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

Rules another office applies inside Harrison Township

Harrison 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 and altered structures on land inside Harrison township that is under the Morgan County UDO

  • Permit is an improvement location permit (ILP), which the UDO calls a building permit.
  • Construction may proceed only after the ILP is issued.
  • Accessory structures of 200 sq ft or less without a permanent foundation are not covered by this requirement.

  “an ilp, also known as a building permit, shall be required for the erection, alteration, or modification of all structures within the jurisdiction”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Harrison township, Morgan County, that is not subject to the zoning jurisdiction of Martinsville, Monrovia, Mooresville or Morgantown. The county UDO is the zoning rule there; no Harrison township zoning ordinance was found.

  • The UDO applies to all land within the jurisdiction of the Morgan County Advisory Plan Commission that is not subject to the zoning jurisdiction of Martinsville, Monrovia, Mooresville, and Morgantown.
  • Land not included in a district is declared to be in the general agriculture (AG) district.
  • Whether any part of Harrison township falls inside a town's zoning jurisdiction was not verified.

  “the udo shall apply to all land within the jurisdiction of the morgan county advisory plan commission that are not subject to the zoning jurisdiction of the governmental units of martinsville, monrovia, mooresville, and morgantown.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts applying to land inside Harrison township under the county UDO

  • Land not in a district is in the general agriculture (AG) district.
  • The UDO lists the AG, RR, R-1, R-2, R-3, B-1, B-2, B-3, I-1, I-2 districts and overlays, including the I-69 overlay.
  • The official zoning map is a separate document not opened.

  “property that has not been specifically included within a district is hereby declared to be in the general agriculture (ag) district”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Dwellings in the general agriculture (AG) district on land inside Harrison township

  • Minimum living area is 950 sq ft.
  • Minimum width of the primary structure is 18 feet.
  • An accessory dwelling has its own minimum of 220 sq ft.

  minimum living area: >= 950 sq ft

  “minimum living area 950 sq ft n/a minimum width of primary structure 18 feet n/a”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Single-family dwellings in the rural residential (RR) district on land inside Harrison township

    “minimum living area 950 sq ft n/a minimum width of primary structure 18 feet n/a”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Single-family dwelling lot in the rural residential (RR) district on land inside Harrison township

  • Single-family lot area is 20,000 sq ft with sewer and 1 acre without sewer.
  • Non-residential lots are 1 acre with sewer and 2 acres without sewer.
  • Lots without sewer need approval from the Morgan County Health Department.
  • Minimum lot width is 90 feet.

  minimum lot area, single-family, with sewer: >= 20000 sq ft · minimum lot area, single-family, without sewer: >= 1 acre (subject to health department approval)

  “with sewer 20,000 sq ft 1 acre without sewer2 1 acre 2 acres”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Residential structures in the general agriculture (AG) district on land inside Harrison township

  • Front yard setback is 35 feet for residential and 50 feet for non-residential.
  • Primary-structure side yard is 25 feet; accessory-structure side yard is 15 feet.
  • Primary-structure rear yard is 30 feet; accessory-structure rear yard is 15 feet.
  • Labels are inferred from the table order in the flattened PDF.

  front yard setback, residential: >= 35 feet · side yard setback, primary structure: >= 25 feet · side yard setback, accessory structure: >= 15 feet · rear yard setback, primary structure: >= 30 feet · rear yard setback, accessory structure: >= 15 feet

  “35 feet 50 feet primary structure 25 feet 25 feet accessory structure 15 feet 20 feet primary structure 30 feet 30 feet accessory structure 15 feet 20 feet”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Residential structures in the rural residential (RR) district on land inside Harrison township

    “35 feet 35 feet primary structure 20 feet 25 feet accessory structure 10 feet 15 feet primary structure 25 feet 30 feet accessory structure 10 feet 15 feet”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  Impervious surface on residential lots in the general agriculture (AG) district on land inside Harrison township

  • Maximum impervious surface coverage is 50% for residential and non-residential uses in the AG district.
  • Gravel areas count toward impervious surface coverage under the UDO definition.

  maximum impervious surface coverage: <= 50 percent

  “maximum impervious surface coverage 50% 50%”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Impervious surface on single-family lots in the rural residential (RR) district on land inside Harrison township

    “maximum impervious surface coverage 50% 50%”

• Building heightSpecified

  Residential structures in the general agriculture (AG) district on land inside Harrison township

  • Primary residential structure height limit is 40 feet; accessory structure limit is 30 feet.
  • Agriculture land uses are exempt from this height standard (footnote 1).
  • Accessory structures may not exceed the height of the primary structure under the general accessory standards.

  maximum height, primary structure, residential: <= 40 feet (agriculture land uses exempt) · maximum height, accessory structure, residential: <= 30 feet (agriculture land uses exempt)

  “primary structure 40 feet 50 feet1 accessory structure 30 feet 50 feet1”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Single-family structures in the rural residential (RR) district on land inside Harrison township

    “primary structure 35 feet 50 feet1 accessory structure 25 feet 50 feet1”

• Tiny homesLimited

  Tiny homes used as a primary dwelling or accessory dwelling inside Harrison township under the UDO

