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

Rules another office applies inside Harrison Township

Harrison Township does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Unincorporated land inside Harrison township, Howard County, Indiana, where county zoning standards apply. This is a county-level finding; it does not show that Harrison township itself adopted a zoning ordinance. Land inside Kokomo city limits is excluded.

  • The county permit sheet refers to zoning standards on its reverse side, which this research did not fully read.
  • Whether Harrison township has adopted its own zoning ordinance was not established (see the township-scoped local_zoning claim).

  “see reverse side for zoning standards. drawing must include all rights of ways, utility and drainage easements!”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Residential on-site sewage disposal systems on lots inside Harrison township, Howard County, Indiana, administered by the Howard County Health Department, Division of Environmental Health

  • Only approved subdivisions and/or legal lots of record may apply for septic permits.
  • Only registered contractors in Howard County may be used.

  “after receiving the soil evaluation and application, the health department will evaluate the soil scientists and issue septic minimum requirements to the homeowner or contractor.”

• Septic permitRequired

  New home with an on-site sewage disposal system on land inside Harrison township, Howard County, Indiana

  • Permit must be issued before the improvement location permit is complete: a septic system permit is one of the items to submit with the improvement location permit application.
  • Soil evaluation by a certified soil scientist and installer design plans are required before issuance.
  • Applications are reviewed first-in, first-out.

  “to obtain approval for a residential on-site sewage disposal system permit”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  On-site sewage systems installed on land inside Harrison township, Howard County, Indiana

  • The installer must notify the health department before completion and allow 2 working days so the inspection can be scheduled before any part of the system is covered.
  • The homeowner remains responsible for code compliance, including a final soil cover of at least 12 inches.

  minimum soil cover: >= 12 inches

  “the health department conducts a final inspection of all system components prior to covering, and orders corrections if needed, then grants final approval of the system.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  New home on land inside Harrison township, Howard County, Indiana that requires a driveway permit from the Howard County Highway Department

  • Applies when building in Howard County, as an item to submit with the improvement location permit application.
  • Phone 765-456-2802 per the county sheet.

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

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Residential septic permit fees for new construction inside Harrison township, Howard County, Indiana

  • The checklist carries a fee schedule stated as effective March 1, 2004, and revised 02/02/2024; the current schedule should be confirmed with the health department.
  • Replacement systems and test fees are listed on the same schedule.

  new construction septic permit fee: 200 USD (fee schedule stated as effective March 1, 2004)

  “as of march 1, 2004, the following permit fee schedule will apply: new construction $200”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Published (with conditions) — Improvement location permits for construction on unincorporated land inside Harrison township, Howard County, Indiana

    “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.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Permit steps for a new home on unincorporated land inside Harrison township, Howard County, Indiana

  • Steps: an approved building lot; an improvement location permit with a septic permit, MS4 permit from the county surveyor, and a driveway permit from the county highway department; then the septic soil evaluation and installer process.
  • Kokomo city lots follow a separate city permit process.

  “b. if building in howard county, then submit with the improvement location permit application: 1. a septic system permit from the howard county health department (phone: 765-456-2403) or a sanitary sewer tap permit from the city of kokomo (phone 765-456-7362) 2. a ms4 permit from the county surveyor’s office (phone: 765-456-2217) 3. a driveway permit from the howard county highway department (phone: 765-456-2802)”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for a homeowner building in Harrison township
• Building code adopted — Which building code applies to new homes inside Harrison township
• Inspections — Building inspections for new homes inside Harrison township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for a new home inside Harrison township
• Zoning districts — Zoning district map and district list covering land inside Harrison 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.