Bolthole Index

Miami County, Indiana

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in Bunker Hill, Indiana

The Town of Bunker Hill, Indiana issues its own building permits and runs its own zoning ordinance, separate from Miami County's.12 Miami County's zoning ordinance explicitly excludes Bunker Hill.3 Septic permits for Miami County come from the county health officer, and we could not confirm how that applies to lots inside town limits.4

At a glance

Building permit
Required from the town for any building of 80 square feet or more, or costing over $1,0001
Zoning
Town of Bunker Hill zoning ordinance, not the county's23
Building code
State Fire Prevention and Building Safety Commission rules adopted by the town5
Permit fee
$0.10 per square foot for new conventional construction, $100 minimum, residential capped at $5006
Septic
County health officer issues septic permits countywide; town-limit specifics unconfirmed4
Floodplain
Flood-safety review is part of the town building permit review7

Who to call

Building permits

Town of Bunker Hill Building Commissioner

Building permits, inspections and fee collection inside Bunker Hill town limits

Zoning

Town of Bunker Hill Plan Commission

Zoning districts and zoning administration inside Bunker Hill town limits

Septic permits

Miami County Environmental Health

On-site sewage (septic) permits and inspections for Miami County

(765) 473-0283

12 S Wabash St. Peru, IN 46970

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 24, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Town of Bunker Hill means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Does Bunker Hill, Indiana have zoning, and what does it mean for RVs, tiny homes and setbacks?

Yes. The Town of Bunker Hill adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance for land inside town limits and does not rely on county zoning there.2 Miami County's own ordinance covers unincorporated areas and most other towns but names Bunker Hill, Converse and the City of Peru as exceptions.3

The town's plan commission divided Bunker Hill into districts, and the district list includes R1, R3, LB and GB.8 We could not confirm the use tables or the yard setbacks for each district, so ask the town before you rely on a setback. Rules for RVs, tiny homes and accessory dwellings inside town limits are also unconfirmed. The one dimensional rule we did verify is for mobile home parks: each space must be at least 2,500 square feet,9 and mobile homes must sit at least 15 feet apart.10

Do you need a building permit in Bunker Hill, and who issues it?

Yes. The Town of Bunker Hill requires a building permit before construction, alteration or repair of any building or structure of 80 square feet or more, or one costing over $1,000.1 The town building commissioner furnishes the forms and collects the fees.1

The town adopts the state building rules of the Indiana Fire Prevention and Building Safety Commission, including the one- and two-family dwelling code.5 Where plans must also be filed with the state, no town permit issues until the state building commissioner's release for construction arrives.11

An application needs a plat or sketch showing lot boundaries plus plans and specifications of the work.11 Miami County's building commission handles permits only in unincorporated areas, so do not apply at the county counter for a lot inside Bunker Hill.12

What do building permits cost in Bunker Hill?

New conventional construction is charged at $0.10 per square foot with a $100 minimum, and residential one- and two-family fees are capped at $500 per project.6 A certificate of occupancy costs $125.6 Contractors must register with the town annually for $25, and the code requires liability insurance and workers' compensation coverage.6 Re-inspection of residential work found incomplete costs $40.13 The fee schedule we reviewed may not reflect the most recent amendments, so confirm current amounts with the building commissioner.

How do septic permits work in Bunker Hill?

Miami County's on-site sewage ordinance gives the county health officer and agents authority to issue septic permits, collect fees and inspect systems.4 Indiana's statewide residential on-site sewage rule is administered by local boards of health.14 The county office is Miami County Environmental Health in Peru.15

We could not confirm whether the town's own code adds septic rules for lots inside Bunker Hill, or whether a new home must tie into town sewer or water. Where public sewer is not available within 300 feet, the county's on-site rules apply.16 Call Miami County Environmental Health and the town before buying a lot you plan to septic. Soil is a factor: only about 3.3% of Miami County soils rate as not limited for a conventional drain field, so expect a site evaluation and possibly an engineered system.17

Building a home in Bunker Hill: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm the lot's zoning district and allowed uses with the Town of Bunker Hill, since the town's zoning governs inside town limits.2
  2. Ask Miami County Environmental Health whether the lot needs a septic permit or a sewer connection.4
  3. Prepare a plat or sketch of the lot and plans and specifications.11
  4. Apply for the building permit from the town building commissioner and pay the fee.1
  5. If the site is in a special flood hazard area, expect flood-safety review and anchoring requirements.7
  6. Schedule town inspections while work proceeds.13
  7. Obtain the certificate of occupancy.6

What stays with Miami County, and what to check before you buy in Bunker Hill

Septic permits and inspections stay with the Miami County health office,4 and the county's rules on RVs, lot sizes and minimum dwelling size apply only to unincorporated land.18 For land outside town limits, see the Miami County page.

