Bolthole Index

Morgan County, Indiana

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Martinsville, Indiana

Martinsville, Indiana requires building permits and inspections for covered construction inside city limits, with applications handled by city Building Services.123 Martinsville sets its own zoning; a building needing septic must obtain a Morgan County Health Department septic permit before applying for the city building permit.45 Residential use of an RV or camper for more than 14 days in a calendar year is prohibited unless the zoning district specifically permits it.6

At a glance

Building permits
City building permits and inspections required for covered work12
Zoning
Martinsville zoning districts govern uses inside city limits47
Septic permits
Morgan County Health Department; obtain septic permit before city building-permit application85
RV living
More than 14 days per calendar year prohibited unless specifically permitted in the district6
New single-family building permit fee
$275 plus $0.10 per square foot over 1,500 square feet9
Building access
Public-street frontage or private access easement at least 30 feet wide; older easement exception applies10

Who to call

Building permits

Martinsville Building Services

City building applications, zoning and subdivision questions, floodplain maps, right-of-way work and stormwater coordination

765-349-4923

[email protected]

59 S Jefferson Street Martinsville IN 46151

Online permits →

Septic permits

Morgan County Health Department, Environmental Health (Septic Division)

Septic permitting and inspections for Martinsville properties needing onsite sewage disposal

765-342-6621

180 S Main St Suite 252 Martinsville, IN 46151

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 11, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

These are affiliate links — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, Bolthole Index earns from qualifying purchases.

Do you need a building permit in Martinsville, Indiana?

Martinsville requires building permits and inspections for covered building, reconstruction, structural alteration and land improvements inside city limits; ask Building Services which application and any exemptions fit the proposed work.12 Residential construction is subject to the 2020 Indiana Residential Code, incorporating the 2018 International Residential Code for one- and two-family dwellings.11

The published Martinsville fee for a new single-family residential building permit is $275 plus $0.10 per square foot over 1,500 square feet; an accessory-building permit is $150.9 We could not confirm a city owner-builder exemption or when a certificate of occupancy is required; ask Martinsville Building Services before planning construction or move-in.12

Who issues building permits and handles zoning in Martinsville?

Martinsville Building Services is the city contact for building applications and zoning or subdivision questions, at 765-349-4923 and 59 S Jefferson Street Martinsville IN 46151.12 Use the city application linked from Building Services for projects within the corporate limits.12 The city page also provides a zoning map, inspection list, Board of Zoning Appeals application materials and Plan Commission application procedures.12

Morgan County Health Department remains the septic authority for Martinsville buildings needing septic, so a city building application does not replace county septic approval.85 For land outside Martinsville city limits, use the Morgan County guide rather than applying the city requirements to an unincorporated parcel.3

Does Martinsville have zoning, and can you live in an RV or tiny home?

Martinsville has city zoning districts, and an intended use may be permitted by right or require a special exception depending on the district.47 Martinsville prohibits using a travel trailer, camper, tent, garage or similar structure as a dwelling for more than 14 days in any calendar year unless that use is specifically permitted in the district.6 Ask Building Services about the actual parcel and district before relying on an RV as housing during construction.612

We could not confirm a complete city rule for tiny-home occupancy or accessory dwellings; ask Martinsville Building Services to classify the proposed dwelling and identify the applicable district requirements.12 Request the parcel-specific lot-size, setback and coverage requirements from the same office before settling on a house footprint.712

How do septic permits work inside Martinsville?

A Martinsville building needing a septic system must obtain its Morgan County Health Department septic permit before the city building-permit application.5 Morgan County requires a soil test by a state-approved soil scientist, application materials including system and site drawings, a site inspection, fee payment and a signed permit.13 Septic installers must be registered with the county health office before obtaining a permit or installing systems.14

Morgan County residential septic fees are $200 for a trench system and $250 for a sand-lined system.15 The septic permit is valid for 2 years and is nontransferable; notify the health department for inspection before backfilling.16 For a manufactured home in Martinsville, proof of sewer availability or county-approved onsite wastewater disposal must be submitted before the city grants the building permit.17

Building a home in Martinsville: what are the steps, in order?

  1. Start with Martinsville Building Services to identify the zoning district and whether the proposed use needs a special exception.712
  2. If the home needs septic, arrange the county-required soil test and application materials, then obtain the Morgan County Health Department septic permit before applying for the city building permit.135
  3. Submit the city building application through the link on the Martinsville Building Services page.3
  4. Coordinate required building inspections with the city and use the city inspection list to plan the work.212
  5. Have the septic installer notify Morgan County Health Department for inspection before backfilling the system.16

For a new address, Martinsville directs applicants to the Morgan County Plan Commission at 765-342-1060.12

What should you check before buying land in Martinsville?

