Bolthole Index

Dubois County, Indiana

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Huntingburg, Indiana

The City of Huntingburg, Indiana (Dubois County) sets its own zoning through a Unified Development Ordinance1. Accessory dwellings need an improvement location permit2; we could not confirm the general building permit process for other construction. Septic requirements on unsewered city lots are set by the Dubois County Health Department3.

At a glance

Zoning
Yes: city Unified Development Ordinance with AG, R-1, R-2, R-3 and other districts14
Building permit
Improvement location permit required for accessory dwellings; general rule not confirmed2
Septic
Dubois County Health Department decides septic on unsewered lots3
Water and sewer
Municipal water and sewer required for new primary structures in AG and R-1 unless within 300 feet of sanitary sewer5
Minimum home size
1,100 sq ft in R-1; 650 sq ft per unit in AG67
Setbacks (R-1)
25 ft front, 5 ft side, 10 ft rear for a house8

Who to call

Septic permits

Dubois County Health Department, Environmental Health

Septic permits and inspections in Dubois County

(812) 481-7050

One Courthouse Square, Jasper, IN 47546

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 23, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

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Does Huntingburg, Indiana have zoning?

Yes. The City of Huntingburg administers its own zoning through the Unified Development Ordinance, which combines the city's zoning and subdivision control rules1. The ordinance lists districts including AG, R-1, R-2, R-3, MU, DMU, B-1, B-2, B-3, I-1, I-2 and P4.

In the R-1 low-density residential district, a single-family dwelling needs at least 1,100 square feet of living area6, with setbacks of 25 feet front, 5 feet side and 10 feet rear for the house8, impervious coverage up to 30%9 and a 25-foot height limit10. In the AG agriculture district the minimum is 650 square feet per unit7, with the same 25-foot front and 5-foot side setbacks and a 10-foot rear setback for the house11, coverage up to 35%12 and a 40-foot height limit13.

We could not confirm whether Huntingburg allows RV living or tiny homes; ask the city planning office before you buy.

Do you need a building permit in Huntingburg, Indiana?

Building an accessory dwelling unit in Huntingburg requires an improvement location permit, so the structure can be checked against the applicable building codes2. We could not confirm the city's permit process for other construction, including whether inspections or a certificate of occupancy apply. Indiana leaves the decision to require a building permit or plan review to each local jurisdiction14, so call the City of Huntingburg before you start.

Subdivision approval is required for all subdivisions inside the city15.

How do septic permits work in Huntingburg, Indiana?

New primary structures on AG and R-1 lots in Huntingburg need municipal water and sewer, unless the lot is within 300 feet of sanitary sewer5. On city lots without sewer, the Dubois County Health Department determines the septic requirements3, and it must approve any septic changes needed for an accessory dwelling16.

In Dubois County, a written construction permit signed by the health officer is required before residence construction on a system not connected to sewer17. The Dubois County Health Department, Environmental Health office is at One Courthouse Square, Jasper, (812) 481-705018. Only about 3% of Dubois County soils rate as not limited for a conventional drain field, so expect a soils evaluation and possibly an engineered system19.

Building a home in Huntingburg: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm the lot's zoning district with the City of Huntingburg and check the district's size, setback and coverage limits4.
  2. Ask the city whether sanitary sewer is within 300 feet of the lot5.
  3. If there is no sewer, apply to the Dubois County Health Department for a septic construction permit17.
  4. Ask the city which building permit or improvement location permit applies; accessory dwellings need one2.
  5. Check floodway status: development in a state floodway needs DNR approval first20.

What stays with Dubois County, and what to check before you buy

Land outside Huntingburg city limits is governed differently: Dubois County has no county-wide zoning for unincorporated areas21. See the Dubois County page for those answers. Septic permits are a county health function either way22.

A driveway onto a state highway needs an INDOT permit23. Dubois County's effective property tax rate is 0.7%24.

Watch-outs

  • We could not confirm Huntingburg's general building permit rules, fees, inspections or floodplain rules beyond accessory dwellings2; ask the City of Huntingburg.
  • Short-term rentals are a permitted accessory use in R-1, R-2 and R-3, but specific standards apply that we did not review25.
  • The district figures above are for AG and R-1 only; other districts have different standards4.

