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

Rules another office applies inside Carr Township

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

• InspectionsRequired

  All construction inside Carr township in unincorporated Jackson County

  • Inspections apply whether or not a building permit was obtained.
  • The ordinance also says the building commissioner may inspect before and/or after completion.
  • The zoning ordinance floodplain chapter separately requires at least three floodplain inspections for regulated development.

  “all construction shall be subject to periodic inspections by the building commissioner irrespective of whether a building permit has been or is required to be obtained.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Occupancy of any new or altered structure inside Carr township in unincorporated Jackson County

  • Full, partial, or temporary certificates are all recognized.
  • No certificate is issued unless the structure was built in compliance with the building ordinance.
  • A placard requirement also applies before a certificate may be issued.

  “it shall be unlawful to occupy any structure unless a full, partial, or temporary certificate of occupancy has been issued by the building commissioner.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Carr township that is outside the incorporated limits of Seymour, Brownstown, Medora and Crothersville and outside Seymour's two-mile extraterritorial jurisdiction. The zoning ordinance is adopted by Jackson County, not by Carr township.

  • No Carr township zoning ordinance was located, and no official statement that the township has not adopted zoning was found. The county ordinance is recorded here as the zoning that applies; it is not a township ordinance.
  • The ordinance excludes the incorporated boundaries of the City of Seymour, Town of Brownstown, Town of Medora and Town of Crothersville and the legally established extra-territorial planning jurisdiction of the City of Seymour; parcels inside those areas are not covered.
  • The ordinance covers unincorporated Jackson County and the Plan Commission of Jackson County administers it.

  “an ordinance establishing comprehensive zoning regulations for unincorporated jackson county, indiana, providing for the administration, regulation, and violation thereof, and the repeal of all prior conflicting ordinances.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts applying to land inside Carr township in unincorporated Jackson County

  • The districts are agricultural (AG), forest and recreational (FR), residential 1 (R-1), residential 2 (R-2), lake residential (LR), general business (GB) and industrial (I).
  • The official zoning map is adopted with the ordinance; the map itself was not opened, so the parcel's district must be confirmed on it.

  “section 2-2 official zoning map an updated official zoning map is adopted as a part of this ordinance. the zoning map shows the designated zoning district in reference to each parcel of land within the jurisdiction of unincorporated jackson county.”

• Minimum dwelling sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Single-family dwellings in the agricultural district inside Carr township in unincorporated Jackson County

  • The minimum sizes are shown in a flattened table; the unit is not printed in the extracted text and is recorded as null.
  • Residential district minimum dwelling sizes were not extracted and remain open (see followups).
  • Forest and recreational districts show the same figures in their own table.

  one story dwelling minimum size: >= 720 (agricultural district) · two story dwelling minimum size: >= 1400 (agricultural district)

  “agricultural front setback county road (cl) front setback state road (cl) adjoining property line setback one story dwelling minimum size two story dwelling minimum size 60.00’ 100.00’ 10.00’ 720.00’ 1400.00’”

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  New lots in the agricultural district inside Carr township in unincorporated Jackson County

  • All lots also require approval of two approved septic sites or one repairable system by the Jackson County Health Department.
  • Non-conforming lots of record may receive a permit if approved by the health department.
  • Subdivision of land must also meet the county subdivision control ordinance.

  minimum lot area: >= 1 acre (agricultural district; 43,560 square feet) · minimum lot width: >= 150 feet (agricultural district)

  “agricultural 1 acre (43,560 square feet) 150.00’ feet”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • District specific (with conditions) — New lots in the Residential 1 district inside Carr township in unincorporated Jackson County

    “1 acre (43,560 square feet) 10,000 square feet 150.00’ feet 70.00’ feet 1/2 acre (21,780 square feet) 10,000 square feet 75.00’ feet 70.00’ feet”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Structures in the agricultural district inside Carr township in unincorporated Jackson County

  • Road setbacks are measured from the centerline of county and state roads.
  • Accessory structures must meet chapter 10 setbacks; county-regulated drains require 75 feet from the top of bank.
  • Alley setbacks are 10 feet from the alley right-of-way; corner lots must meet both road frontage setbacks.
  • Where platted setbacks are non-conforming, the building commissioner may approve an average setback in platted areas (residential section 5-5).

  front setback, county road (from centerline): >= 60 feet (agricultural district) · front setback, state road (from centerline): >= 100 feet (agricultural district) · adjoining property line setback: >= 10 feet (agricultural district)

  “e) road setbacks: the road or front yard setback shall be measured from the centerline of county & state roads.”

• Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Structures in the agricultural and forest and recreational districts inside Carr township in unincorporated Jackson County

  • Structures over the maximum height need variance approval.
  • An agricultural structure may be erected to any height needed for its operation, up to 75 feet.
  • Business and industrial heights are separate and not applicable here.

  maximum building height: <= 35 feet (agricultural and forest and recreational districts; agricultural structures up to 75 feet)

  “maximum height requirements agricultural & forest & recreational districts 35.00’ residential districts 35.00’ business districts 45.00’ industrial districts 75.00’”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • District specific (with conditions) — Structures in the residential districts (R-1, R-2, lake residential) inside Carr township in unincorporated Jackson County

    “maximum height requirements agricultural & forest & recreational districts 35.00’ residential districts 35.00’ business districts 45.00’ industrial districts 75.00’”

• Living in an RVTemporary only (with conditions)