Every new primary building in Martinsville must sit on a lot fronting a public street or a private access easement at least 30 feet wide, with an exception for easements created before the zoning chapter took effect.10 Confirm recorded access before treating a vacant parcel as a home site.10

Martinsville Building Services provides floodplain maps and handles stormwater, erosion control and right-of-way work; involve the office before earthmoving.12 Indiana DNR has jurisdiction over most development activities in floodways, while local floodplain requirements may still apply outside the floodway.18

Morgan County has only 5.1% of soils rated not limited for conventional septic drain fields; that countywide rating supports getting a parcel evaluation and does not mean septic is impossible.19 We could not confirm a private-well permit rule for Martinsville; ask Morgan County Health Department before relying on a well.20

Watch-outs

  • Martinsville’s RV dwelling restriction is an annual limit, not a confirmed construction-camp exception: more than 14 days requires a district that specifically permits the use.6
  • Obtain Morgan County septic approval before applying for a Martinsville building permit when the building needs septic.5
  • We could not confirm city agricultural permit exemptions, tiny-home occupancy or accessory-dwelling rules; ask Martinsville Building Services about the proposed use before buying.12

Sources

  1. Building Services (Martinsville), quoted and re-checked
  2. library.municode.com (Martinsville), quoted and re-checked
  3. Building Services (Martinsville), quoted and re-checked
  4. Sec. 94-30. Table 1, primary authorized uses by zoning district (Martinsville), quoted and re-checked
  5. Building Services (Martinsville), quoted and re-checked
  6. Sec. 94-31. Residential uses and requirements (Martinsville), quoted and re-checked
  7. Sec. 94-30. Table 1, primary authorized uses by zoning district (Martinsville), quoted and re-checked
  8. Building Services (Martinsville), quoted and re-checked
  9. Ordinance 2025-1898 (Martinsville), quoted and re-checked
  10. Sec. 94-33(C). Building on street or easement (Martinsville), quoted and re-checked
  11. Rules of the Indiana Fire Prevention and Building Safety Commission (Martinsville), quoted and re-checked
  12. Martinsville Building Services (martinsville.in.gov)
  13. Morgan County: Procedures to Obtain a Septic Permit, quoted and re-checked
  14. Morgan County: Septic Division, quoted and re-checked
  15. Morgan County: Fees & Payment Options, quoted and re-checked
  16. Application for Septic Permit (Martinsville), quoted and re-checked
  17. Sec. 94-36(B)(6). Manufactured homes (Martinsville), quoted and re-checked
  18. Water: Community Assistance & Information, quoted and re-checked
  19. 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
  20. Morgan County Health Department, Environmental Health (Septic Division) (morgancounty.in.gov)

Written October 11, 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 Martinsville

Martinsville’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Building, reconstruction, structural alteration, and other covered improvements inside Martinsville city limits.

    • The city's Building Services page directs projects within the corporate limits to the city permit application.
    • Specific permit exemptions and permit types may vary by project.
    “who shall build, reconstruct or structurally alter any building or land improvement without the required permits and inspections”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Covered building and land improvements inside Martinsville city limits.

    • The code ties violations to required permits and inspections.
    • The city Building Services page provides an inspection list and identifies a city Building Inspector.
    “who shall build, reconstruct or structurally alter any building or land improvement without the required permits and inspections”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Martinsville city limits; the city adopts and administers zoning districts and zoning regulations.

    “This table is subject to definitions of Section 94-5 of this chapter, which outlines zoning districts.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Zoning districts and primary authorized uses inside Martinsville city limits.

    • The official code table lists FP, AG, OS, RR, R1, R2, R3, B1, B2, B3, B4, I1, I2, I3, and I4 district columns.
    • Specific uses may be permitted by right or only by special exception.
    “(A) Residential uses. FP AG OS RR R1 R2 R3 B1 B2 B3 B4 I1 I2 I3 I4”
  • Building heightSpecified

    Mobile homes and accessory buildings in mobile-home parks inside Martinsville city limits.

    • No building or structure may exceed 30 feet.
    • Accessory buildings may not exceed 16 feet or 1,200 square feet of ground-floor area.

    maximum building or structure height: <= 30 feet · maximum accessory-building height: <= 16 feet · maximum accessory-building ground floor area: <= 1200 square feet

    “No building or structure may be established, altered or erected so as to have a height greater than 30 feet. No accessory building shall exceed 16 feet in height or 1,200 square feet in ground floor area.”
  • Living in an RVLimited

    Use of a recreational vehicle, travel trailer, camper, or similar structure as a dwelling inside Martinsville city limits.

    • Use as a dwelling or residence for more than 14 days in any calendar year is prohibited unless specifically permitted in the district.
    • The district's other zoning requirements still apply.

    maximum otherwise permitted occupancy: <= 14 days per calendar year (unless specifically permitted in the district)

    “Use of any structure, travel trailer, camper, tent, garage or similar structures as a dwelling or residence, or is intended to be used as such, for a period of more than 14 days in any calendar year is prohibited unless it is in a district where such use is specifically permitted.”
  • Who permits septicCounty

    Septic permitting and approval for buildings requiring septic systems inside Martinsville city limits.

