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

Rules another office applies inside Richland Township

Richland 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

  Most improvements to property on unincorporated land in Richland township, permitted by the DeKalb County Department of Development Services

  • Construction may proceed only after the permit is issued.
  • Permits cover most types of improvements, including adding to structures, ponds and many remodeling jobs.
  • Permit fees are paid online after the department states the fee.

  “please note that permits are required from the development services department for most types of improvements to property including building and/or adding to, structures, ponds, and many remodeling jobs.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Unincorporated land inside Richland township (DeKalb County, Indiana). The county Unified Development Ordinance applies there because no Richland township zoning ordinance was found; this is county zoning, not a township ordinance.

  • The county's zoning jurisdiction covers the contiguous unincorporated area; the development services page names only Ashley, Auburn, Altona, Butler, Garrett, Hamilton, St. Joe and Waterloo as places it does not zone. Richland township is not on that list.
  • Land inside a municipality with its own zoning is not covered by this claim.

  “dekalb county does not have planning & zoning jurisdiction for ashley, auburn, altona, butler, garrett, hamilton, st. joe & waterloo.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  County zoning districts that apply to unincorporated land in Richland township (A1, R1 and others listed in the UDO)

  • Districts apply by county UDO, not a Richland township map; the zoning map was not opened.

  “article 02 low density residential (r1) district 2.14 r1 district development standards”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  A1 (conservation agricultural) district land in unincorporated Richland township

  • Minimum lot area is 1 acre if connected to municipal sanitary sewer.

  minimum lot area: >= 2 net acres (1 acre 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 — R1 (low density residential) district land in unincorporated Richland township

    “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”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Front and side yard setbacks in the R1 district in unincorporated Richland township

  • Accessory structure side yard setback (10 feet) is cut off in the captured text and is not stated as final.
  • Rear yard setback for R1 was not captured.

  front yard setback, primary and accessory structures: >= 35 feet · side yard setback, primary structures: >= 25 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”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • District specific (with conditions) — Front yard setback in the A1 district in unincorporated Richland township

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

• Living in an RVProhibited

  Use of a recreational vehicle as living quarters on unincorporated land in Richland township

  • Stated in the UDO's definition of recreational vehicle; the accessory structure section also bars RVs from use as an accessory structure.
  • Campground and recreational vehicle park rules, and any temporary occupancy allowance, were not opened.

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

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Septic systems on land inside Richland township, handled by the DeKalb County Health Department

  • The health department page lists septic services among its environmental information and permitting; the state septic rule was not opened.

  “food and septic information, inspections, permitting and complaints”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Plats and replats involving unincorporated land in Richland township

  • The UDO's subdivision control ordinance is administered by the plan commission; splits that do not open a public way may go to the plat committee.

  “jurisdiction over unincorporated land: the plan commission shall have exclusive control over the approval of plats and replats involving unincorporated land within its jurisdiction.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for a homeowner building on their own land in Richland township
• Building code adopted — Which building code applies to new homes in Richland township
• Inspections — Whether building inspections are required for new homes in Richland township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes in Richland township
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in Richland 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.