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

Rules another office applies inside Center Township

Center 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 code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Construction of buildings in unincorporated Center township, Howard County, IN

  • The county code adopts listed codes by reference, including editions dated from 1973 to 1978 as listed in §150.03(a). Current editions were not verified; state building law may now govern.
  • Kokomo city land uses city permits and is excluded.

  “(a) the following rules, regulations and codes are hereby adopted by reference as the rules and regulations governing the construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, relocation and use of buildings and structures in the county.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Unincorporated land inside Center township, Howard County, IN. Center township itself has not been shown to adopt a zoning ordinance; the county code adopts a zoning code for the county area under the Plan Commission's jurisdiction. Kokomo city land is governed by city rules and is excluded.

  • Code §153.01 adopts Ordinance 1981-9 (July 13, 1981) by reference, as amended. The zoning text itself is not in the county code PDF and was not located on an official page during this research.
  • Dimensional and occupancy answers depend on the zoning text, which was not retrieved.

  “the zoning code, being ordinance 1981-9, passed july 13, 1981, as may be amended from time to time, is hereby adopted by reference and made a part of this code as if fully set forth herein.”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  On-site sewage systems for land inside Center township, Howard County, IN, outside Kokomo city limits

  • The Howard County Health Department (Environmental Health) issues the septic permit. Kokomo city sewer taps are a separate city permit.

  “prior to construction or repair of an on-site sewage system (septic system), the property owner is required to obtain a permit from the environmental health office.”

• Septic permitRequired

  New homes on septic in Howard County areas, including unincorporated Center township

  • Must be obtained before the system is built or repaired.
  • The ILP sheet says a septic permit from the county health department must be submitted with the improvement location permit application for building in Howard County.
  • Soil test required for absorption field.

  “prior to construction or repair of an on-site sewage system (septic system), the property owner is required to obtain a permit from the environmental health office.”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  New residential development in unincorporated Center township, Howard County, IN, where public sanitary sewer is available

  • Applies to proposed residential developments (subdivisions). Single-lot new homes were not addressed by this text.
  • If the distance to the public sewer is 300 feet or more per lot, septic may be considered after the feasibility test.
  • Kokomo sewer taps are issued by the city.

  distance to existing sanitary sewer: < 300 feet per lot (direct connection required when the line length is under 300 feet per lot)

  “a direct connection shall be required when the total length of the sanitary sewer lines required from the existing sanitary sewer system to the nearest property line of the proposed project is less than 300 feet per lot in the total project”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land divisions and subdivisions in unincorporated Center township, Howard County, IN

  • Lots not served by community water and sanitary sewer are sized by Board of Health regulations.
  • Kokomo city subdivisions are excluded.

  “(d) widths and areas of lots which are not served by community water and sanitary sewer systems shall be determined in accordance with regulations of the board of health.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  New homes built in unincorporated Center township, Howard County, IN

  • Driveway permit is issued by the Howard County Highway Department and is submitted with the improvement location permit application.

  “3. a driveway permit from the howard county highway department (phone: 765-456-2802)”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Development in special flood hazard areas in unincorporated Center township, Howard County, IN

  • Applies only inside the special flood hazard area (SFHA).
  • Development requires an improvement location permit under Chapter 151.

  “failure to obtain an improvement location permit in the sfha or failure to comply with the requirements of a permit or conditions of a variance shall be deemed to be a violation of this chapter.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Improvement location permit fees for new construction in unincorporated Center township, Howard County, IN

  • Fee schedule is from a 2008 information sheet. Current fee amounts were not verified.
  • Code §150.06 lists an older per-cost fee schedule ($5, $9, $13 tiers); the 2008 sheet is the later statement.

  permit fee: 1 USD per 1,000 USD of estimated or contracted cost (minimum $15.00; maximum $1,000.00)

  “a permit fee which is calculated at $1.00 per $1,000.00 of estimated or contracted cost of the improvement. the minimum fee is $15.00. the maximum fee is $1,000.00.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption in unincorporated Center township, Howard County, IN
• Inspections — Building inspections for construction in unincorporated Center township, Howard County, IN
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes in unincorporated Center township, Howard County, IN
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size for the main single-family residential district in unincorporated Center township, Howard County, IN
• Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size for the main single-family residential and agricultural districts in unincorporated Center township, Howard County, IN

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.