Before buying, check the flood map, because the town reviews construction in special flood hazard areas.7 Miami County's effective property tax rate is 0.6%, with a median bill of $682 a year.1920

Watch-outs

  • The copy of the town code we reviewed may not reflect the latest amendments, so confirm the current zoning text and fees with the town.6
  • Rules for RVs, camping, tiny homes and accessory dwellings inside Bunker Hill town limits are unconfirmed; ask the town before living in anything other than a permitted house.2
  • The town building commissioner requires contractors to register annually, and we could not confirm any owner-builder exemption.6

Sources

  1. Chapter 150 Building Code, sections 150.03 to 150.11 (Town of Bunker Hill), quoted and re-checked
  2. Chapter 154 Zoning, Appendix A Zoning Ordinance, 1-1 Zoning Ordinance (Town of Bunker Hill), quoted and re-checked
  3. Zoning Ordinance of the County of Miami, Indiana, quoted and re-checked
  4. On-site Sewage Disposal of Miami County Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  5. Chapter 150 Building Code, sections 150.03 to 150.11 (Town of Bunker Hill), quoted and re-checked
  6. Chapter 150 Building Code, sections 150.03 to 150.11 (Town of Bunker Hill), quoted and re-checked
  7. Chapter 150 Building Code, sections 150.03 to 150.11 (Town of Bunker Hill), quoted and re-checked
  8. Chapter 154 Zoning, Appendix A Zoning Ordinance, 1-1 Zoning Ordinance (Town of Bunker Hill), quoted and re-checked
  9. Chapter 154 Zoning, Appendix A Zoning Ordinance, 1-1 Zoning Ordinance (Town of Bunker Hill), quoted and re-checked
  10. codelibrary.amlegal.com (Town of Bunker Hill), quoted and re-checked
  11. Chapter 150 Building Code, sections 150.03 to 150.11 (Town of Bunker Hill), quoted and re-checked
  12. Departments | Miami County, IN, quoted and re-checked
  13. Chapter 150 Building Code, sections 150.03 to 150.11 (Town of Bunker Hill), quoted and re-checked
  14. 410 IAC 6-8.3 Residential On-Site Sewage Systems (Indiana statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  15. Miami County Environmental Health (in.gov)
  16. On-site Sewage Disposal of Miami County Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  17. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
  18. County of Miami Zoning Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  19. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  20. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data

Written October 24, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Town of Bunker Hill

Town of Bunker Hill’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Construction, alteration or repair of a building or structure inside Bunker Hill town limits that is above the stated size or cost threshold

    • Applies to any building or structure containing 80 square feet or whose cost exceeds $1,000 (Section 150.07).
    • Excludes industrialized building systems or mobile structures certified under I.C. 22-15-4 (Section 150.04).
    • Forms are furnished by the building commissioner; fees are paid to the town building commissioner (Section 150.07).
    • Construction may proceed only after the permit is obtained, so the status is conditional.

    size threshold: >= 80 square feet (or cost exceeds $1,000) · cost threshold: > 1000 USD (applies alternatively to the 80 square foot threshold)

    “a permit shall be obtained before beginning construction, alteration or repair of any building or structure containing 80 square feet or the cost of which exceeds $1,000, using forms furnished by the building commissioner.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    Construction, alteration, repair, use, occupancy and maintenance of buildings inside Bunker Hill town limits

    • Adopts the state building rules of the Indiana Fire Prevention and Building Safety Commission by reference: 675 IAC article 13 (state building code), article 14 (one- and two-family dwelling code), article 16 (plumbing), article 17 (electrical), article 18 (mechanical), article 19 (energy conservation) and article 20 (swimming pool).
    • Incorporates later amendments to those articles as published in the state register or state administrative code with effective dates fixed therein.
    • Scope excludes industrialized building systems or mobile structures certified under I.C. 22-15-4 (Section 150.04).
    • Section 150.06: where state building plans must be filed with the state council, no local permit issues until the state building commissioner's release for construction is received.
    “building rules of the state fire prevention and building safety commission as set out in the following articles of 675 i.a.c. are hereby incorporated by reference in this code”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Work done under a building permit issued by Bunker Hill town

    • Inspections are made by or under the direction of the building commissioner while work proceeds under the permit (Section 150.11(a)).
    • Re-inspection of work found incomplete or not ready is subject to a re-inspection fee of $40 for residential work (Section 150.09(a)).
    • Inspection frequency and stages are not stated in the retrieved text.
    “after the issuance of any building permit thereunder, the building commissioner shall make, or shall cause to make, such inspections of the work being done under such permit as are necessary to ensure full compliance”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside Bunker Hill town limits. The town adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance (Chapter 154, Appendix A, 'Zoning Ordinance'); it does not rely on county zoning inside town limits.

