Bolthole Index

Grant County, Indiana

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

Jefferson Township is a township in Grant County, Indiana. Septic permits inside Jefferson Township come from Jefferson Township. 22 rules below are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked, most recently on October 30, 2026. Rules for unincorporated land are on the Grant County page.

Answers from the rulebook for Jefferson Township

Rules another office applies inside Jefferson Township

Jefferson 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

    Improvement location and building permits for construction on unincorporated land inside Jefferson township (Grant County)

    • Permits are issued by the Grant County Area Plan office, 401 S. Adams Street, Marion.
    • The cities of Marion and Gas City issue their own permits, so parcels inside those cities fall outside this claim.
    “issue and maintain improvement location and building permits (the cities of marion and gas city issue their own permits)”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    Building permits and inspections for unincorporated land inside Jefferson township (Grant County), administered by the Grant County Area Plan office

    • The Area Plan office inspects projects under local and state building codes; the edition of the local building code was not identified.
    • The Area Plan's planning jurisdiction also covers Jonesboro, Fairmount, Matthews, Upland, Van Buren and Sweetser; the cities of Marion and Gas City issue their own permits, so parcels inside those municipalities are not covered.
    “inspect projects associated with all permits issued according to current local and state building codes.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Inspections of permitted construction on unincorporated land inside Jefferson township (Grant County)

    • Inspections follow the permits issued by the Area Plan office; the inspection schedule and stages were not captured.
    “inspect projects associated with all permits issued according to current local and state building codes.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Zoning districts applying to unincorporated land inside Jefferson township (Grant County)

    • The district boundaries are shown on the county zoning district maps incorporated into the ordinance; the maps themselves were not opened, so the parcel-level district for Jefferson township land is not confirmed.
    “the jurisdictional area of the county area plan commission is hereby classified and divided into districts designated as follows: ag agricultural rs residential suburban r1 low single-family residential r2 medium density single-family residential”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Single-family dwellings in the ag agricultural district on unincorporated land inside Jefferson township (Grant County), where the parcel is zoned ag

    • Two-story dwelling minimum ground floor area in ag is 672 square feet.
    • Applies to parcels carrying the ag designation on the official zoning map inside Jefferson township.

    minimum ground floor building area, one-story dwelling: >= 720 square feet · minimum ground floor building area, two-story dwelling: >= 672 square feet

    “one-story dwelling 720 720 960 960 720 720 720 two-story dwelling 672 672 720 720 672 672 672”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Single-family lots in the r1 low single-family residential district on unincorporated land inside Jefferson township (Grant County), where the parcel is zoned r1

    • Minimum lot width for r1 is 80 feet.
    • Lots of record or individually held before 12-15-1971 may be built on if the stipulations in sections 153.430 through 153.436 are met.
    • No land in a district may be divided to create a new parcel smaller than the district minimum (section 153.116(d)).
    • Where public sewer is not available, the minimum lot area per dwelling unit is subject to county health department approval (section 153.116(b)), and the 43,560 sq ft figure applies.

    minimum lot area with sanitary sewers: >= 12000 square feet (lots of record before 12-15-1971 per section 153.430 to 153.436) · minimum lot area without sanitary sewers: >= 43560 square feet (subject to county health department approval)

    “table § 153.200(a) - single family district requirements requirement ag rs r1 r2 r3 r4 r5 with sewers 30,000 15,000 12,000 10,000 8,000 6,000 6,000 without sewers 43,560 43,560 43,560 43,560 43,560 43,560 43,560”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Buildings on ag agricultural lots on unincorporated land inside Jefferson township (Grant County), where the parcel is zoned ag

    • Front yard is 40 feet on an arterial road and 30 feet on a collector or local road.
    • Side yard is 10% of lot width, not less than 5 feet and not more than 25 feet.
    • Rear yard is 20 feet for the main building and 5 feet for an accessory building (table rows read as rear-yard values; see locator).

    front yard, arterial road: 40 feet · front yard, collector or local road: 30 feet · rear yard, main building: 20 feet · rear yard, accessory building: 5 feet

    “arterial road 40 40 35 30 20 15 15 collector or local road 30 30 25 20 15 10 10”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Lot coverageDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Single-family lots in the ag agricultural district on unincorporated land inside Jefferson township (Grant County), where the parcel is zoned ag

    • Lot coverage is the percentage of lot area covered by the vertical projection of all buildings.

    maximum lot coverage: <= 20 percent of lot area

    “maximum lot coverage in percent of lot area 20% 20% 30% 30% 35% 35% 40%”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Buildings on ag agricultural lots on unincorporated land inside Jefferson township (Grant County), where the parcel is zoned ag

    • Agricultural structures (silos, grain bins, pole barns used with a 20-acre-plus farm) may exceed the height limit (section 153.119(a)).

    maximum building height: <= 40 feet (agricultural structures per section 153.119(a))

