Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Town of Ferdinand, Indiana

Town of Ferdinand’s own rules

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Land, structures, and developments erected or changed in use or construction inside Ferdinand town limits.

  • Final approval must show conformity with the zoning ordinance and other Town ordinances.

  “No land or structure or part thereof erected or changed in its use or construction shall be used until the Secretary shall have issued final approval”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land within Ferdinand town and its stated jurisdictional area.

  • Zoning districts are shown on the Town zoning map available for public inspection at the Town Office.

  “The Town and the Jurisdictional Area contiguous thereto are divided into the following zoning districts which primarily regulate the use of land shown below under three general land categories:”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts inside Ferdinand town and its stated jurisdictional area.

  • The Town map establishes standard and overlay zoning district boundaries.
  • The ordinance describes Agricultural; one- and two-family residential; multiple-family residential; mobile-home; commercial; and industrial districts.

  “The standard districts and overlay zoning districts are bounded as shown on maps entitled "Zoning, Town of Ferdinand, Indiana," a copy of which is available for public inspection at the Town Office.”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Single-family dwellings and dwelling units inside Ferdinand town limits.

  • Living area is the stated measurement.
  • Other zoning requirements remain applicable.

  single-family dwelling minimum living area: >= 1000 square feet · dwelling-unit minimum living area: >= 500 square feet

  “No single family dwelling shall be erected having a living area of less than one thousand (1,000) square feet. No dwelling unit shall be erected having a living area of less than five hundred (500) square feet.”

• Building heightSpecified

  Detached accessory buildings or structures in residential areas and agricultural areas of five acres or less inside Ferdinand town limits.

  • The maximum roof ridge is tied to the height of the residential structure served.
  • The accessory building or structure must be on the same lot as, or immediately adjacent to, the residence it serves.

  detached accessory building maximum height: no greater than the residential structure it serves (Residential areas and agricultural areas consisting of five acres or less.)

  “detached buildings or structures shall have a maximum height and roof ridge which is no greater than that of the residential structure it serves.”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  Private sewage disposal systems inside Ferdinand town limits.

  • Private-system installation must be completed to the satisfaction of the Town Superintendent.
  • The ordinance preserves additional requirements imposed by the Health Officer.

  “Before commencement of construction of a private sewage disposal system, the owner shall first obtain a written permit signed by the Superintendent.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Private sewage disposal systems inside Ferdinand town limits.

  • The system must meet State Board of Health requirements.
  • Subsurface soil absorption facilities may not be permitted on lots under 20,000 square feet.
  • No septic tank or cesspool may discharge to a natural outlet.
  • When public sewer becomes available, connection and abandonment of the private system are required.

  minimum lot area for subsurface soil absorption facilities: >= 20000 square feet (No permit may be issued below this area.)

  “No permit shall be issued for any private sewage disposal system employing subsurface soil absorption facilities where the area of the lot is less than twenty thousand (20,000) square feet.”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  A property inside Ferdinand town limits served by a private sewage disposal system when public sewer becomes available.

  • The building sewer must connect within 90 days after public sewer becomes available.
  • The private sewage disposal system must be cleaned of sludge and filled with clean bank-run gravel or dirt.

  connection deadline: <= 90 days (After public sewer becomes available.)

  “When a public sewer becomes available, the building sewer shall be connected to said sewer within ninety (90) days”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivisions of land within Ferdinand town and its stated jurisdictional area.

  • A plat or replat may not be recorded until final Commission approval is entered on the plat.
  • The ordinance contains stated exemptions, including certain adjacent-lot-owner transfers, divisions using existing streets/easements, and qualifying family-farm residence transfers.

  “No plat or replat of a subdivision of land located within the Town or the jurisdictional area shall be recorded until it shall have the final approval of the Commission”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Town Improvement Location Permits and listed Town permit applications.

  • Improvement Location Permit fees are due when the application is filed with the Town office.
  • Building/Location Improvement Permit fees vary by fair market value and district.

  residential and agricultural Improvement Location Permit fee: $10-$100 USD (Depends on fair market value.) · fences, swimming pools, driveways, and miscellaneous Improvement Location Permit fee: 10 USD

  “Permit fees vary from $10 – $100 based on fair market value (FMV) and district.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Improvement Location Permit applications inside Ferdinand town limits.

  • Application is made to the Secretary on the Town form or a revised Town-adopted form.
  • The Secretary or Commission must grant or deny preliminary approval within 10 days after submission.
  • Final approval is required before the land, structure, development, or changed use may be used.

  preliminary approval decision period: <= 10 days (From the date the application is submitted.)

  “The Secretary or Commission shall grant or deny preliminary approval within ten (10) days from the date the application is submitted.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Town of Ferdinand or Dubois County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residences inside Ferdinand town limits.
• Building code adopted — Construction inside Ferdinand town limits.
• Inspections — Residential building construction inside Ferdinand town limits.
• Minimum lot size — Residential lots inside Ferdinand town limits.
• Lot coverage — Residential lots inside Ferdinand town limits.

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.