Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Van Buren Township, Indiana

Rules another office applies inside Van Buren Township

Van Buren 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 structures, additions, and listed work on unincorporated land in Van Buren township (outside the Town of Van Buren limits)

  • The FAQ lists these permit triggers: is it a new structure (principal or accessory building)?; is it an addition?; is the work on heating, ventilation, or air conditioning?; is the work a remodel, alteration, or repair?; is the work any type of swimming pool (above or in-ground)?; is the work a deck or enclosing an existing porch?; is the work replacing or repairing a roof?
  • Within the town limits, contact the town hall or the county building inspector instead.
  • Permits for roofs and electrical hookups can be called in to the Area Plan office at (765) 668-4765 per the FAQ.

  “do you need a permit? if you answer yes to any of the following questions, you do need a permit:”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Required — Accessory structures over 120 square feet on unincorporated land in Van Buren township

    “the county ordinance specifies that structures over 120 square feet, have to get an accessory building permit from the grant county area plan commission prior to installation.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  New residential construction on unincorporated land in Van Buren township, under Grant County building rules

  • Within the town limits of Van Buren, the FAQ directs residents to the town hall or the county building inspector instead.
  • Quoted FAQ text: on december 26th, 2019, indiana adopted the 2018 international residential code (irc), which can be found as the 2020 indiana residential code (irc)
  • Quoted FAQ text: the irc states that any detached garage, carport or accessory structure over two hundred (200) square feet must be placed on a permanent foundation and/or footer.
  • FAQ states other methods may be approved by the building inspector to meet the anchoring and base requirements.

  residential building code: 2018 International Residential Code with Indiana amendments (2020 Indiana Residential Code)

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

• InspectionsRequired

  Inspections of permitted work on unincorporated land in Van Buren township

  • Inspections are by the county building inspector outside town limits, per the FAQ.
  • Work inside the Town of Van Buren limits goes to the town hall or county building inspector.

  advance notice for inspection request: >= 24 hours (FAQ says inspections are typically available the next day)

  “how long before i can get an inspection? typically the next day, but we require an advanced notice of 24 hours.”

• Zoning districtsPartial

  Zoning districts of the Grant County areawide zoning ordinance as applied to unincorporated Van Buren township

  • Only the existence of zone districts is confirmed here; district names, map and use table were not located on opened pages.
  • Dimensional districts are needed to split agricultural and residential setbacks.

  “each zone district lists special exceptions that, because of their special impact or unique characteristics, can have a substantial adverse impact upon or incompatible with other uses of land.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Side and rear yard setbacks for most residential properties on unincorporated land in Van Buren township

  • FAQ summary, stated 'for most properties'; not split by zoning district.
  • Corner lot: the side yard fronting the street follows the front yard setback.

  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

  “side yard setbacks - 10% of front yard width with a minimum of 5' and a maximum of 25' the side yard fronting on the street (corner lot) same as the front yard rear yard - 20 feet for house and 5 feet for accessory structures for most properties.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Front yard setback for residential property in agricultural or suburban areas on unincorporated land in Van Buren township; the FAQ does not name the zoning district

    “front yard setback - 30' in agricultural or suburban areas”

• Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

  Dwellings in Van Buren township not connected, or able to be connected, to a sanitary sewer system

  • State rule (Indiana Administrative Code, as quoted by the county health department) sets the septic system standard.
  • The Grant County Health Department issues septic permits and reviews plans and soil analyses.
  • The health department FAQ is countywide and does not name Van Buren township specifically; applicability to the township rests on the countywide scope.

  “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

  Repair, replacement, construction, or alteration of a septic system serving a dwelling in Van Buren township

  • Permit is issued by the Grant County Health Department after a soil analysis by a certified soil scientist and approval of the contractor's installation plans.
  • FAQ: the portion of your plumbing that is 2 feet outside of your foundation is considered part of your septic system; therefore any repair or replacement beyond this point will require a septic 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.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Dwellings in Van Buren township not connected to sanitary sewer

  • Systems that drain to a field tile, drain, creek, stream, side-ditch, aeration unit or sand filter without a leachfield are not legal per the FAQ.
  • The quoted state rule covers dwellings that do not use a sanitary privy; the FAQ does not describe privy rules.

  “if your system drains to a field tile, drain, creek, stream, side-ditch, or something other than a leachfield, it is not legal.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder construction of a home in Van Buren township
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy approval for new dwellings on unincorporated land in Van Buren township
• Local zoning — Land inside Van Buren township outside the Town of Van Buren limits: whether the township itself adopts and administers a zoning ordinance
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size on unincorporated land in Van Buren township
• Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size on unincorporated land in Van Buren 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.