Sources

  1. Huntingburg Code of Ordinances, Chapter 153: Unified Development Ordinance and Zoning Map (American Legal Publishing) (Huntingburg), quoted and re-checked
  2. Huntingburg Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), City of Huntingburg, Indiana (PDF on city website) (Huntingburg), quoted and re-checked
  3. Huntingburg Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), City of Huntingburg, Indiana (PDF on city website) (Huntingburg), quoted and re-checked
  4. Huntingburg Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), City of Huntingburg, Indiana (PDF on city website) (Huntingburg), quoted and re-checked
  5. Huntingburg Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), City of Huntingburg, Indiana (PDF on city website) (Huntingburg), quoted and re-checked
  6. Huntingburg Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), City of Huntingburg, Indiana (PDF on city website) (Huntingburg), quoted and re-checked
  7. Huntingburg Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), City of Huntingburg, Indiana (PDF on city website) (Huntingburg), quoted and re-checked
  8. Huntingburg Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), City of Huntingburg, Indiana (PDF on city website) (Huntingburg), quoted and re-checked
  9. Huntingburg Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), City of Huntingburg, Indiana (PDF on city website) (Huntingburg), quoted and re-checked
  10. Huntingburg Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), City of Huntingburg, Indiana (PDF on city website) (Huntingburg), quoted and re-checked
  11. Huntingburg Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), City of Huntingburg, Indiana (PDF on city website) (Huntingburg), quoted and re-checked
  12. Huntingburg Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), City of Huntingburg, Indiana (PDF on city website) (Huntingburg), quoted and re-checked
  13. Huntingburg Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), City of Huntingburg, Indiana (PDF on city website) (Huntingburg), quoted and re-checked
  14. in.gov (Indiana statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  15. Huntingburg Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), City of Huntingburg, Indiana (PDF on city website) (Huntingburg), quoted and re-checked
  16. Huntingburg Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), City of Huntingburg, Indiana (PDF on city website) (Huntingburg), quoted and re-checked
  17. Environmental Health, quoted and re-checked
  18. Dubois County Health Department, Environmental Health (duboiscounty.in.gov)
  19. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
  20. Water: Regulatory Programs, quoted and re-checked
  21. Dubois County IN - Departments (2026 county census)
  22. Environmental Health (2026 county census)
  23. INDOT Driveway Permit Guide 2024 (Indiana statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  24. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  25. Huntingburg Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), City of Huntingburg, Indiana (PDF on city website) (Huntingburg), quoted and re-checked

Written October 23, 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 Huntingburg

Huntingburg’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Constructing or establishing an accessory dwelling unit inside Huntingburg city. The general permit requirement for other new construction was not confirmed.

    • The ILP (improvement location permit) is required so the structure can be checked against the applicable building codes and found safe and habitable.
    • Applies only to accessory dwelling units under UDO Chapter 4, dwelling, accessory.
    “an ilp is required to construct and/or establish an accessory dwelling in order to ensure that the structure meets all of the applicable building codes and is safe and habitable.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside Huntingburg city limits: the city's own Unified Development Ordinance, which combines its zoning and subdivision control ordinances

    • The UDO was adopted by Ord. No. 2021-08 and amended by Ord. No. 2021-13 (passed 4-27-2021), per the code's history note.
    • Use permissions and dimensional limits vary by zoning district; see the district claims.
    “(a) the huntingburg unified development ordinance, adopted on march 23, 2021 by ord. no. 2021-08, and any subsequent supplements or amendments thereto, combining the city zoning and subdivision control ordinances, is hereby incorporated by reference into the city code of ordinances.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Zoning districts inside Huntingburg city, including AG, R-1, R-2, R-3, MU, DMU, B-1, B-2, B-3, I-1, I-2 and P as listed in the UDO district sections

    • Only the R-1 and AG district tables were read in full; other districts are listed in the UDO but were not reviewed here.
    “huntingburg udo 14 c. development standards. development standards – low density residential district (r–1)”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    Single-family dwellings in the low-density residential district (R-1) inside Huntingburg city