  • Single-family dwellings in the AG and RR districts need a minimum living area of 950 sq ft.
  • An accessory dwelling needs a minimum living area of 220 sq ft and is limited to 800 sq ft or 50% of the primary dwelling.
  • The accessory dwelling must meet the current building code as a single-family dwelling.

  minimum living area, primary dwelling (AG and RR): >= 950 sq ft · minimum living area, accessory dwelling: >= 220 sq ft

  “minimum living area 950 sq ft n/a minimum width of primary structure 18 feet n/a”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured homes on land inside Harrison township under the Morgan County UDO

  • A manufactured home is permitted as an accessory dwelling, subject to the accessory-dwelling standards.
  • A manufactured home park is a special exception in the RR district.
  • Only manufactured homes are permitted within a manufactured home park; transient or nonpermanent units are not.

  “a manufactured home is permitted as an accessory dwelling”

• Accessory dwellingsLimited

  Accessory dwelling units on land inside Harrison township under the UDO

  • Requires a lawfully constructed single-family dwelling on the parcel that is owner-occupied.
  • Only one accessory dwelling is permitted per parcel.
  • The accessory dwelling must use the existing permitted driveway and must keep the primary address.
  • Short-term rentals do not qualify as accessory dwellings.

  maximum accessory dwellings per parcel: 1 count

  “only one (1) accessory dwelling shall be permitted per parcel.”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Onsite sewage (septic) systems for structures inside Harrison township; the Morgan County Health Department administers septic permits

  • The county health department issues septic permits under state rule 410 IAC 6-8.3 and the Morgan County septic ordinance.
  • The state rule is the underlying standard; the county is the permitting authority.
  • Municipal sewer connection, where available, is a separate question (see utility claims).

  “residential onsite sewage systems, in state law 410 iac 6-8-3 morgan county septic ordinance”

• Septic permitRequired

  Septic system serving a structure inside Harrison township

  • Septic permit must be issued by the Morgan County Health Department before an ILP is issued for a structure served by a septic system.
  • Health-department applications are listed on the county septic division page; fee amounts were not opened.

  “no ilp shall be issued for a structure that is served by a septic system unless a septic permit has been issued by the morgan county health department”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Non-municipal water and sanitation for dwellings in the RR district in unincorporated Morgan County, including land inside Harrison township

  • Non-municipal water and/or sewer must be approved by the Morgan County Health Department and/or IDOH.
  • An accessory dwelling must have water and sewage disposal approved by the health department or the sanitary service provider.
  • The county health department approves connections or modifications to the existing septic system needed for an accessory dwelling.

  “municipal water and sewer are not required for this district, but all nonmunicipal water and/or sewer shall be approved by the morgan county health department and/or idoh.”

• Mandatory utility hookupNone

  Single-family homes in the rural residential (RR) district in unincorporated Morgan County, which includes land inside Harrison township under the UDO

  • Municipal water and sewer are not required in the RR district.
  • Non-municipal water and sewer must be approved by the county health department and/or IDOH.
  • Lot size depends on whether sewer is available (see RR lot-size claim).

  municipal water required: no · municipal sewer required: no

  “rr utility standards municipal water required no municipal sewer required no”

• Agricultural exemptionConditional

  Agricultural uses on land inside Harrison township under the UDO

  • Agricultural uses, other than confined feeding operations, are exempt from development plan approval.
  • Agricultural uses are exempt from the building height limit in the AG and RR districts.
  • Agricultural uses still need an ILP for structures, subject to the ILP rules.

  “all development or modification of property for uses other than agricultural uses (excluding confined feeding operations), single-family, or two-family residential require development plan approval”

• Driveway accessLimited

  Driveway access for an accessory dwelling on land inside Harrison township

  • An accessory dwelling must use an existing permitted driveway that serves the primary dwelling.
  • No separate driveway may be granted from a public right-of-way for an accessory dwelling.
  • General driveway permit requirements were not found.

  “the accessory dwelling shall utilize an existing, permitted driveway that serves the primary dwelling”

• Short-term rentalsAllowed (with conditions)

  Short-term rental of a single-family home on land inside Harrison township, AG district

  • Short-term rental is listed as a permitted use in the AG district.
  • The UDO defines a short-term rental by reference to IC 36-1-24; state rules apply and were not checked.
  • A short-term rental does not qualify as an accessory dwelling.

  “residential uses • dwelling, single-family • short-term rental”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Permit process for structures on land inside Harrison township under the Morgan County UDO

  • Permit is issued by the Morgan County Plan Commission office (ILP).
  • No ILP is issued for a structure served by a septic system unless a septic permit has been issued by the county health department or the health officer has authorized an approved system.
  • Public improvements must be inspected by the county engineer (where applicable) before an ILP is issued.

  “no building or other structure shall be erected, moved, added to, or structurally altered unless the morgan county plan commission office has issued an ilp”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for homes inside Harrison township
• Building code adopted — Building code adoption for land inside Harrison township, Morgan County
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes inside Harrison township
• Septic inspection — Septic inspection for systems serving structures inside Harrison township
• Well permit — Private water well serving a home inside Harrison 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.