Unincorporated Morgan County, Indiana requires a building permit for a home, and the county Planning & Zoning Department issues permits and conducts inspections12. Morgan County applies zoning, while onsite-sewage permits and inspections go through the Morgan County Health Department34. We could not confirm one countywide answer for setbacks, tiny homes, or RV living, so ask Planning & Zoning about the specific parcel.
At a glance
- Building permit
- Required; Planning & Zoning issues permits12
- Zoning
- Yes; confirm the parcel's district with Planning & Zoning35
- Septic permit
- Required for new, repaired or expanded onsite systems6
- Septic inspection
- Required before backfilling7
- RV living
- Unconfirmed for private land; ask Planning & Zoning5
- Tiny home
- Unconfirmed; check zoning and building rules for the parcel32
- Owner-builder exemption
- Unconfirmed; do not assume an exemption8
- Private well permit
- Local requirement unconfirmed; ask the Health Department9
Who to call
Building permits
Morgan County Planning & Zoning Department
Building permits, inspections, floodplain protections and online building-permit applications in the county's unincorporated jurisdiction
180 S Main St Suite 204, Martinsville, IN 46151
Zoning
Morgan County Planning & Zoning Department
Land use and development in the county's unincorporated areas of jurisdiction
180 S Main St Suite 204, Martinsville, IN 46151
Floodplain permits
Morgan County Planning & Zoning Department
County floodplain protections in the unincorporated jurisdiction
180 S Main St Suite 204, Martinsville, IN 46151
Septic permits
Morgan County Health Department, Environmental Health (Septic Division)
Local contact for residential onsite sewage permitting and inspection
180 S Main St Suite 252, Martinsville, IN 46151
Septic permits
Morgan County Health Department, Environmental Health (Septic Division)
The county's published procedure for obtaining a septic permit
Roads & driveways
Morgan County Highway Department
County roads and side ditches; the department page links a driveway-permit form
5400 Blue Bluff Rd, Martinsville, IN 46151
Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on September 29, 2026.
Do you need a building permit in Morgan County, Indiana?
Yes. Unincorporated Morgan County, Indiana requires a building permit for a home1. The Morgan County Planning & Zoning Department issues building permits, conducts inspections and links to an online GeoPermits application2. Indiana has adopted building codes that apply in Morgan County, with model codes amended by the state10. We could not confirm which other residential projects trigger a county permit, so describe additions, accessory structures, conversions and repairs to Planning & Zoning before ordering materials. For a project that must obtain an Indiana construction design release, filing is generally electronic and the state makes its initial completeness and review determination within 10 business days11. That state process does not replace any required local permit12.
Who issues Morgan County building permits, and how do you reach the office?
Morgan County Planning & Zoning is the first stop for building permits in the county's unincorporated jurisdiction2. The office is at 180 S Main St Suite 204, Martinsville, IN 46151, and its phone number is (765) 342-10602. Its posted hours are Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with a daily closure from noon to 1 p.m.2. The department also handles zoning compliance, inspections, floodplain protections and addressing2. The official page links the online GeoPermits application, but we could not confirm a complete county building-permit checklist, building fee schedule, inspection sequence or certificate-of-occupancy rule. Ask the office for the current requirements for the exact structure and parcel; the published fees discussed below are septic fees, not building-permit fees13.
Does Morgan County have zoning for RVs, tiny homes and setbacks?
Morgan County has zoning and a Unified Development Ordinance for the unincorporated county3. The Planning & Zoning Department handles land use and development within the county's unincorporated areas of jurisdiction5. We could not confirm the current district boundaries, setbacks, minimum lot size, minimum dwelling size, accessory-dwelling standards or tiny-home rules, so ask the department to identify the parcel's district and provide the applicable use and dimensional standards5. Do not apply county guidance automatically inside Martinsville: the city handles its own permits, rights-of-way, zoning and subdivision ordinances14. Other incorporated places may also have separate jurisdiction, so confirm which office controls the address. County Planning & Zoning administers local floodplain protections, while Indiana DNR has jurisdiction over most development in a floodway1516.
How do septic permits work in Morgan County?
