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

Rules another office applies inside Jackson Township

Jackson 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 single-family home built inside Jackson township, which is unincorporated Jay County outside Pennville and Salamonia

  • The county page lists the permit question as applying to a new home; it does not give a separate fee or threshold.
  • Permit fees are not published online (see permit-fees claim).
  • Permit issued by Jay County Building & Planning, not by the township.

  “new home - yes garage or carport - yes new or enlarged basement - yes additions & structural changes - yes”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts applying inside Jackson township (unincorporated Jay County)

  • Districts named in the ordinance include AR (agricultural/residential), RR (rural/residential), UR (urban/residential), COM (commercial), FP (flood plain), and others; the zoning map was not opened.
  • Overlay districts (for example flood plain) can change the standards.

  “ar - agricultural/residential district development standards lot & yard standards minimum lot size: served by wells & septic systems -- 2 acres”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Mobile homes (not site-built homes) placed on private land inside Jackson township, unincorporated Jay County

  • Floor space excludes carports, partitions and other necessary additions.
  • Applies to mobile homes only; no general site-built minimum was located.

  minimum floor space: >= 600 square feet (excludes carports, partitions, and other necessary additions)

  “that said mobile homes, exclusive of carports, partitions, and other necessary additions, shall have a floor space of not less than 600 square feet.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Urban/residential (UR) district lots inside Jackson township if the county district applies (unincorporated Jay County)

  • Minimum is 2 acres where served by wells and septic systems.
  • Minimum is 5,000 sq. ft. where served by public or other approved community sewer systems.
  • Overlay districts and variances (Board of Zoning Appeals) may change these limits.

  minimum lot size, well and septic: >= 2 acres (lot served by wells and septic systems) · minimum lot size, public or community sewer: >= 5000 sq ft (lot served by public or other approved community sewer systems)

  “ur - urban/residential district development standards lot & yard standards minimum lot size: served by wells & septic systems -- 2 acres served by public or other approved community sewer systems -- 5,000 sq, ft.”

  2 more reviewed findings on this topic

  • Specified — Rural/residential (RR) district lots inside Jackson township if the county district applies (unincorporated Jay County)

    “served by wells & septic systems -- 2 acres served by public or other approved community sewer systems -- 5,000 sq. ft.”

  • Specified — Agricultural/residential (AR) district lots inside Jackson township if the county district applies (unincorporated Jay County)

    “ar - agricultural/residential district development standards lot & yard standards minimum lot size: served by wells & septic systems -- 2 acres served by public or other approved community sewer systems -- no regulations”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Urban/residential (UR) district lots inside Jackson township if the county district applies (unincorporated Jay County)

  • Roadway setback is measured from the road right-of-way.
  • Side yard setback applies to each of two side yards.

  roadway setback: 30 feet (from the road right-of-way) · front yard depth: 15 feet (front yard limit exceptions noted in ordinance) · side yard width: 5 feet

  “roadway setback regulation: 30 feet from the road right-of-way front yard limits:* each lot shall have a front yard with a minimum depth measured from, and parallel to, the property line adjacent to the road of 15 feet.”

  2 more reviewed findings on this topic

  • Specified — Rural/residential (RR) district lots inside Jackson township if the county district applies (unincorporated Jay County)

    “roadway setback regulation: 30 feet from the road right-of-way front yard limits:* each lot shall have a front yard with a minimum depth measured from, and parallel to, the property line adjacent to the road of 15 feet. * note: front yard limit exceptions side yard limits: each lot shall have two (2) side yards with each having a minimum width of 5 feet measured from, and parallel to, the property line.”

  • Specified — Agricultural/residential (AR) district lots inside Jackson township if the county district applies (unincorporated Jay County)

    “roadway setback regulations: 30 feet from the road right-of-way, unless otherwise stated in this ordinance. yard setback regulations: 5 feet from property lines, unless otherwise stated in this ordinance”

• Building heightSpecified

  Principal structures in the agricultural/residential (AR) district inside Jackson township if the county district applies (unincorporated Jay County)

  • The 100-foot figure is the AR district's maximum height as written in the table; variances are handled under the height-variance note.

  maximum height: <= 100 feet (height regulations/variances note applies)

  “height regulations:* maximum height: 100 feet wind energy tower / privately owned 100 feet *note: height regulations / variances”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Accessory buildings on land inside Jackson township (unincorporated Jay County)

    “no accessory building shall exceed sixteen (16) feet in height above average ground level unless approved by the board of zoning appeals.”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Occupying a recreational vehicle on private land inside Jackson township (unincorporated Jay County)

  • Limit does not apply within an approved campground.
  • The 12-week limit is stated for continuous occupancy only.

  continuous occupancy limit: <= 12 weeks (except in an approved campground)

  “recreational vehicles shall not be occupied continuously for longer than twelve (12) weeks in any county location other than approved campground.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Placing a mobile home on private land inside Jackson township (unincorporated Jay County)

  • Mobile homes are not allowed in incorporated areas except in a qualified mobile home park; this claim covers unincorporated land.
  • Temporary Type I mobile homes used during construction of a permanent residence are addressed separately in section 301.8 and were not fully read.
  • A certificate of compliance is required (section 301.8).

  “that said mobile home shall be placed on a permanent foundation, that it be secured by tie-downs, and complies with the indiana residential code.”

• Driveway accessNot required

  Driveway construction under the county building permit list inside Jackson township (unincorporated Jay County)

  • This is a building-permit answer only; road-entrance or highway-department permits were not checked.

  “vinyl siding - no sidewalks - no driveways - no”

• Permit feesNot published (with conditions)

  Building and zoning permit fees for construction inside Jackson township (unincorporated Jay County)

  • Fees vary by project and must be requested from the Building & Planning department (260-726-6904).

  “permit fees vary depending on the project and are not published online. please contact the department to obtain the permit fees applicable to your project.”

• Permit processPartial

  Permit process for construction inside Jackson township (unincorporated Jay County)

  • The application form is downloadable; fees are not published online.
  • Office: Jay County Building & Planning, 118 S. Meridian Street, Suite E, Portland, IN 47371.

  “permit application form is available for download.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption from permits inside Jackson township
• Building code adopted — Building code adopted for new construction inside Jackson township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for a new home inside Jackson township
• Local zoning — Whether Jackson township itself adopts and administers a zoning ordinance
• Lot coverage — Maximum lot coverage inside Jackson 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.