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

Rules another office applies inside Colfax Township

Colfax 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 residential or other structures built inside Colfax township, which is unincorporated Newton County; the Newton County Building Department issues the permit

  • Building permits are not required for structures 160 square feet or smaller, or for repair/maintenance (roofing, siding, etc.) for which the cost does not exceed $10,000.00.
  • The county building department handles residential and commercial permits and enforces zoning codes and ordinances.

  exempt structure size: <= 160 sq ft (no permit required for structures this size or smaller) · exempt repair cost: <= 10000 USD (repair/maintenance (roofing, siding, etc.) only)

  “building permits are not required for structures 160 square feet or smaller, or for repair/maintenance (roofing, siding, etc.) for which the cost does not exceed $10,000.00”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  New construction in Colfax township, which is unincorporated Newton County, Indiana

  • The county permit application states that the applicant's proposed structure must comply with the state building code, alongside the county building and zoning ordinances.

  “minimum requirements as provided in the building and zoning ordinances of newton county, indiana, and of the state building code of the state of indiana”

• InspectionsRequired

  Inspections of new construction and alterations in Colfax township, which is unincorporated Newton County

  • Inspections must be scheduled with the county building department on proper 24-hour notice.
  • The county building department inspects new construction and alterations.

  inspection notice: >= 24 hours

  “proper 24-hour notice is required for scheduling inspections”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts of unincorporated Newton County, which includes Colfax township if county zoning applies there

  • District map is in the county GIS/Beacon; the legend lists A, R-1, R-1A, R-2, RMH, RMHA, MXD, B-1, B-2, I-1, I-2 and other districts.
  • The legend is adapted from Ordinance 94-1; full ordinance text not opened.

  “*adapted from newton county zoning ordinance 94-1”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Single-family dwellings in the Agriculture (A) district of unincorporated Newton County, which includes Colfax township if county zoning applies there

  • Minimum ground floor area of 960 square feet, as stated in the zoning district legend.
  • Attribution to the A district follows the order of the flattened text; confirm with the full Ordinance 94-1 text.

  minimum ground floor area: >= 960 sq ft

  “single-family dwelling requirements: maximum height (excluding chimneys, domes, etc): 30 feet minimum ground floor area: 960 square feet minimum lot area to allow dwelling: 43,560 square feet”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Single-family dwellings in the R-1 single-family residential district of unincorporated Newton County, which includes Colfax township if county zoning applies there

    “minimum dwelling ground floor area: 960 square feet minimum lot area to allow dwelling: 43,560 square feet”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Single-family dwellings in the Agriculture (A) district of unincorporated Newton County, which includes Colfax township if county zoning applies there

  • 43,560 sq ft (one acre) minimum lot area to allow a dwelling, per the zoning district legend.
  • Special circumstances such as subdivision covenants may alter setbacks, construction, or accessories.

  minimum lot area to allow dwelling: >= 43560 sq ft

  “minimum lot area to allow dwelling: 43,560 square feet”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Single-family dwellings in the R-1 single-family residential district of unincorporated Newton County, which includes Colfax township if county zoning applies there

    “minimum lot area to allow dwelling: 43,560 square feet”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Principal buildings in the R-1 single-family residential district of unincorporated Newton County, which includes Colfax township if county zoning applies there

  • Front yard is 100 ft from the centerline of a state or federal highway, per the zoning district legend.
  • Accessory buildings may not be less than 3 feet from the rear lot line, and the legend requires 10 ft between wells/septics and buildings.

  front yard setback: >= 35 ft (100 ft from centerline of state or federal highway)

  “front yard principal building 35 ft. min. (or 100 ft. from centerline of state or fed. highway)”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  All buildings on R-1 single-family residential lots in unincorporated Newton County, which includes Colfax township if county zoning applies there

  • Lot coverage limit stated for the R-1 district only; the A district lot coverage is not stated in the text opened.

  maximum building coverage: <= 45 percent of total lot area

  “all buildings may not cover more than 45% of the total lot area”

• Building heightSpecified

  Single-family dwellings in the R-1 single-family residential district of unincorporated Newton County, which includes Colfax township if county zoning applies there

  • Height excludes chimneys, domes, etc.
  • Multi-family is 35 ft, accessory is 15 ft; neither is part of this claim.

  maximum height, single-family dwelling: <= 30 ft (excluding chimneys, domes, etc.)

