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

Rules another office applies inside Vernon Township

Vernon 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 construction on unincorporated land inside Vernon township

  • Construction may proceed only after an improvement location permit is issued; the county building commissioner also issues building permits under the county building code once a complete application and fee are submitted.
  • Permit application must include a site plan or sketch plan, septic permit copy, driveway permit copy, and record deed copy (section 13-4).

  “no construction of any structure shall take place without the issuance of an improvement location permit, as required by this ordinance.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Construction inside Vernon township under the Jackson County building commissioner (unincorporated township land). The county adopts the Indiana state building rules by reference.

  • The county building ordinance excludes industrialized building systems and mobile structures certified under IC 22-15-4, but the state rules still apply to uncertified ones.
  • Adopted rules include 675 IAC articles 13 (building codes), 14 (Indiana Residential Code), 16 (plumbing), 17 (electrical), 18 (mechanical), 19 (energy conservation), 20 (swimming pool) and 22 (fire code).

  “the rules of the indiana fire prevention and building safety commission as set out in the following articles of title 675 of the indiana administrative code are hereby incorporated by reference in this code”

• InspectionsRequired

  All construction on unincorporated land inside Vernon township

  • Inspections apply whether or not a building permit was required.
  • Floodplain structures require three inspections under the floodplain chapter (see floodplain claim).

  “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 structure on unincorporated land inside Vernon township

  • Full, partial, or temporary certificates of occupancy are available.
  • Structure must be built in compliance with the county building ordinance before a certificate is issued.
  • A fire safety placard is required before a certificate of occupancy is issued for a structure with engineered lumber trusses or joists.

  “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 Vernon township outside the incorporated limits of Seymour, Brownstown, Medora and Crothersville. The zoning in force is the Jackson County zoning ordinance, not a Vernon township ordinance. No Vernon township zoning ordinance was located.

  • Section 1-4 excludes the incorporated boundaries of the city of Seymour, town of Brownstown, town of Medora and town of Crothersville, and the extra-territorial planning jurisdiction of Seymour; Vernon township is not named in the exclusion.
  • Variances and special exceptions are granted through the county Board of Zoning Appeals.

  “this ordinance applies to all land within jackson county, indiana, with the exception of the incorporated boundaries of the city of seymour, town of brownstown, town of medora, & town of crothersville as well as the legally established extra territorial planning jurisdiction of the city of seymour.”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning district of each parcel inside Vernon township (unincorporated Jackson County)

  • Districts named in the ordinance: agricultural (ag), forest & recreational (fr), residential 1 (r-1), residential 2 (r-2), lake residential (lr), general business (gb), industrial (i).
  • The official zoning map is adopted as part of the ordinance; the map itself was not opened.

  “the zoning map shows the designated zoning district in reference to each parcel of land within the jurisdiction of unincorporated jackson county.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Lots in the Residential 1 (R-1) district on unincorporated land inside Vernon township

  • On-site septic: 1 acre (43,560 sq ft) minimum lot area and 150 ft minimum width.
  • With municipal sewer: 10,000 sq ft minimum lot area and 70 ft minimum width.
  • Every lot also requires approval of two septic sites or one repairable system by the health department.
  • Non-conforming lots of record may receive a building permit with septic approval.

  minimum lot area (on-site septic): >= 43560 sq ft (municipal sewer: 10,000 sq ft) · minimum lot width (on-site septic): >= 150 ft (municipal sewer: 70 ft)

  “1 acre (43,560 square feet) 10,000 square feet 150.00’ feet 70.00’ feet”

  2 more reviewed findings on this topic

  • Specified — Lots in the Residential 2 (R-2) district on unincorporated land inside Vernon township

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

  • Specified — Lots in the Agricultural (AG) district on unincorporated land inside Vernon township

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

• SetbacksSpecified

  Principal structures in the Residential 1 (R-1) district on unincorporated land inside Vernon township

  • Front setback from a county road: 60 ft.
  • Front setback from a state road: 90 ft.
  • Adjoining property line setback: 10 ft.
  • The building commissioner may approve an average-of-neighbours setback in platted areas where setbacks are typically non-conforming, not encroaching on road right-of-way.

  front setback, county road: >= 60 ft · front setback, state road: >= 90 ft · adjoining property line setback: >= 10 ft

  “residential 1 front setback county road (cl) 60.00’ 90.00’ 10.00’ 720.00’ 1400.00’”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Detached accessory buildings on unincorporated land inside Vernon township, all districts

    “detached accessory building shall only be located at the minimum setbacks below: location front yard (county road) front yard (state road) side yard rear yard minimum setback 60 feet (centerline) 100 feet (centerline) 10 feet 10 feet”

