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

Rules another office applies inside Sims Township

Sims 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

  New construction and alterations of structures in unincorporated Sims township under the Grant County Area Plan

  • Permits are issued as improvement location permits (ILP) covering how a site is improved or used; a building permit refers specifically to the structure being built or altered, per the FAQ.
  • The Area Plan page says the cities of Marion and Gas City issue their own permits; confirm that a parcel is outside their limits.
  • Fees and submittal details for building permits were not located on official pages.

  “issue and maintain improvement location and building permits (the cities of marion and gas city issue their own permits)”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Residential construction in unincorporated Sims township permitted through the Grant County Area Plan (not parcels inside Marion or Gas City, which issue their own permits)

  • The quoted statement comes from the county FAQ answer on yard barns and accessory structures, not from the code text itself.
  • The county ordinance is described as using the International Residential Code with Indiana amendments; the FAQ also refers to the IBC as the basis for county building inspections.
  • Application to Sims township by name is not stated; it follows from the Area Plan's planning jurisdiction over unincorporated Grant County.

  “within the ordinance, it addresses building rules to use for construction that are based on the international residential code book with indiana amendments.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Projects in unincorporated Sims township that receive Area Plan permits

  • Inspections follow the permits the Area Plan issues; no inspection schedule was located.

  “inspect projects associated with all permits issued according to current local and state building codes”

• Zoning districtsPartial

  Zoning districts of the Grant County area-wide zoning ordinance as applied to unincorporated Sims township

  • The FAQ confirms districts exist and drive setbacks; the district map and district list were not located on pages opened.
  • Zoning district names beyond the agricultural and suburban references were not verified.

  “front setbacks in grant county depend on the zoning district while the side setbacks are 10% of the width of the front yard.”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Residential structures in unincorporated Sims township in the agricultural or suburban district areas named in the county FAQ (the FAQ does not name the zoning districts)

  • The FAQ says the following applies 'for most properties' and points to the Grant County code of ordinance pages 224 through 226 for detailed residential setbacks; the code pages were not opened.
  • The FAQ also gives front setbacks of 15 to 25 feet in town settings depending on zoning; that applies to town settings, not to unincorporated land.
  • Commercial properties and variances need separate review through the Area Plan; variances go to the Board of Zoning Appeals.

  front yard setback, agricultural or suburban areas: 30 feet · side yard setback: 10 percent of front yard width (minimum 5 feet, maximum 25 feet) · rear yard setback, house: 20 feet · rear yard setback, accessory structure: 5 feet

  “front yard setback - 30' in agricultural or suburban areas; 15' to 25' in town settings (depending on zoning)”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Residential septic systems in Grant County, including unincorporated Sims township, administered by the Grant County Health Department Environmental Division

  • Covers repair, replacement, construction, or alteration of septic systems.
  • The portion of plumbing that is 2 feet outside the foundation is treated as part of the septic system, per the FAQ.
  • Jurisdiction over Sims township is inferred from the county-wide health department service; the page does not name townships.

  “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

  Installing, replacing, repairing, or altering a septic system serving a home in unincorporated Sims township

  • Application requires a soil analysis by a certified soil scientist; the contractor's installation plans must be approved before the permit is issued, per the FAQ.
  • Permit fees are listed under permit_fees.

  “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)

  Land division and subdivision of land in unincorporated Sims township

  • The Area Plan enforces the subdivision ordinance; the ordinance text and approval thresholds were not opened.
  • Subdivision petitions are taken by the Area Plan.

  “enforce ordinances including the zoning and subdivision ordinances, as well as the ordinances for animal feeding operations, wind energy conversions, and wireless facilities.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Driveway access from a home site in Grant County, including unincorporated Sims township: county highway department for county roads, state highway department for state roads

  • The FAQ identifies the permit source but gives no standards; the Grant County Highway Department was not opened.
  • Which office applies depends on the road the driveway connects to.

  “where can i get a driveway permit? the grant county highway department at (765) 667-6044, or the state highway department at (260) 484-9541.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Septic permit fees for Grant County Health Department permits, including homes in unincorporated Sims township. Building (ILP) permit fees were not located.

  • Fees are as stated on the Health Department FAQ page opened on 2026-10-30; confirm current schedule before relying on it.
  • Building and improvement location permit fees were not found on pages opened.

  septic permit fee, new construction: 150 USD · septic permit fee, replacement system: 125 USD (replacement means installing or expanding a soil absorption field) · septic permit fee, repair: 50 USD (repair means repairing or replacing a component other than the soil absorption field)

  “permits for new construction are $150. permits for replacement systems are $125. replacement is defined as the installation or expansion of a soil absorption field (leachfield) with or without other components. permits for repairs are $50.”

• Permit processPartial

  Improvement location and building permit process for unincorporated Sims township through the Grant County Area Plan

  • The Area Plan page names the permits it issues but gives no step-by-step process, forms list, or fee schedule for them.
  • Area Plan phone contact per the FAQ: 765-668-4765, Monday-Friday 8am to 4pm.

  “issue and maintain improvement location and building permits (the cities of marion and gas city issue their own permits)”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder permit exemption in unincorporated Sims township
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy certificates for new homes in unincorporated Sims township
• Local zoning — Whether Sims township itself adopts and administers a zoning ordinance inside its limits
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in unincorporated Sims township
• Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size for a home in unincorporated Sims 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.