    • Read from the flattened table. The 1,100 sq ft value is taken as the single-family column, because the non-residential column shows na.
    • Two-family minimum was not confirmed separately.

    minimum living area: >= 1100 sq ft

    “minimum living area 1,100 sqft na minimum width/depth of primary structure 24 feet na”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • SetbacksSpecified

    Single-family primary and accessory structures in the agriculture district (AG) inside Huntingburg city

    • Front setback: 25 feet.
    • Primary structure side yard: 5 feet. Accessory structure side yard: 5 feet.
    • Primary structure rear yard: 10 feet. Accessory structure rear yard: 10 feet.
    • Read from the flattened table; the single-family column is taken first.

    minimum front yard setback: >= 25 feet · minimum side yard setback, primary structure: >= 5 feet · minimum side yard setback, accessory structure: >= 5 feet · minimum rear yard setback, primary structure: >= 10 feet · minimum rear yard setback, accessory structure: >= 10 feet

    “20,000 sqft 25 feet 50 feet primary structure 5 feet 20 feet accessory structure 5 feet 10 feet primary structure 10 feet 20 feet accessory structure 10 feet 10 feet 35% 75% no no”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    Single-family lots in the agriculture district (AG) inside Huntingburg city

    • Maximum impervious surface coverage: 35%, single-family column; 75% for non-residential.

    maximum impervious surface coverage: <= 35 percent

    “accessory structure 10 feet 10 feet 35% 75% no no structure standards maximum height of structure”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Building heightSpecified

    Single-family structures in the agriculture district (AG) inside Huntingburg city

    • Primary structure: 40 feet; accessory structure: 30 feet, single-family column.
    • Asterisked figures (*50 feet) apply to non-residential uses.

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

    “primary structure 40 feet *50 feet accessory structure 30 feet *50 feet”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Mandatory utility hookupWater and sewer (with conditions)

    New primary structures on lots in the AG and R-1 districts inside Huntingburg city; the same utility line also appears in the R-2, R-3 and non-residential district tables, which were not read in full

    • The UDO requires municipal water and sewer, unless the lot is within 300 feet of sanitary sewer.
    • Where municipal sewer is not available, lot area follows the septic rules in the district tables (see the minimum lot size claims).

    distance to sanitary sewer exception: 300 feet (unless within 300’ of sanitary sewer)

    “municipal water and sewer required (unless within 300’ of sanitary sewer)”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Land divisions into subdivisions inside Huntingburg city

    • Subdivision approval is required for all subdivisions, under the UDO.
    “all subdivisions require subdivision approval. all new primary structures for commercial, industrial, and multi-family projects require development plan approval.”
  • Short-term rentalsLimited

    Short-term rentals as an accessory use in the R-1, R-2 and R-3 residential districts inside Huntingburg city

    • Listed as a permitted accessory use marked with an asterisk, so specific development standards apply; those standards were not opened.
    “accessory uses • *home occupation • *short-term rental • *solar energy system, accessory”

Rules another office applies inside Huntingburg

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

  • Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

    Septic systems on lots inside Huntingburg city that are not served by sanitary sewer, such as AG and R-1 lots. The Dubois County Health Department determines the septic requirements inside city limits.

    • The UDO names the Dubois County Health Department for septic determinations.
    • Where sanitary sewer is available, the city's sewer requirement controls; see the utility connection claim.
    • The health department's service area and septic permit rules were not opened.
    “**as determined by the dubois county health department or available sanitary service provider as appropriate.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Connecting or modifying an existing septic system to serve an accessory dwelling unit inside Huntingburg city

    • Applies only to accessory dwelling units; general septic permit requirements for other construction were not confirmed.
    “the health department shall approve connections or modifications to any existing septic system that may be needed to accommodate the accessory dwelling.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for homes inside Huntingburg city
  • Building code adopted — Building code adoption inside Huntingburg city
  • Inspections — Building inspections inside Huntingburg city
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy for new dwellings inside Huntingburg city
  • Living in an RV — Long-term RV occupancy on private land inside Huntingburg city
10 more unanswered
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • Building in a floodplain
  • 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 Huntingburg publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Dubois County’s page lists the county offices to call.

← All of Dubois County: county rules, score and offices