    • The city directs applicants to the Morgan County Health Department.
    • The county health department's septic form requires county approval and inspection.
    “If you have a building that requires a septic system, you will need to contact the Morgan County Health Department at 765-342-6621 and obtain a septic permit prior to applying for a building permit”
  • Septic permitRequired

    A building inside Martinsville city limits that requires a septic system.

    • A septic permit must be obtained before applying for a city building permit.
    • The county form covers new construction, repair, and expansion.
    “If you have a building that requires a septic system, you will need to contact the Morgan County Health Department at 765-342-6621 and obtain a septic permit prior to applying for a building permit”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    On-site sewage disposal systems inside Martinsville city limits that are permitted through Morgan County.

    • Inspection must occur before backfilling.
    • The applicant must notify the Morgan County Health Department.
    • The permit is valid two years from issuance and is nontransferable.

    permit validity: 2 years (from date of issue)

    “An inspection of the system will be completed prior to backfilling by notifying the Morgan County Health Department. This permit is valid 2 years from the date of issue and is nontransferable.”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    On-site wastewater disposal for manufactured homes inside Martinsville city limits.

    • The system must be approved by the Morgan County board of health.
    • Proof of approval is required before the city grants a building permit.
    “The home shall be connected to sanitary sewers or to an on-site wastewater disposal system approved by the county's board of health.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupConditional

    Manufactured homes proposed inside Martinsville city limits.

    • The home must connect to sanitary sewers or use an on-site wastewater disposal system approved by the county board of health.
    • Proof of approval or sewer availability must be submitted before a building permit is granted.
    “The home shall be connected to sanitary sewers or to an on-site wastewater disposal system approved by the county's board of health. Proof that an on-site wastewater disposal system will be approved or sanitary sewers are available shall be submitted to the city superintendent prior to the granting of a building permit.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision and planned-unit-development activity inside Martinsville city limits.

    • Subdivision proposals and new development are subject to city planning, zoning, and floodplain requirements.
    • The city Building Services page identifies planned unit developments and subdivisions as city services.
    “City ordinances related to building and planning (zoning and subdivision)”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    Every primary building erected inside Martinsville city limits.

    • The lot must front on a public street or a private access easement at least 30 feet wide.
    • An exception applies where the easement was created before the effective date of the chapter.

    minimum private access easement width: >= 30 feet (unless the easement was created prior to the effective date of the chapter)

    “Every primary building hereafter erected shall be located on an individual lot which fronts on a public street, or private access easement not less than 30 feet in width, unless the easement was created prior to the effective date of this chapter.”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    City building, zoning, electrical, accessory-building, swimming-pool, and related permit fees inside Martinsville city limits.

    • Ordinance 2025-1898 amends Chapter 94, Article XVI, Section 94-240.
    • Residential sewer permit fees are separately stated in Sec. 34-623.

    new single-family residential permit: 275 USD (plus $0.10 per square foot over 1,500 square feet) · duplex or two-family residential permit: 400 USD · multifamily permit: 400 USD (plus $100 per living unit) · accessory building permit: 150 USD · residential or commercial building sewer permit: 5 USD

    “(a) New single-family residential $275.00 Plus $0.10 per sqft over 1,500 sqft”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Permit process for projects inside Martinsville city limits.

    • Apply through the city Building Services permit link.
    • For a building requiring septic, obtain the Morgan County septic permit before applying for the city building permit.
    • The city provides inspection information, zoning-map, BZA, and plan-commission forms.
    • New addresses are assigned by the Morgan County Plan Commission.
    “For projects within the corporate limits of Martinsville, Indiana, Apply for a Permit.”

Rules another office applies inside Martinsville

Martinsville does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    Residential construction inside Martinsville city limits through Indiana's statewide residential code.

    • 675 IAC 14-4.4 is currently in effect.
    • The rule is the 2020 Indiana Residential Code incorporating the 2018 IRC for one- and two-family dwellings.
    • Effective date stated by the source: 12/26/2019.

    effective date: 2019-12-26

    “675 IAC 14-4.4 | 2020 Indiana Residential Code | 2018 International Residential Code for One- and Two-Family Dwellings, First Printing | Currently in Effect Effective: 12/26/2019”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption from construction permits or inspections inside Martinsville city limits.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy for land and buildings inside Martinsville city limits.
  • Lot coverage — Lot coverage inside Martinsville city limits.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Martinsville city limits.
  • Accessory dwellings — Accessory dwelling units inside Martinsville city limits.
3 more unanswered
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • 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 Martinsville publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Morgan County’s page lists the county offices to call.

← All of Morgan County: county rules, score and offices