    “minimum lot width in feet 150 100 80 75 70 60 50 maximum building height in feet 40 35 30 30 40 40 40”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Living in an RVLimited

    Occupancy of recreational vehicles on private residential lots in unincorporated Grant County, including Jefferson township land

    • The rule sits in the county's provision on parking or storage of recreational equipment in residential and rural districts; the exact section number was not captured.
    • Equipment may not be hooked up to utilities, sewage, septic or water facilities except in a recreational vehicle park (electrical extension to prevent freezing excepted).
    • Equipment may not be attached to decks, porches, roofs, additions, foundations, carports, accessory structures, walls, fences or dwellings.

    temporary occupancy limit: <= 10 days (in any six-month period)

    “temporary occupancy is permitted, but shall not exceed ten days in any six-month period.”
  • Camping on your landLimited

    Temporary camping with recreational vehicles on private land inside Jefferson township (unincorporated Grant County)

    • Temporary occupancy of recreational equipment on a residential lot is limited to ten days in any six-month period.
    • The code defines a campground as a lot used for not more than seven months in any consecutive 12-month period; where campgrounds are allowed under the district use table (section 153.186, not captured) was not verified.

    temporary occupancy limit: <= 10 days (in any six-month period)

    “temporary occupancy is permitted, but shall not exceed ten days in any six-month period.”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Mobile homes permanently occupied or placed as a single-family residence on unincorporated land inside Jefferson township (Grant County)

    • A permanent perimeter masonry wall or foundation must be installed to building code specifications, with footers, pillars and underpinnings to code.
    • Wheels and axles must be removed.
    • Additions must be as originally manufactured for use as a single-family residence; any addition not factory-built must be inspected by the state or county.
    • Mobile homes must also meet the permit and installation conditions of the mobile home subchapter; the district permission is set by table 153.186, which was not captured.
    “(a) mobile homes may be permanently occupied/placed as single-family residence (as provided in table § 153.186) if the following requirements are met:”
  • Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

    Residential onsite septic systems for dwellings inside Jefferson township (unincorporated Grant County)

    • Septic permits are issued by the Grant County Health Department, Environmental Division, 401 South Adams Street, Marion.
    • Indiana state on-site sewage rules and the county's approved local ordinance also apply; the state layer was not separately opened.
    “you will need a septic permit, issued by the grant county health department, prior to repairing, replacing, constructing, or otherwise altering your septic system.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    New, replacement, repaired or altered residential septic systems for dwellings inside Jefferson township (unincorporated Grant County)

    • The application must be submitted with a soil analysis by an arcpacs certified soil scientist; the health department then sends minimum system requirements, and the contractor's detailed plans must be approved before the permit issues.
    • The portion of plumbing 2 feet outside the foundation is treated as part of the septic system, so repairs or replacements beyond that point need a permit.
    “you will need a septic permit, issued by the grant county health department, prior to repairing, replacing, constructing, or otherwise altering your septic system.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Division of land into lots inside Jefferson township (unincorporated Grant County), under the Area Plan Commission's subdivision ordinance

    • No improvement location permit or building permit may be issued for a parcel created by subdividing land that does not conform to the subdivision ordinance.
    • Plats and replats require Area Plan Commission approval; exempt divisions go through a separate petition to the Area Plan Commission.
    “no improvement location permit or building permit shall be issued for any parcel or plat that is created by subdividing land that is not in conformity with the provisions of this chapter.”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Residential septic permit fees for systems serving dwellings inside Jefferson township (unincorporated Grant County)

    • Repair fees apply to repair or replacement of any component other than the soil absorption field (leachfield).
    • Soil evaluations are paid to independent certified soil scientists, who set their own fees; the health department does not set them.

    septic permit, new construction: 150 USD · septic permit, replacement system: 125 USD · septic permit, repair: 50 USD (repair excludes the soil absorption field (leachfield))

    “permits for new construction are $150. permits for replacement systems are $125.”
  • Permit processPartial

    Submitting zoning and building permit applications for land inside Jefferson township (unincorporated Grant County)

    • Permits are taken in person, by phone or by email while the county moves to a new online permit system; office at 401 S. Adams Street, Marion, phone (765) 668-4765, email [email protected].
    • Permit hours are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday; office hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
    “office hours: 8 a.m.-4 p.m. mon-fri permit hours: 8 a.m.-3 p.m. mon-fri email: [email protected]”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Whether an owner may build or permit their own dwelling without a licensed contractor in unincorporated Grant County
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for a new dwelling on unincorporated land inside Jefferson township
  • Local zoning — Whether Jefferson township itself adopts and administers a zoning ordinance for land inside its limits
  • Tiny homes — Occupancy of a tiny home as a dwelling on private land inside Jefferson township (unincorporated Grant County)
  • Accessory dwellings — Accessory apartment or secondary dwelling on a lot inside Jefferson township (unincorporated Grant County)
6 more unanswered
  • Septic inspection
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • Short-term rentals

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

Off-grid gear

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

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