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

Rules another office applies inside Jefferson Township

Jefferson 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 construction and additions on unincorporated land inside Jefferson township, Noble County, under the Noble County Building Department

  • Remodeling (roof trusses or rafters, structural walls, foundation repairs, electrical, plumbing, gas service, heating and cooling) is also listed on the county page as requiring a permit.
  • Portable buildings of 120 sq. ft. or less do not need a building permit; a flood permit may still be needed in a floodplain.
  • Violations are subject to fines per the county page.

  portable building size exempt from building permit: <= 120 sq ft (floodplain flood permit still required)

  “all new construction and additions, require a building permit.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Building work on unincorporated land inside Jefferson township, Noble County, under the county building department

  • Inspection points are set by the building department and vary by project type; the page does not list every stage for residential work.
  • Owner or contractor must request each inspection from the building department at (260) 636-2215 once a segment is complete.

  “there are several points during construction where an inspection may be required.”

• Minimum dwelling sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Rural estate (RE) district, Section 2.10 of the Noble County UDO, on unincorporated land that includes Jefferson township land

  • Minimum dwelling unit size amended from 1,600 to 1,200 square feet per the UDO amendment log.
  • Figure taken from the amendment log; current Section 2.10 text not opened.

  minimum dwelling unit size: >= 1200 sq ft

  “2.10 2-11 modified minimum dwelling unit size from 1,600 to 1,200 square feet”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • District specific (with conditions) — Single-family residential district, Section 2.14 of the Noble County UDO (titled minimum density single-family residential district in the amendment log), on unincorporated land that includes Jefferson township land

    “2.14 2-15 modified minimum dwelling unit size from 1,000 to 1,200 square feet”

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Production agriculture (A1) district, Section 2.03/2.04 of the Noble County UDO, on unincorporated land that includes Jefferson township land

  • Minimum acreage for A1 changed from 10 acres to 2 acres per the UDO amendment log.
  • Figure taken from the amendment log; current Article 2 text not opened.

  minimum lot area: >= 2 acres

  “changed minimum acerage of a1 from 10 acres to 2 acres”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Temporary placement of a mobile home on unincorporated land in Noble County, which includes Jefferson township land that is unincorporated

  • Temporary placement is allowed for one year after a home fire or similar event, through a temporary improvement location permit.
  • The amendment log describes the change; the current text of the provision was not opened.

  temporary mobile home placement period: 1 year (after a home fire or similar event)

  “create a temporary ilp to allow placement of moble home for 1 year in event of a home fire, etc.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Limited — Single-wide manufactured homes placed on unincorporated land inside Jefferson township, Noble County, outside a mobile home park

    “singlewides require a variance to be placed in the county outside of a mobile home park.”

• Accessory dwellingsLimited

  Accessory dwellings on unincorporated land in Noble County, which includes Jefferson township land that is unincorporated; permitted in the A1 and RE districts

  • Accessory dwelling standards are in UDO section 5.04; the current text was not opened.
  • Temporary accessory dwellings are also allowed in the A1 and RE districts per the amendment log.

  “added tempory accessory dwellings to the permitted uses for the a1 and re districts”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Septic systems on land inside Jefferson township, Noble County, administered by the Noble County Health Department

  • Septic applications are made in the county health department office.
  • Installation must be by a licensed installer.

  “a permit and installation by a licensed installer are required for any new installation or repair of a septic system in noble county.”

• Septic permitRequired

  New septic installation or repair on land inside Jefferson township, Noble County

  • Permit applied for in person at the county health department office.
  • Building applications in the county also reference a septic permit or health department clearance (county building page, found in search, not opened).

  “septic applications must be applied for in the office.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Division or combination of land on unincorporated land inside Jefferson township, Noble County, reviewed by the county plan commission

  • Land divisions without plan commission approval are nonconforming and cannot receive an improvement location permit or building permit.
  • Plan commission authority under IC 36-7-4-701(c) covers unincorporated land within its jurisdiction.

  “the plan commission has exclusive control over the approval of plats and replats involving unincorporated land within its jurisdiction.”

• Driveway accessLimited

  Driveway access for new construction on unincorporated land inside Jefferson township, Noble County

  • The UDO driveway standards were removed in 2015; driveways must meet the Noble County highway construction standards, per the amendment log.
  • Current highway construction standards were not opened.

  “removed driveway standards. all must be applicable to the noble county highway construction standards.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building permit application process for unincorporated land inside Jefferson township, Noble County

  • Pre-application form and item list are published; the county page asks owners to call before work begins.

  “contact the noble county building department prior to commencing any work.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder construction inside Jefferson township, Noble County
• Building code adopted — Permits and inspections on land inside Jefferson township, Noble County, Indiana
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy approval for new homes inside Jefferson township, Noble County
• Local zoning — Land inside Jefferson township, Noble County, Indiana
• Lot coverage — Lot coverage on unincorporated land in Noble County that includes Jefferson township land

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.