  “maximum height (excluding chimneys, domes, etc): • single-family dwelling: 30 feet”

• Manufactured homesAllowed (with conditions)

  Manufactured homes on parcels in the Agriculture (A) district of unincorporated Newton County, which includes Colfax township if county zoning applies there

  • Permitted as a use in the Agriculture district under county zoning Ordinance 94-1.
  • Applies only if county zoning governs the parcel; Colfax township zoning status is unknown.

  “a: agriculture district permitted uses/structures • dwelling, single-family (maximum height of 30 ft.) • manufactured home, type i”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Allowed (with conditions) — Manufactured homes on parcels in the single-family residential (R-1) district of unincorporated Newton County, which includes Colfax township if county zoning applies there

    “r-1: single-family residential district permitted uses/structures • dwelling, single-family • manufactured home, type i”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Septic systems on land inside Colfax township, which is unincorporated Newton County; administered by the Newton County Health Department

  • Soil and water tests are required through the county health department.

  “a septic and well permit, as well as soil and water tests via the newton county health department”

• Septic permitRequired

  New home construction on a vacant lot inside Colfax township, which is unincorporated Newton County

  • Septic permit required before the building permit is issued; the building permit application lists the septic permit number field.
  • Site plan must show labeled setback distances from septic systems.

  septic system permit fee: 100 USD (standard system; mound system $150; repair $50; self-installation $50)

  “septic system permit $100.00 mound system permit $150.00 septic permit for repair $50.00”

• Well permitRequired

  Private water wells for a new home in Colfax township, which is unincorporated Newton County; the county health department issues the well permit

  • A well permit is required with the septic permit before the building permit.

  well permit fee: 20 USD

  “subdivision development soil report review $100.00 well permit $20.00”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision of land inside Colfax township, which is unincorporated Newton County

  • The county charges a subdivision development soil report review fee.
  • Minor subdivision fee also applies; plat commission handles subdivisions.

  subdivision development soil report review fee: 100 USD

  “subdivision development soil report review $100.00”

• Driveway accessRequired

  New structure on a vacant lot inside Colfax township, which is unincorporated Newton County; Highway Department issues the driveway permit

  • Required before building permit issuance for a new structure on a vacant lot.

  “if building a new structure on a vacant lot, you will need a driveway permit through the newton county highway department”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Health Department septic and well permit fees for land inside Colfax township, which is unincorporated Newton County

  • Fee schedule is undated; the Health Department's fees for septic and well permits are listed.
  • Building permit fees are in a separate county permit application table and were not fully read.

  septic system permit fee: 100 USD (mound $150; repair $50; self-installation $50) · well permit fee: 20 USD

  “septic system permit $100.00 mound system permit $150.00 septic permit for repair $50.00”

• Permit processPartial

  Residential permit sequence for a new structure on a vacant lot inside Colfax township, which is unincorporated Newton County

  • Sequence: driveway permit (Highway Department), then septic and well permits and soil/water tests (Health Department), then building permit application with plans and site plan.
  • Contractors must be registered in Newton County with a bond, $50 fee, and proof of insurance.

  “if building a new structure on a vacant lot, you will need a driveway permit through the newton county highway department”

Still unanswered

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

• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for a new home in Colfax township, which is unincorporated Newton County
• Local zoning — Whether Colfax township itself adopts and administers a zoning ordinance for land inside Colfax township
• Living in an RV — Long-term RV occupancy on private land inside Colfax township, which is unincorporated Newton County
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Colfax township, which is unincorporated Newton County
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Colfax township, which is unincorporated Newton County

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.