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

Rules another office applies inside Monroe Township

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

• Zoning districtsPartial

  County zone classifications applicable to unincorporated Monroe township, Howard County (AG and RR districts are the ones confirmed)

  • Confirms that AG (agricultural) and RR (rural residential) zone classifications exist in county zoning for unincorporated land; the map and the district for Monroe township parcels were not retrieved.
  • The minutes concern a 2020 rezoning in Liberty township, not Monroe township.

  “a change in zone classification from rr (rural residential) to ag (agricultural), for property described lots 1 & 2 in clark subdivision and lots 1 & 2 in long subdivision, containing 31.96 acres, more or less, and 1 lot, monroe township, russiaville, howard county, indiana at 10892 w 100 s.”

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  New lot creation in the RR (rural residential) zoning district in unincorporated Monroe township, Howard County, if the land is zoned RR by county zoning

  • Access must be from the public street that gives the 50-foot frontage.
  • The checklist requires the lot to meet all other ordinance standards.
  • Checklist dated 6/8/2011; the current ordinance may differ.

  minimum lot area: >= 1 acre · minimum lot width: >= 120 feet · minimum frontage on public street: >= 50 feet (access from said public street required)

  “approval of a new lot in rural residential districts requires: a. the lot contain 1 acre; 120 feet minimum lot width with 50 feet on a public street with access from said public street.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • District specific (with conditions) — New lot creation in the AG (agricultural) zoning district in unincorporated Monroe township, Howard County, if the land is zoned AG by county zoning

    “approval of a new lot in ag, agricultural districts requires: a. the lot contain at least 20 acres or”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  On-site sewage (septic) system permitting for land inside Monroe township, Howard County, IN, administered by the Howard County Health Department (environmental health office)

  • The Howard County Health Department page cites Indiana state rule 410 IAC 6-8.3 for residential onsite sewage systems; the state rule governs system design and the county office administers the permit.
  • The county page does not state a township-by-township service boundary; applicability inside Monroe township is inferred from the county-wide office, not from a township-specific statement.
  • Any work on a septic system must receive prior approval before the work begins (same page).

  “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 or repaired septic systems on land inside Monroe township, Howard County, IN

  • Permit must be obtained before construction or repair begins; work may not start before prior approval.
  • A soil test is needed to determine the absorption field area (same page).

  “any work performed on a septic system must receive prior approval before the work begins.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Creating new lots or replatting land in unincorporated Monroe township, Howard County, through the Kokomo-Howard County Plan Commission

  • Lots must meet the current zoning ordinance.
  • Subdivision approval requires a preliminary plat, covenants, drainage and erosion plans, and a soil report and board of health report for septic lots (per checklist).
  • Checklist dated 6/8/2011; may be superseded.

  “application for approval of subdivision or replat of subdivision”

• Driveway accessRequired

  New home construction in Howard County outside Kokomo, including unincorporated Monroe township

  • The sheet lists the driveway permit as one of the items submitted with the improvement location permit application for a new home built in Howard County.
  • Dated 2/21/2008; the highway department may have changed its requirements.

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

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Improvement location permit fee for work in unincorporated Monroe township, Howard County (outside Kokomo)

  • Sheet dated 2/21/2008; the current fee schedule may differ.
  • The sheet also notes an additional after-the-fact permit surcharge of $10.00 per $1,000.00 estimated cost.
  • Septic and sanitary tap permits and the county highway driveway permit are separate fees and are not included in this figure.

  permit fee rate: per 1 USD per $1,000 of estimated or contracted cost (minimum $15.00; maximum $1,000.00) · minimum permit fee: >= 15 USD · maximum permit fee: <= 1000 USD

  “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 processPartial

  Application steps for an improvement location permit on land in unincorporated Monroe township

  • The sheet lists required application items: a complete legal description (no tax codes), a scaled plot plan showing all rights-of-way and easements, the fee, and the owner's signature.
  • The sheet does not describe review timing, inspections, or appeal steps.
  • Dated 2/21/2008; may be superseded.

  “the following items must be submitted with the application for an improvement location permit:”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for a homeowner building in unincorporated Monroe township
• Building code adopted — Which building code applies to residential construction in unincorporated Monroe township
• Inspections — Building inspections for residential construction in unincorporated Monroe township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for a new home in unincorporated Monroe township
• Local zoning — Whether Monroe township (Howard County, IN) adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance for land inside its limits

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.