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

Rules another office applies inside Taylor Township

Taylor 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 home construction on land in Taylor township outside the City of Kokomo, under the Howard County improvement location permit (county-administered)

  • The improvement location permit must be obtained before construction; the form is a Howard County (City/County) document dated 2/21/2008 and may be superseded.
  • The form states the permit applies to 'Howard County' land; Kokomo city land uses a separate city building permit after the improvement location permit.
  • Property owner signature required for all permit applications.

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

• Zoning districtsPartial

  County zoning districts that the Howard County improvement location permit standards reference for unincorporated land (including Taylor township outside Kokomo)

  • The form lists districts AZ, A1, RS1, RS2, R1 through R5 with a footnote to the zoning standards on the reverse side; the full district map and ordinance text were not retrieved.
  • Form dated 2/21/2008; current district list not verified.

  “regulations for howard county improvement location permits az & a1 rs1 rs2 r1”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  On-site sewage (septic) systems for residential land inside Taylor township, administered by the Howard County health department

  • Code chapter 51 applies to residential sewage disposal systems in the county; the City of Kokomo sanitary sewer tap is a separate city permit where Kokomo sewer is used.
  • The county board of health administers the private system rules (see Code section 51.07).

  “this chapter regulates the location, installation, construction, maintenance and replacement of all residential sewage disposal systems in the county”

• Septic permitRequired

  New home served by an on-site septic system on land inside Taylor township

  • Septic system permit must accompany the improvement location permit application when building in Howard County (ILP form item b.1).
  • Form dated 2/21/2008; current health department permit requirements not verified.

  “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)”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  On-site septic system installations on land inside Taylor township

  • Inspections are performed by a county health department representative and scheduled by the applicant; additional inspections beyond the required one carry a charge.
  • Code section 51.07 cross-reference and fee schedule not verified.

  “septic inspections for lots are provided in the amount of one per lot, and are scheduled by the applicant.”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  Sewer connection rule for proposed residential development in Howard County (applies to subdivisions in Taylor township, not to a single new home by itself)

  • The direct-connection rule is stated for proposed residential development before preliminary plat approval, not for an individual home on an existing lot.
  • Public water connection rule not established from the sources opened.
  • Kokomo sanitary sewer taps are a city permit where applicable.

  sanitary sewer line length threshold for required direct connection: < 300 feet per lot (Applies to proposed residential development; feasibility evaluated before preliminary plat approval)

  “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)

  Lots in unincorporated Taylor township outside Kokomo that are not approved building lots

  • An approved building lot is required before a new home; unapproved lots may require subdivision approval.
  • Subdivision control regulations are Code chapter 152 (not retrieved in full).

  “unapproved lots may require subdivision approval.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  New home driveway connecting to county roads in Taylor township outside Kokomo

  • Driveway permit from the Howard County highway department must accompany the improvement location permit application when building in Howard County.
  • Form dated 2/21/2008.

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

• Building in a floodplainLimited

  Development inside a special flood hazard area (SFHA) on land in Taylor township; not all of Taylor township is in an SFHA

  • An improvement location permit is required in the SFHA; failure to obtain it is a violation of Code chapter 151.
  • Applies only to parcels in the special flood hazard area; flood zone status of a given parcel not verified.

  “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 fee for construction on land in Taylor township outside Kokomo

  • Form dated 2/21/2008; a newer fee schedule may exist and was not retrieved.
  • Minimum fee and maximum fee are stated in the same form.
  • An after-the-fact surcharge of $10.00 per $1,000.00 estimated cost is stated for after-the-fact permits.

  improvement location permit fee rate: per 1 USD per $1,000.00 of estimated or contracted cost (minimum $15.00; maximum $1,000.00 (per the 2008 form))

  “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

  Improvement location permit process for new homes on land in Taylor township outside Kokomo

  • Submit a legal description, a scaled plot plan, and the fee with the application; a septic permit, MS4 permit from the county surveyor, and a driveway permit must accompany the application when building in Howard County.
  • Form dated 2/21/2008; process may have changed.

  “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 Taylor Township or Howard County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for permits in Taylor township
• Building code adopted — Which building code applies to new construction inside Taylor township
• Inspections — Whether building inspections are required for new homes inside Taylor township outside Kokomo
• Certificate of occupancy — Whether a certificate of occupancy is required for a new home inside Taylor township
• Local zoning — Whether Taylor township adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance for land inside Taylor 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.