• Building heightSpecified

  Structures in the Agricultural district on unincorporated land inside Vernon township

  • Agricultural structures may be any height needed for operation, up to 75 ft.
  • Structures over the maximum height need a variance.

  maximum building height: <= 35 ft (agricultural structures up to 75 ft)

  “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

  • Specified — Structures in the Residential 1 and Residential 2 districts on unincorporated land inside Vernon township

    “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)

  Occupancy of a recreational vehicle as a dwelling on unincorporated land inside Vernon township

  • Temporary occupancy permit may be issued for up to one year when the RV is on the same property as an existing residence, or on a lot where a permanent residence will be built within one year.
  • Temporary occupancy must use the same water and sewage facilities as the existing or intended residence, must not be on a permanent foundation, is limited to immediate relatives or the owner building a permanent residence, and extensions are heard by the plan commission.
  • The permit is granted by the plan director.

  temporary occupancy period: <= 1 year (hardship or unforeseen delay extensions go to the plan commission)

  “the plan director may grant a permit for temporary occupancy of a mobile home or recreational vehicles for a period of not more than one (1) year provided all the following are met:”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Prohibited — Use of a recreational vehicle as a home on unincorporated land inside Vernon township, outside the temporary occupancy permit

    “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 parking or camping of a recreational vehicle on a private lot outside an RV park inside Vernon township

  • Maximum 30 days on any one lot outside a recreational vehicle park.
  • Septic waste must be discharged into an approved tank.
  • Tent camping and other camping forms were not addressed in the text read.

  maximum stay on a private lot outside an RV park: <= 30 days

  “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

  Placement and occupancy of a mobile or manufactured home on unincorporated land inside Vernon township

  • An improvement location permit is required; a mobile home transfer permit (state form 7878) from the county treasurer and an on-site sewage permit from the health department are required before a building permit.
  • No building permit may be issued for a mobile home manufactured 20 years or more before the application date.
  • The home must have attached skirting kept intact, and the street-facing side must have a front door and windows.

  maximum age at application: < 20 years (homes manufactured less than 20 years before application)

  “the placement of all mobile homes, including the sites within mobile home parks, shall require the issuance of an improvement location permit.”

• Accessory dwellingsProhibited

  A second residential structure (accessory dwelling) on one parcel on unincorporated land inside Vernon township

  • The only exception is a temporary occupancy permit under section 8-1(2) (up to one year).

  “no parcel shall contain more than one residential structure, unless granted a temporary occupancy permit (per section 8-1(2)).”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  On-site septic systems on lots inside Vernon township (unincorporated Jackson County)

  • The Jackson County Health Department approves septic sites; the county zoning ordinance requires its approval for every new lot.
  • Health department regulations apply in addition to the county zoning 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 permit applications for structures served by septic systems in Vernon township

  • A copy of the septic/sewer permit from the Jackson County Health Department must accompany the improvement location permit application.
  • Septic site approval (two approved sites or one repairable system) is required for every new lot.

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

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Any division of land inside Vernon township (unincorporated Jackson County)

  • Divisions are governed by the Jackson County subdivision control ordinance, which was not opened.
  • Lots must meet the zoning minimums and the health department septic approval.

  “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

  New residential building on land inside Vernon township that needs a driveway connection to a county or state road

  • Driveway permit comes from the Jackson County highway department or the Indiana state highway department.
  • A copy of the permit is required before a building permit is issued.
  • A permit is required when changing an existing culvert; there is no charge for the driveway permit.

  “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 special flood hazard areas inside Vernon township (unincorporated Jackson County)

  • Applies only to special flood hazard areas; outside them the chapter does not require this permit.
  • Floodway work also needs an Indiana DNR permit or letter of authorization first.
  • Floodplain administrator is the county building commissioner; three inspections are required.

  “a floodplain development permit shall be required in conformance with the provisions of this chapter prior to the commencement of any development activities in areas of special flood hazard.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Improvement location permit application for land inside Vernon township

  • Application forms are on the county website or at the planning and zoning office.
  • The application needs a site plan or sketch plan, septic permit copy, driveway permit copy, and record deed copy.
  • Permit issuance is subject to building commissioner procedures.

  “application- available on our website or in the jackson county planning & zoning office”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for a home built by the owner inside Vernon township
• Lot coverage — Maximum lot coverage on parcels inside Vernon township
• Tiny homes — Occupancy of a tiny home inside Vernon township
• Septic inspection — Septic system inspection for a new home inside Vernon township
• Off-grid sanitation — Off-grid sanitation (privy, composting toilet, or non-septic system) for a home inside Vernon 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.