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

Rules another office applies inside Union Township

Union 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 residences and accessory buildings in unincorporated Parke County, including Union township outside any incorporated town

  • Permit issued by the Parke County Planning & Zoning office after an on-site septic permit is obtained from the health department.
  • Municipal building permits inside any incorporated town were not checked.
  • Applicability to Union township specifically was not confirmed against a township-level source.

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

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Union township that is outside any incorporated town: the Parke County zoning ordinance governs the unincorporated territory. No Union township zoning ordinance was located, so this county ordinance is the zoning rule found for Union township.

  • Agricultural uses, including residences in connection therewith, are excluded from the ordinance (see agricultural_exemption claim).
  • The only copy found is a 1976 amendment with OCR-garbled text; its current amendment status was not verified.
  • Whether any Union township land lies inside an incorporated town (such as Rockville) was not verified.

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

• SetbacksSpecified

  Buildings on private land in the unincorporated territory of Parke County, including Union township outside any incorporated town

  • Special exceptions may allow closer placement.
  • Front-line setbacks must be met; the form does not state a numeric front distance.
  • All subdivision covenants and restrictions must also be met.

  side property line setback (minimum distance): >= 8 feet (except where a special exception is granted)

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

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Residential on-site sewage (septic) systems on land inside Union township, administered by the Parke County Health Department

  • Commercial on-site systems also need design approval from the Indiana State Department of Health.
  • Residential systems follow 410 IAC 6-8.2 as applied by the county health department.

  “the following steps are required in order to obtain a permit for both commercial and residential on-site sewage disposal systems in parke county.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Residential on-site sewage systems on land inside Union township

  • A soil evaluation by a registered soil scientist and a county system-requirements letter come first; the installer must submit a system design.
  • The permit must be kept on the job site while work is done.
  • Permits are good for one year.

  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 and prior to obtaining a construction permit from the parke county planning and zoning office.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Residential on-site sewage systems installed inside Union township

  • The septic contractor must notify the health department 48 hours before excavation or installation.
  • The health department performs an on-site evaluation with the field staked and protected before permit issue.

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

• Well permitRequired

  Residential water wells drilled on land inside Union township; the application asks for the township and section

  • Application is issued by the Parke County Plan Commission administrator.
  • Residential and industrial well types are on the same form.

  well permit fee: 50 USD

  “fee: $50.00 payable to: parke county plan commission 116 w. high st., room 105 rockville, in 47872”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Lots in subdivisions in Parke County, including subdivisions inside Union township

  • Subdivision covenants may be more restrictive than county ordinances but not less restrictive.
  • Approval by certain subdivision boards is required for buildings on lots in those subdivisions.
  • The county subdivision control ordinance itself was not located.

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

• Driveway accessRequired

  Driveways serving new buildings in unincorporated Parke County, including Union township outside any incorporated town

  • A state release is required if the driveway is on a state or federal highway.
  • The driveway location must be shown on the site plan; no county driveway standard was found.

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

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Parke County improvement location permits for construction on private land in unincorporated territory, including Union township outside any incorporated town

  • Fees listed on the form dated 6-20-24: public/commercial buildings $100.00; public/commercial accessory $100.00; industrial $100.00; attached or detached garages $50.00; other residential accessory $50.00; farm buildings/accessory $50.00.
  • Septic permit fees are separate (see septic_permit).

  single-family dwelling permit fee: 50 USD (plus other permit items on the same form)

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

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Parke County improvement location permits in unincorporated territory, including Union township outside any incorporated town

  • Steps: septic release number from the health department; written application; site plan showing setbacks, septic, well and driveway; floor plan for habitation; legal description (warranty deed or recorded contract); signatures; fee payment; proof of E911 address.
  • Subdivision boards must sign off where applicable.
  • Permits are issued first come, first served.

  “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 Union Township or Parke County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption from permits or licensing in unincorporated Union township
• Inspections — Building inspections for new homes in unincorporated Union township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes in unincorporated Union township
• Zoning districts — Zoning districts applying in Union township unincorporated land
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling floor area in unincorporated Union 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.