Bolthole Index

DeKalb County, Indiana

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

Stafford Township is a township in DeKalb County, Indiana. 17 rules below are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked, most recently on October 30, 2026. Rules for unincorporated land are on the DeKalb County page.

Answers from the rulebook for Stafford Township

Rules another office applies inside Stafford Township

Stafford 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

    Construction of accessory structures (barns, sheds, detached garages, carports, pools, decks) on land in unincorporated DeKalb County, including land in Stafford township outside city or town planning jurisdictions

    • Applies to accessory structures only; this excerpt does not state the permit requirement for a principal dwelling.
    • Accessory structures must comply with the development standards of the zoning district.
    “permits are required for the construction of an accessory structure and the accessory structure shall comply with all development standards for the subject zoning district.”
  • Local zoningVaries (with conditions)

    Land inside Stafford township that is outside any city or town planning jurisdiction. The DeKalb County UDO is the county zoning ordinance that applies there. This aggregates county zoning and is not a township ordinance.

    • Applies to all land within the county limits excluding the legally established planning jurisdiction of the cities and towns within DeKalb County.
    • The UDO also applies to the Town of Corunna.
    • Parcels inside a city or town planning jurisdiction are governed by that municipality, not this ordinance.
    • Not shown to be a township-adopted ordinance; the township itself has not been shown to adopt zoning.
    “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 A1 (conservation agricultural) district in unincorporated DeKalb County, including Stafford township land zoned A1 on the official zoning map

    • Applies only where the parcel is in the A1 district on the Official Zoning Map (map not reviewed).

    minimum dwelling size: >= 1200 square feet

    “maximum impervious surface coverage: • 15% of the lot area minimum dwelling size: • 1,200 square feet”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    Lots in the A1 (conservation agricultural) district in unincorporated DeKalb County, including Stafford township land zoned A1

    • 1 acre if the lot is connected to municipal sanitary sewer.
    • Area excludes dedicated rights-of-way and recorded easements.
    • Applies only where the parcel is in the A1 district on the Official Zoning Map (map not reviewed).

    minimum lot area: >= 2 net acres (1 acre if connected to municipal sanitary sewer) · minimum lot width: >= 160 feet

    “minimum lot area: • 2 net acres (not including any dedicated rights-of-way and recorded easements) • 1 acre if connected to municipal sanitary sewer minimum lot width: • 160 feet”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — Lots in the A2 (agricultural) district in unincorporated DeKalb County, including Stafford township land zoned A2
      “minimum lot area: • 2 net acres (not including any dedicated rights-of-way and recorded easements) • 1 acre if connected to municipal sanitary sewer minimum lot width: • 160 feet”
  • SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Structures in the A1 (conservation agricultural) district in unincorporated DeKalb County, including Stafford township land zoned A1

    • Applies only where the parcel is in the A1 district on the Official Zoning Map (map not reviewed).

    front yard setback, primary and accessory: >= 50 feet · side yard setback, primary: >= 30 feet · side yard setback, accessory: >= 10 feet · rear yard setback, primary: >= 30 feet · rear yard setback, accessory: >= 10 feet

    “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 minimum rear yard setback: • 30 feet for primary structures • 10 feet for accessory structures”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • District specific (with conditions) — Structures in the RE (rural estate) district in unincorporated DeKalb County, including Stafford township land zoned RE
      “minimum front yard setback: • 50 feet for primary and accessory structure minimum side yard setback: • 35 feet for primary structure • 10 feet for accessory structure minimum rear yard setback: • 35 feet for primary structure • 10 feet for accessory structure”
  • Lot coverageDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Impervious surface coverage in the A1 (conservation agricultural) district in unincorporated DeKalb County, including Stafford township land zoned A1

    • Applies only where the parcel is in the A1 district on the Official Zoning Map (map not reviewed).

    maximum impervious surface coverage: <= 15 percent of lot area

    “maximum impervious surface coverage: • 15% of the lot area minimum dwelling size: • 1,200 square feet”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • District specific (with conditions) — Impervious surface coverage in the A2 (agricultural) district in unincorporated DeKalb County, including Stafford township land zoned A2
      “maximum impervious surface coverage: • 20% of the lot area minimum dwelling size: • 1,200 square feet”
    • District specific (with conditions) — Impervious surface coverage in the RE (rural estate) district in unincorporated DeKalb County, including Stafford township land zoned RE
      “maximum impervious surface coverage: • 25% of the lot area minimum dwelling size: • 1,600 square feet”
  • Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Structure height in the A1 (conservation agricultural) district in unincorporated DeKalb County, including Stafford township land zoned A1

    • Applies only where the parcel is in the A1 district on the Official Zoning Map (map not reviewed).

    maximum structure height, primary: <= 40 feet · maximum structure height, accessory: <= 30 feet

    “maximum structure height: • 40 feet for the primary structure • 30 feet for accessory structure”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
  • Accessory dwellingsProhibited

    Accessory structures (barns, sheds, detached garages and similar) on unincorporated DeKalb County land, including Stafford township outside city or town planning jurisdiction. Does not address a separate accessory dwelling unit attached to or within the principal dwelling.

    • Accessory structures may not be used for human occupancy, except that storage use is allowed.
    • Accessory structures are permitted only after the principal building is erected, except strictly storage purposes.
    • Mobile homes, manufactured homes, recreational vehicles, trailers and similar items may not be used as accessory structures.
    “accessory structures are permitted, but not prior to the erection of the principle building, except for strictly storage purposes, and not for human occupancy.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Land divisions and subdivisions on unincorporated DeKalb County land, including Stafford township

    • Subdivision control is in article 6 of the county UDO, which is combined with zoning in one document.
    “article 6 is exclusively a subdivision control ordinance component.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption in Stafford township
  • Building code adopted — Building code adopted for new homes in Stafford township
  • Inspections — Building inspections for new homes in Stafford township
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes in Stafford township
  • Living in an RV — Occupancy of a recreational vehicle on private land in Stafford township
15 more unanswered
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Short-term rentals
  • Permit fees
  • Permit process

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 Stafford Township publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. DeKalb County’s page lists the county offices to call.

Off-grid gear

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

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