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

Rules another office applies inside Washington Township

Washington 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 construction and alterations on parcels inside Washington township (county building department)

  • Steps listed by the county: driveway permit from the highway department, septic and well permits from the health department, completed building permit application, plat of survey and/or site plan, and building prints/plans.
  • Exempt: structures 160 square feet or smaller, and repair/maintenance (roofing, siding, etc.) costing not more than $10,000.00.
  • Work not performed by the homeowner must be done by a contractor registered in Newton County (ordinance 96-4).

  exempt structure size: <= 160 sq ft (structures of this size or smaller) · exempt repair cost: <= 10000 USD (roofing, siding and similar repair/maintenance)

  “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 (with conditions)

  Building construction codes adopted by Newton County, Indiana, administered by the county building department for work inside Washington township

  • Section 4 (scope) of the county building code ordinance reads: the provisions of this code apply to the construction, alterations, repair, use, occupancy, maintenance, and additions to all buildings and structures, and swimming pools greater than 4 ft deep, in incorporated newton county, indiana.
  • The literal scope words say incorporated; the county building department page says it enforces building standards in the county. Applicability to unincorporated Washington township is not confirmed by an official statement.
  • Adopted codes are the Indiana Fire Prevention and Building Safety Commission rules (675 IAC articles 13, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20) incorporated by reference, including later amendments as published.

  “building rules of the indiana fire prevention and building safety commission as set out in the following articles of title 675 of the indiana administrative code are hereby incorporated by reference in this code”

• InspectionsRequired

  Permitted construction inside Washington township

  • Inspections listed by the county: footing (pre-pour), foundation (prior to pouring concrete), rough-in (prior to backfilling), insulation (prior to insulation), and final (prior to drywall/wallboard).
  • Owner must give the building department at least 24 hours' notice during working hours.

  “the owner of a permit is required to notify the building department during working hours, at least 24 hours in advance, when construction is ready for inspection.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Occupancy of a dwelling inside Washington township

  • Criteria checked at final inspection include: landings, handrails and guardrails, unused gas lines capped, labeled electrical panel, smoke detectors, attic/crawl space access covered, switch-controlled light in attic/crawl space, and a posted 911 address.
  • Applicant is asked whether water test results were sent to the health department.

  “in order to legally inhabit a dwelling, a certificate of occupancy through the building department is required;”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  County zoning districts applying to unincorporated land inside Washington township, assuming no township zoning of its own (not verified)

  • District legend lists A, R-1, R-1a, R-2, RMH, RMHA, MXD, B-1, B-2, I-1, I-2 and says zoning is shown on the county GIS (Beacon).
  • Adapted from zoning ordinance 94-1; the current ordinance and amendment history were not opened.

  “zoning legend: a r-1 r-1a r-2 rmh rmha mxd b-1 b-2 i-1 i-2 agricultural district single family residential district”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Single-family dwelling in the R-1 single-family residential district, unincorporated land inside Washington township

  • Source is the county zoning district reference (adapted from zoning ordinance 94-1); the current ordinance text was not opened.
  • Subdivision covenants and restrictions may alter requirements.

  minimum dwelling ground floor area: >= 960 sq ft

  “all buildings may not cover more than 45% of the total lot area. minimum dwelling 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 dwelling in the agricultural (A) district, unincorporated land inside Washington township

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

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Lot needed to allow a single-family dwelling in the R-1 single-family residential district, unincorporated land inside Washington township

  • Source is the county zoning district reference; current ordinance text not opened.
  • Subdivision covenants and restrictions may alter requirements.

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

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

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Lot needed to allow a single-family dwelling in the agricultural (A) district, unincorporated land inside Washington township

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

• SetbacksSpecified

  Principal building in the R-1 single-family residential district, unincorporated land inside Washington township

  • Side yard: 10 ft minimum, per the R-1 section.
  • Right-of-way/property line setback: at least 15% of lot depth, not more than 30 feet, per the R-1 section.
  • Accessory buildings: may not project beyond the front yard line; not less than 3 feet from rear lot line; 10 ft minimum from well/septic and buildings.
  • Special circumstances such as subdivision covenants or corner lot location may alter setbacks.

  front yard setback, principal building: >= 35 ft (or 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)”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Principal building in the agricultural (A) district, unincorporated land inside Washington township

    “front yard 35 ft. min. (100 ft. if state or federal hwy)”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  All buildings on a lot in the R-1 single-family residential district, unincorporated land inside Washington township

  • Accessory buildings may not cover more than 40% of the rear yard area (R-1 section).
  • Source is the county zoning district reference; current ordinance text not opened.

  maximum lot coverage, all buildings: <= 45 percent

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

• Building heightSpecified

  Single-family dwelling in the R-1 single-family residential district, unincorporated land inside Washington township

  • Excludes chimneys, domes, etc.; multi-family 35 ft, accessory building 15 ft, commercial 35 ft, industrial 40 ft (R-1 section).
  • Source is the county zoning district reference; current ordinance text not opened.

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

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

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Single-family dwelling in the agricultural (A) district, unincorporated land inside Washington township

    “dwelling, single-family (maximum height of 30 ft.)”

• Manufactured homesAllowed (with conditions)

  Single manufactured home (type I) on a lot in the R-1 single-family residential district, unincorporated land inside Washington township

  • Listed as a permitted use in the R-1 district; the residential manufactured home district (RMH) and manufactured-home rules are in section 7.00 of the county zoning ordinance, not opened.
  • Subject to the district's dimensional and building requirements.

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

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Septic system approval for a home inside Washington township, handled by the Newton County Health Department

  • The county lists septic permits as a step before the building permit.
  • Health department office: 4117 S 240 W, Morocco, IN 47963 (per the building department and fee schedule pages).

  “septic and well permits from newton county health department [(219) 285-2052]”

• Septic permitRequired

  Septic system installation or repair for a home inside Washington township

  • Permit is a prerequisite to the building permit.
  • Mound system and self-installation/repair permits carry different fees.

  septic system permit fee: 100 USD (mound system permit $150.00; septic repair permit $50.00; self-installation permit $50.00 per fee schedule)

  “septic system permit $100.00 mound system permit $150.00”

• Well permitRequired

  Private well construction for a home inside Washington township

  • Well permit is listed as a prerequisite to the building permit, alongside septic and soil/water tests.

  well permit fee: 20 USD (per fee schedule)

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

• Driveway accessRequired

  New structure on a vacant lot inside Washington township

  • Driveway permit is issued by the Newton County Highway Department (219-285-2595) and must be obtained before the building permit.

  “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)

  Septic, well and soil-report fees for permits inside Washington township (county health department)

  • Building-department permit fees were not located on the county fee schedule page, which lists health department fees only.
  • The page lists septic site evaluation (after 3) at $15.00 and septic repair and self-installation permits at $50.00 each.

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

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

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Residential building permit process for construction inside Washington township

  • Contractor registration and bond requirements apply (ordinance 96-4).
  • Plans, plat of survey or site plan, and building prints are required with the application.
  • Driveway permit (highway department) is a prerequisite step.

  “the following steps need to be completed to obtain a building permit:”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for residential construction inside Washington township
• Local zoning — Whether Washington township itself adopts and administers a zoning ordinance for land inside its limits
• Living in an RV — Long-term RV occupancy on private land inside unincorporated Washington township
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside unincorporated Washington township
• Tiny homes — Tiny home occupancy inside unincorporated Washington 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.