  Recreational vehicles located on private land inside Carr township in unincorporated Jackson County

  • A recreational vehicle may not be used as a residence.
  • Outside a recreational vehicle park, an RV may be located on a lot for a maximum of 30 days.
  • Septic must be discharged to an approved tank.
  • A permit for temporary occupancy of a mobile home or recreational vehicle may be granted by the plan director for up to one year, when there is an existing residence or a permanent residence to be built within one year, the site is served by the same water and sewage facilities, the unit is not on a permanent foundation, and setbacks are met.

  maximum time on a lot outside an RV park: <= 30 days (outside a recreational vehicle park) · temporary occupancy permit term: <= 1 year (plan director permit for mobile home or recreational vehicle)

  “b) recreational vehicles may not be used for residential purposes and may only be located on a lot outside of a recreational vehicle park for a maximum of thirty (30) days, and septic must be discharged into approved tank.”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Temporary camping with a recreational vehicle on private land inside Carr township in unincorporated Jackson County

  • Camping with a recreational vehicle outside a recreational vehicle park is limited to a maximum of 30 days on a lot.
  • Tent camping and other camping types were not addressed in the text reviewed.

  maximum days per lot outside an RV park: <= 30 days (outside a recreational vehicle park)

  “b) recreational vehicles may not be used for residential purposes and may only be located on a lot outside of a recreational vehicle park for a maximum of thirty (30) days, and septic must be discharged into approved tank.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Placing and occupying a mobile or manufactured home on private land inside Carr township in unincorporated Jackson County

  • A mobile home transfer permit (state form 7878) must be obtained from the Jackson County Treasurer before a building permit is issued.
  • An on-site sewage permit from the Jackson County Health Department is required.
  • Other building permit materials under chapter 13 section 4 are required.
  • Full subsection (1) on mobile home placement, including any age or appearance rules, was not read.

  “e) prior to being issued a building permit, the applicant must obtain: 1. a mobile home transfer permit (state form 7878) from the jackson county treasurer’s office. 2. an on-site sewage permit from the jackson county health department.”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  On-site sewage systems for lots inside Carr township in unincorporated Jackson County

  • The Jackson County Health Department approves septic sites for new lots.
  • Parcels inside Seymour's extra-territorial jurisdiction are not covered by this county ordinance.

  “all lots shall also require approval of two (2) approved septic sites or one (1) repairable system by the jackson county health department.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Building permits for homes on septic inside Carr township in unincorporated Jackson County

  • A copy of all septic or sewer permits from the Jackson County Health Department must be provided to the county before a building permit is issued.
  • Two approved septic sites or one repairable system must be approved before a new lot is created.
  • Permit fees and forms are not stated in the ordinance text reviewed.

  “b) septic permit- a copy of all permits issued regarding septic/sewer is required from the jackson county health department.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Division of land inside Carr township in unincorporated Jackson County

  • All divisions of land must meet the Jackson County subdivision control ordinance, which was not opened.
  • Lots must have 50 feet of deeded access on all residential building lots.
  • Lots must meet the minimum area and width in each district and have two septic sites approved by the health department.

  “b) subdivision of land: all divisions to land shall be subject to the requirements set forth in the jackson county subdivision control ordinance.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Driveway access to a lot inside Carr township in unincorporated Jackson County

  • A driveway permit from the Jackson County Highway Department or Indiana State Highway Department is required before a building permit is issued.
  • A permit is also required when changing an existing culvert; no charge applies to the driveway permit.
  • Residential building lots need 50 feet of deeded access.

  “c) driveway permit- a copy of the driveway permit issued by the jackson county highway department or indiana state highway department is required before you are issued a building permit.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Development in an identified floodway on land inside Carr township in unincorporated Jackson County

  • Applies to special flood hazard areas mapped by FEMA in unincorporated Jackson County; a parcel outside a mapped floodway is not covered by this item.
  • Floodplain development generally requires local floodplain review; the county must perform at least three inspections for regulated development.
  • Filling, grading, clearing and similar land preparation in a floodway also require the state permit.

  “under the provisions of ic 14-28-1 a permit for construction in a floodway from the indiana department of natural resources is required prior to the issuance of a local building permit for any excavation, deposit, construction, or obstruction activity located in the floodway.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Building permit placard fee for construction inside Carr township in unincorporated Jackson County

  • Only the placard fee is stated in the text read; the building permit fee schedule and improvement location permit fees were not located.
  • The placard fee is capped at $500 per placard.

  placard fee maximum: <= 500 USD (per placard issued)

  “(b) a fee, not to exceed five hundred dollar ($500), shall be charged for each placard issued.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building permit process for construction inside Carr township in unincorporated Jackson County

  • The building commissioner issues permits after a complete application and any fee are received.
  • Septic, driveway and other permits are required before the building permit is issued.
  • The commissioner must notify the fire department and 911 center within 10 business days after issuing a permit, by certified mail.

  “section 7. issuance of building permit. the building commissioner shall issue a building permit to a person after the person has submitted a complete application, including any applicable fee, provided that the proposed construction will conform to all applicable building and fire safety laws and will not violate any other applicable ordinances or laws.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built home construction inside Carr township
• Lot coverage — Maximum lot coverage for structures inside Carr township
• Tiny homes — Tiny home occupancy inside Carr township
• Accessory dwellings — Accessory dwelling unit on a lot inside Carr township
• Septic inspection — Septic system inspection for homes inside Carr 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.