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

Rules another office applies inside Swan Township

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

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Septic systems on land inside Swan township; the Noble County Health Department administers septic, not the township

  • Plan Commission zoning enforcement page states septic is handled by the county health department; the ordinance does not cover septic.

  “the ordinance does not cover garbage/putrefying matter/septic (these issues are handled by the county health department)”

• Septic permitRequired

  New septic system installation or repair on land inside Swan township, administered by the Noble County Health Department (countywide service area that includes Swan township)

  • Installation must be performed by a licensed installer.
  • Septic applications must be made in the health department office (page states: septic applications must be applied for in the office.)
  • Health department page does not separately mention Swan township; the countywide statement is applied to Swan township parcels.

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

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land divisions and plats in the unincorporated parts of Noble County, including land inside Swan township outside any incorporated town

  • Applies only to unincorporated land; land within incorporated towns is governed by those towns' own ordinances.
  • Subdivision control is administered by the Noble County Plan Commission.

  “the plan commission is primarily responsible for the land in the unincorporated parts of noble county. it does this through its comprehensive plan, zoning ordinance, and subdivision control ordinance.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  New building permits on parcels inside Swan township without an existing driveway, permitted through the Noble County Highway Department

  • Permit is required even if a home previously stood on the site and was removed.
  • Driveway permit must be presented upon application for the building permit.
  • Indiana Department of Transportation is cited for driveway permits on state roads; the list does not say which applies to a given parcel.

  “driveway permits are required for all building permits that do not have an existing driveway.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building permit application for construction on land inside Swan township, handled by the Noble County building department

  • Permit list includes an improvement location permit, drainage check from the county surveyor, septic permit or clearance, driveway permit, and building permit.
  • Plan commission approval is listed as a step; the recorded deed is listed as a prerequisite.

  “1. a recorded deed (if recently purchased). this is required for the improvement location permit, drainage check, septic permit, driveway permit & building permit.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder permit exemption for a home inside Swan township
• Building code adopted — Building code applicable to construction inside Swan township
• Inspections — Building inspections for construction inside Swan township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for a new home inside Swan township
• Local zoning — Whether Swan township adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance

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.