    • Use and dimensional rules vary by district; the district tables and Table 1 (authorized uses) were not retrieved, so per-district answers are unknown.
    • Appendix A states that its text derives from an ordinance originally passed in 1997 and that amendments are noted after each amended section; the retrieved copy was truncated at about 65,534 characters, so later amendments and the full district text were not verified.
    • The code's own overview page says local legislation is current through an ordinance passed 8-11-2025 and also says 'current through ord. 4, 2018'; currency of the zoning text is therefore not confirmed.
    “whereas, state laws empower the town of bunker hill, indiana to enact a zoning ordinance and to provide for its administration, enforcement and amendments”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Land inside Bunker Hill town limits

    • The zoning text states the plan commission divided the town into districts; the district list visible in the table of contents includes R1, R3, LB and GB districts, and an industrial district is referenced in Section 2-15.
    • The district map and Table 1 (authorized uses) are referenced but their text was not retrieved; the existence of an agricultural district was not verified.
    “the town of bunker hill plan commission has divided the town into districts and has prepared regulation pertaining to such districts”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    Each mobile home space inside a mobile home park in Bunker Hill town limits (not single-family lots)

    • Applies only to mobile home spaces within a mobile home park (five or more mobile homes regularly accommodated).
    • Defined term in the definitions section of Appendix A.

    mobile home space minimum area: >= 2500 square feet (one mobile home per space)

    “mobile home space. an area of land within a mobile home park with a minimum of 2,500 square feet for the placement of one mobile home”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    Spacing between mobile homes inside a mobile home park in Bunker Hill town limits (not single-family lot setbacks)

    • Applies within mobile home parks; minimum distance between any part of a mobile home, including any addition, is 15 feet.
    • Yard and property-line setbacks for single-family districts were not retrieved.

    minimum distance between mobile homes including additions: >= 15 feet

    “the minimum distance between any part of a mobile home including any addition shall be 15 feet.”
  • Building in a floodplainLimited

    New construction, substantial improvements and major repairs on sites inside Bunker Hill town limits that are in an area of special flood hazard

    • Applies through the building permit review: the building commissioner reviews new construction and substantial improvements for flood safety, and reviews major repairs for flood-resistant materials and methods (Section 150.10(b) to (d)).
    • Construction within the special flood hazard area must be protected against flood damage and anchored against flotation, collapse or lateral movement, including prefabricated and mobile homes (Section 150.10(d)).
    • The floodplain map, elevation requirements and the separate floodplain ordinance were not retrieved.
    “review all building permit applications for new construction or substantial improvements to determine whether proposed building site will be reasonably safe from flooding”
  • Permit feesPublished

    Building, inspection, registration and license fees charged by the Bunker Hill town department of building and safety

    • Residential one- and two-family fees are the greater of the minimum or square-foot cost and are capped at $500 per project.
    • Agricultural, commercial and industrial fees are capped at $5,000 per project.
    • Section 150.09(c): contractors must register annually with the town; registration fee $25 per year; liability insurance minimum $100,000 coverage and workers' compensation coverage required.
    • Fee schedule is the version in the code as retrieved; the page states the code may not reflect the most current legislation.

    residential new construction (conventional): 0.1 USD per sq. ft. (minimum $100; residential fees in division (a) capped at $500 per project) · sewer connection/alteration (residential): 40 USD · contractor registration: 25 USD per year (registration valid calendar year; pro-rated by month from July 1) · certificate of occupancy: 125 USD

    “new construction (conventional) $0.10 per sq. ft./$100 min.”
  • Permit processPartial

    Building permit applications for construction inside Bunker Hill town limits

    • Permit application must include a plat or sketch showing lot boundaries and plans and specifications showing the work (Section 150.06).
    • For construction under the state administrative building council's authority, plans must also be filed with the council, and no local permit issues until the state building commissioner's release for construction is received (Section 150.06).
    • Before issuing a permit the building commissioner reviews code compliance and, in the floodplain, flood-safety standards (Section 150.10).
    • Fees are payable to the town building commissioner (Section 150.07). Application forms, timelines and appeal steps (Sections 150.13 to 150.17) were not retrieved, so the process is only partly published in the retrieved text.
    “no permit shall be issued for the foregoing purposes unless the application for such permit is accomplished by a plat or sketch of the proposed location showing lot boundaries and by plans and specifications showing the work to be done.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Town of Bunker Hill or Miami County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption from contractor registration or permits inside Bunker Hill town limits
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum floor area of a single-family dwelling inside Bunker Hill town limits
  • Lot coverage — Maximum lot coverage inside Bunker Hill town limits
  • Building height — Maximum building height inside Bunker Hill town limits
  • Living in an RV — Occupancy of recreational vehicles as a dwelling inside Bunker Hill town limits
12 more unanswered
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • Short-term rentals

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.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Town of Bunker Hill publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Miami County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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