • 35 feet for primary and accessory structures minimum side yard setback: • 25 feet for primary structures • 10 for accessory structures minimum rear yard setback: • 25 feet for primary structures • 10 for accessory structures”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Structures in the A1 conservation agricultural district in unincorporated DeKalb County (applies only if the land is zoned A1)

    “minimum front yard setback: • 50 feet for primary and accessory structures minimum side yard setback: • 30 feet for primary structures • 10 feet for accessory structures”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  Impervious surface coverage in the R1 low density residential district in unincorporated DeKalb County (applies only if the land is zoned R1)

  • Maximum impervious surface coverage 35% of lot area. A1 coverage was not captured in the text reviewed.
  • Dimensional values from the county UDO PDF copy (2008 copyright); the 07/13/2026 UDO was not opened.

  maximum impervious surface coverage: <= 35 percent of lot area

  “maximum impervious surface coverage: • 35% of the lot area”

• Living in an RVProhibited

  Using a recreational vehicle as living quarters on land in unincorporated DeKalb County, including land inside Newville township

  • Accessory structure rule also bars using a recreational vehicle as an accessory structure.
  • Applies where the county UDO applies (not inside city or town planning jurisdictions).

  “a recreational vehicle shall not be used as living quarters.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land divisions and subdivisions in unincorporated DeKalb County, including land inside Newville township, under the county UDO subdivision control article

  • The UDO applies to land outside the planning jurisdiction of cities and towns; Article 6 is the subdivision control component.
  • Plat process is handled by the county plat committee; procedures were not opened.

  “articles 2, 3, 4, and 5 are exclusively zoning ordinance components. article 6 is exclusively a subdivision control ordinance component.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Building and improvement location permit fees for residential projects in unincorporated DeKalb County, including land inside Newville township

  • Fee schedule on the county page is marked 'updated July 29, 2024' and says to visit or call for all fees; confirm current amounts with the Department of Development Services.
  • Other listed fees include residential swimming pools in ground $75.00; residential/agricultural private accessory solar energy system $30.00; foundations $50.00; demolition $50.00; residential/accessory structures $0.10 per square foot with $50.00 minimum.
  • Residential remodel $0.10 per square foot of area affected with $50.00 minimum.
  • An ILP fee may be added to the building permit fee.

  residential permit fee (new construction, accessory structures, additions, decks, porches): per 0.1 USD per square foot of floor area ($50.00 minimum fee) · minimum residential permit fee: >= 50 USD

  “residential (dwelling, manufactured, attached or detached garages, accessory structures, additions, decks, porches, etc.) $.10 per square foot of floor area. $50.00 minimum fee”

• Permit processPartial

  Permit process for new homes and structures in unincorporated DeKalb County, including land inside Newville township, through the county Department of Development Services

  • Obtain ILP before starting work; contact Department of Development Services before starting to ask whether an ILP is needed.
  • Inside Corunna and Spencerville, the municipal ILP comes first; inside other incorporated places the county may still issue building permits.
  • Full step-by-step sequence and application forms were not captured; only partial process published.

  “property owners must obtain an improvement location permit before starting construction or placing a structure on their property.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder permit exemption in Newville township
• Building code adopted — Which building code applies to construction inside Newville township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes inside Newville township
• Local zoning — Land inside Newville township's limits: whether Newville township itself adopts and administers a zoning ordinance
• Building height — Building height limits inside Newville 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.