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

Rules another office applies inside Jackson Township

Jackson 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 single-family dwellings, mobile homes and accessory structures on parcels inside Jackson township, Parke County, issued by the Parke County Planning & Zoning Office under the county Improvement Location Permit.

  • Construction may proceed only after the county improvement location permit is issued; the permit will not be issued without the requested information.
  • The form's septic release number from the Parke County Health Department is a prerequisite step.
  • The form lists a revision stamp (Updated 6-20-24); that is not an effective date.
  • The form's township field supports county issuance across townships; Jackson township is not named specifically on the form.

  single family dwelling permit fee: 50 USD (plus other fees listed on the form)

  “parke county improvement location permit (please read pages attached before applying) permit will not be issued without the requested information”

• Local zoningVaries (with conditions)

  Unincorporated land inside Jackson township, Parke County, Indiana. No Jackson township zoning ordinance was located; the Parke County Zoning Ordinance (1976 amendment) is the zoning text that applies to unincorporated territory where no township ordinance was found.

  • The county ordinance states it is for the unincorporated territory of Parke County and for incorporated areas that elect to use it; incorporated towns are excluded from this answer.
  • The 1976 amendment scan is partly garbled and its currency as the operative county text was not verified against an official current adoption record.
  • Not confirmed whether Jackson township itself has adopted zoning; the Indiana township trustee and county pages opened did not state it.

  “an ordinance for the deve:oopment throogh zoning for the unincorporated territory of parke county, indiana”

• Zoning districtsPartial

  Zoning districts that apply in the unincorporated Parke County area that includes Jackson township.

  • Districts named on the county permit form include ap and afr; the scanned ordinance uses district codes including afc, afr, ap, cab, cgb, clb, esc, ind, ra and rp.
  • Full district map and schedule not verified.

  “agricultural ap agricultural~ productiw afr agricultural, forest recreation afc agricultural, classified forest”

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Building lots zoned ap (agriculture productive) or afr (agriculture forest recreation) in the unincorporated Parke County zoning area that includes Jackson township.

  • Lot must be suitable for a septic system.
  • Other zoning districts' minimum lot areas were not verified from the scanned ordinance.
  • Number taken from the county permit form, not the ordinance schedule.

  minimum building lot area: >= 0.5 acre (provided suitable for a septic system)

  “if you are building on land zoned ap (agriculture productive) or afr (agriculture forest recreation) you are required to have a minimum of ½ acre on which to build, provided suitable for a septic system.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Buildings on unincorporated parcels inside Jackson township, Parke County, under county permit review.

  • Front setbacks apply; secondary structures must sit behind the front line of the primary structure unless special exceptions apply.
  • Subdivision covenants and plat setback lines may be stricter.
  • Full district setback schedule not verified from the scanned ordinance.

  minimum side setback from side property line: >= 8 feet (without special exceptions)

  “you cannot place a building closer than 8’ to side property lines without special exceptions.”

• Manufactured homesAllowed (with conditions)

  Single-wide and double-wide mobile homes on unincorporated parcels inside Jackson township, Parke County, under the county improvement location permit.

  • Mobile homes need the county improvement location permit and a septic permit from the health department.
  • Mobile home permit fee is listed below.
  • Foundation, skirting and other requirements on the form apply.

  single wide or double wide mobile home permit fee: 50 USD

  “single family dwelling $50.00 single wide or doublewide mobile home $50.00”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  On-site sewage (septic) systems on parcels inside Jackson township, Parke County, through the Parke County Health Department.

  • The Parke County Health Department issues the on-site sewage permit under 410 IAC 6-8.2 for residential systems.
  • Commercial systems also need Indiana State Department of Health design approval per the packet.
  • Service area explicitly naming Jackson township was not seen; the health department is the county-level authority in the county packet.

  “parke county health department 116 w. high street, room 12 rockville, indiana 47872 phone (765) 569-4071”

• Septic permitRequired

  New residential on-site sewage systems on parcels inside Jackson township, Parke County.

  • The permit must be issued before installation and before the county construction permit is obtained.
  • Soil evaluation by a registered soil scientist and system design are required before the permit is issued.
  • Permits are good for one year.
  • Permit fee for residential systems is listed below.

  residential on-site system permit fee: 75 USD

  “an on-site sewage disposal permit must be issued by the health department prior to the installation of the system”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  New on-site sewage systems inside Jackson township, Parke County.

  • Final inspection by the health department is required after installation.
  • The installer must notify the health department 48 hours before excavation or installation.

  “a final inspection conducted by the parke county health department will be completed”

• Agricultural exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

  Agricultural uses, including residences connected with them, on unincorporated land inside Jackson township, Parke County.

  • The county zoning provisions state they do not apply to agricultural uses, including residences in connection with them.
  • Septic, well and building permit requirements still apply.
  • Current text not verified against an official adoption record.

  “none ot the provisions and regulations o:t this ordinance shall ap~ to agricultural uses, including residences in connection”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Lots in recorded subdivisions inside Jackson township, Parke County.

  • Subdivision covenants and restrictions must be met, including approval by certain subdivision boards.
  • County subdivision rules cannot be less restrictive than county ordinances but may be more restrictive.
  • Subdivision plat approval procedure not verified.

  “all subdivision covenants and restrictions must be met including the approval of certain subdivision boards.”

• Driveway accessLimited

  Driveways serving parcels inside Jackson township, Parke County, on the site plan for the county permit.

  • A driveway on a state or federal highway requires a state release.
  • County driveway standards for other roads were not located.

  “location of driveway (requires state release if on state or federal highway)”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  County improvement location permits and septic permits for parcels inside Jackson township, Parke County.

  • Fees listed are the county form and health department packet figures; the form's revision stamp is not an effective date.
  • Commercial and other fee categories exist on the form.

  single family dwelling permit fee: 50 USD · residential on-site septic system permit fee: 75 USD

  “payment of fees: single family dwelling $50.00 single wide or doublewide mobile home $50.00”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  County improvement location permit process for parcels inside Jackson township, Parke County.

  • Steps: health department septic release number, written application, site plan, floor plan, legal description, signatures, fees, and proof of E911 address.
  • Permits issued the same day if all information is provided, first come first served.
  • A secondary structure may not be placed on a residential lot before the primary structure unless a primary permit is applied for and 30% completion occurs in the first year.

  “permit requirements for parke county permits are issued on the same day applied for if you have all requested information.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption from licensing or permitting inside Jackson township, Parke County.
• Building code adopted — Building code that governs one- and two-family dwellings inside Jackson township, Parke County.
• Inspections — Building inspections for residential construction inside Jackson township, Parke County.
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes inside Jackson township, Parke County.
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside Jackson township, Parke 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.