Building permits, zoning and land rules in Hancock County, Indiana

Yes. Hancock County requires a building permit for a home in the unincorporated county, and the Building Department performs the required inspections for work it administers^1,2. One- and two-family dwellings are governed by Indiana's statewide residential code, which adopts the 2018 International Residential Code with Indiana amendments⁷. A new home also needs an Improvement Location Permit for zoning review in the Planning Department's jurisdiction². If the parcel uses septic, obtain the Hancock County Health Department septic permit before the building permit⁴.

The Hancock County Building Department issues building, electrical, pool and sign permits and performs required inspections for unincorporated Hancock County, Spring Lake and Shirley². Reach the Building Department at 111 American Legion Place, Suite 146, Hancock County Annex, Greenfield, Indiana, or by phone at 317-477-1133, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m².. The Planning Department shares that address and handles Improvement Location Permits, zoning enforcement, plats and new addresses; its phone number is 317-477-1134². Start with Planning for a building location, lot split or zoning question, then use Building for the construction permit and inspections².

Hancock County zoning applies to unincorporated land; municipalities outside the County Area Plan Commission may have separate rules⁵. The official zoning map identifies Agricultural, Residential, Commercial, Institutional, Industrial and Planned Unit Development districts⁸. Minimum living area ranges from 720 square feet in RMH to 1,200 square feet in A, RR, R1.0 and R2.5⁵. A and RR lots require 1.5 acres with septic or 1 acre with sewer; parcels without approved wastewater treatment or sanitary sewer service must follow A District lot and yard requirements, even where another district lists smaller lots⁶. A and RR have 50-foot front and 15-foot side and rear setbacks; height and coverage limits also vary by district⁶. An accessory dwelling is limited to 850 square feet, must be attached to the primary structure or above a detached garage or workshop, and requires a special exception in several districts⁹. Subdivision rules apply in every zoning district; ask Planning which plat review or exception procedure applies before splitting or replatting land^2,8.

The Hancock County Health Department issues septic permits, and the permit must be obtained before the building permit⁴. Apply through Environmental Health at 111 American Legion Place, Suite 150, Hancock County Annex, Greenfield, Indiana, or call 317-477-1125; permits are issued from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. or by appointment¹⁰. County soils deserve early attention because 0% of surveyed soil is rated free of severe limitations for a conventional septic drain field¹¹. Indiana does not allow drywells or cesspools as on-site sewage treatment, but that restriction does not settle every alternative system¹². In a cluster subdivision with lots smaller than 43,000 square feet, connection to public or semipublic water and sanitary sewer is mandatory; that is not a countywide connection rule⁵.

We could not confirm a Hancock County rule authorizing year-round RV living on an individually deeded lot; ask the Planning Department about the parcel and proposed duration². Indiana campground rules do not answer residential RV occupancy on an individually deeded lot¹³. We could not confirm a distinct tiny-home occupancy rule; a proposed tiny home still faces building permits and district-specific dwelling, lot and setback standards^1,5,6. For agricultural accessory structures, Hancock County allows a height exception when the landowner submits a signed affidavit to the Plan Director certifying exclusively agricultural use; that exception does not establish a general building-permit or zoning waiver¹⁴.

1. Ask the Planning Department to confirm the mapped zoning district, wastewater-dependent lot and yard standards, minimum living area, and whether a division or replat needs review^2,5,6,8.
2. If the site will use septic, obtain the Health Department permit before applying for the building permit⁴.
3. Obtain the Planning Department's Improvement Location Permit for the proposed building location².
4. Apply to the Building Department for the building permit under Indiana's statewide residential code^1,7.
5. Ask the Highway Department about county-road driveway requirements; a state-highway connection requires INDOT approval^15,16.
6. Arrange the Building Department's required inspections as work proceeds².
7. Ask the Building Department what final occupancy approval applies because we could not confirm the county rule².

Water: we could not confirm a Hancock County well-permit rule, so ask Environmental Health before drilling¹⁰. A cluster subdivision with lots under 43,000 square feet must connect to public or semipublic water and sewer, but we could not confirm a countywide connection mandate⁵. Soils: 0% of surveyed soil is rated free of severe limitations for a conventional septic drain field, making early site evaluation important¹¹. Flood: Indiana DNR permits most floodway development, while flood-fringe work has no state permit but may face local rules; the County Surveyor participates in floodplain and drainage review^17,18. Access: INDOT approval is required for a state-highway driveway¹⁶.