Morgan County requires a septic permit for a new, repaired or expanded onsite-sewage system, and the Health Department administers permitting and inspection64. Start with a soil test by a state-approved soil scientist, then submit the application materials; the county says its review and site visit are normally completed within 2–3 working days17. Only about 5.1% of county soils are rated without severe limits for a conventional drain field, so resolve feasibility before choosing the house location18. Published residential fees are $250 for a sand-lined system, $200 for a trench system and $75 for a septic-tank or D-box replacement or system expansion13. A registered installer must install the system, and the Health Department must be notified for inspection before backfilling177.
Can you live in an RV or tiny home on Morgan County land?
We could not confirm a countywide yes-or-no rule for long-term RV living, temporary camping, or tiny-home occupancy on private land in unincorporated Morgan County. Planning & Zoning controls land use in the county's unincorporated jurisdiction, so ask that office about the particular parcel, proposed duration, utilities, and whether the unit is treated as a dwelling5. Indiana's campground rule is not an answer for a private tract: it addresses regulated campgrounds and expressly does not create general permission for residential RV occupancy outside them19. A tiny home intended as a residence still faces the confirmed building-permit, zoning, and sanitation layers1320. Get a written parcel-specific determination before buying an RV or tiny home, installing utilities, or assuming temporary occupancy is allowed.
What are the steps to build a home in Morgan County?
- Ask Planning & Zoning to confirm the controlling jurisdiction, zoning district and any local floodplain review515.
- If onsite sewage is needed, hire a state-approved soil scientist and begin the septic application before fixing the house, driveway and replacement-field locations176.
- Confirm the building-permit application, plans, fees and inspection schedule with Planning & Zoning, then use the linked GeoPermits application2.
What should you check before buying Morgan County land?
Start with jurisdiction, zoning district, setbacks, allowed uses and floodplain status through Planning & Zoning515. Development in an Indiana floodway usually falls under DNR jurisdiction, while floodplain-fringe development can still face local rules even though it has no state review or permit16. Treat septic suitability as a purchase condition: only about 5.1% of Morgan County soils are rated without severe limitations for conventional drain fields18. For a private well, ask the Health Department whether Morgan County requires a local permit; statewide guidance says some local departments do but does not identify Morgan County9. Confirm legal access and the driveway authority through the Highway Department or INDOT2122. The median property-tax bill is about $1,056 per year, but parcel taxes can differ23.
Watch-outs
- We could not confirm Morgan County's rules for private-land RV occupancy, temporary camping, tiny-home occupancy, minimum dwelling size, minimum lot size, or setbacks; obtain the applicable district rules from Planning & Zoning before committing to a parcel5.
- We could not confirm whether Morgan County requires a private-well permit, so ask the Health Department before scheduling a driller9.
- We could not confirm an owner-builder exemption in Morgan County; ask Planning & Zoning before assuming one applies82.
Sources
- Morgan County Permits (2026 county census)
- Morgan County Planning & Zoning Department (morgancounty.in.gov)
- Morgan County Planning & Zoning (2026 county census)
- Morgan County Health Department Application for Septic Permit, quoted and re-checked
- Morgan County Planning & Zoning Department (morgancounty.in.gov)
- Morgan County Health Department Application for Septic Permit, quoted and re-checked
- Morgan County Health Department Application for Septic Permit, quoted and re-checked
- (2026 county census)
- Recommended Standards For Private Water Wells (Indiana statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
- DHS: Building Plan Review, quoted and re-checked
- DHS: Building Plan Review, quoted and re-checked
- Building Plan Review (Indiana statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
- Morgan County: Fees & Payment Options, quoted and re-checked
- Building Services, quoted and re-checked
- Morgan County Planning & Zoning Department (morgancounty.in.gov)
- Water: Community Assistance & Information, quoted and re-checked
- Morgan County Health Department, Environmental Health (Septic Division) (morgancounty.in.gov)
- Share of soils without severe limits for a conventional septic drain field (USDA SSURGO): Bolthole Index county data
- Environmental Public Health: 410 IAC 6-71 Campgrounds (Indiana statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
- Environmental Public Health: Onsite Sewage Systems Program, quoted and re-checked
- Morgan County Highway Department (morgancounty.in.gov)
- INDOT Driveway Permit Guide 2024 (Indiana statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
- Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
Written September 29, 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.