Poseyville, IN Zoning, Building Permits & Septic Rules

The Town of Poseyville, Posey County, Indiana is zoned under a joint ordinance administered by the Posey County Area Plan Commission, which also issues the improvement location permit required before building¹². Septic permits come from the Posey County Health Department³. The county building department's inspection area excludes Poseyville⁴, and we could not confirm who inspects construction in town, so start with the Area Plan Commission.

At a glance

Zoning: Yes, under the joint Posey County ordinance run by the Area Plan Commission¹
Building permit: Improvement location permit from the Area Plan Commission before any building work²
Septic: Posey County Health Department permit³
RV living: Not allowed except in an approved mobile home park or by special exception in the agricultural district⁵
Manufactured homes: Livable floor area under 950 sq ft is restricted outside a mobile home park⁶
Minimum lot (R-1/RS): 7,000 sq ft with sewers; one acre on septic⁷

Who to call

Planning & zoning

Posey County Area Plan Commission Office

Zoning, subdivision questions and improvement location permits, including for land inside Poseyville

(812) 838-1323

[email protected]

126 E Third Street Rm 132 Mt. Vernon, IN 47620

Online permits →

Septic permits

Posey County Health Department

Septic (sewage disposal) permits for homes in Poseyville and the rest of Posey County

(812) 838-1328

100 Vista Dr. Mount Vernon, IN 47620

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 23, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Town of Poseyville means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Does Poseyville, Indiana have zoning, and what does it mean for lot size and setbacks?

Yes. The Town of Poseyville is zoned under one joint ordinance that also covers Mount Vernon, Cynthiana and unincorporated Posey County, and the Posey County Area Plan Commission exercises the planning and zoning powers for Poseyville¹. The official zoning map is kept at the Area Plan Commission office, so ask there which district a specific lot is in⁸.

Lot size depends on the district. In the R-1 or RS single-family district, a lot on public sewers needs at least 7,000 square feet and 70 feet of width, while a lot on a septic system needs at least one acre⁷. In the agricultural A district, the minimum is one acre with or without public sewers, with 150 feet of frontage, and the county health department can require more⁹. Subdividing land in the A district is prohibited except for exempt subdivisions under the Posey County subdivision ordinance¹⁰.

We could not confirm Poseyville's setback, height, lot-coverage or minimum single-family home size rules; ask the Area Plan Commission¹¹.

Do you need a building permit in Poseyville, and who issues it?

Yes. Inside Poseyville, no one may erect, move, add to or structurally alter a building until the Posey County Area Plan Commission has issued an improvement location permit². The Area Plan Commission, not the town, issues that permit, and its online application is linked from the commission's page¹¹.

No permit issues until the fee is paid; the Area Plan Commission sets its schedule annually and posts it in its office, and we did not find the amounts online¹². An approved permit is revoked if active work does not start within 60 days of issue, or if work stops for six months, and it must be posted on the site¹³.

The Posey County Building Department's permit and inspection area excludes Poseyville city limits⁴. We could not confirm who handles building-code inspections inside town, so ask the Area Plan Commission and the Town of Poseyville before you pour a foundation.

How do septic permits work in Poseyville?

Septic permits for homes inside Poseyville come from the Posey County Health Department in Mount Vernon, not from the town or the Area Plan Commission³¹⁴. New or repaired systems need an approved application, the application is void after one year, and any change of plan means resubmitting¹⁵. The applicant must also notify the health department before the system is covered¹⁶.

The county lists a new residential sewage permit at $75 and a repair permit at $50¹⁷. Indiana does not allow drywells or cesspools for on-site sewage treatment¹⁸.

Soils matter: about 28.6% of Posey County soils are rated not limited for a conventional drain field, so many lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system¹⁹. Check with the health department whether sewers are available at your lot.

Can you live in an RV, manufactured home or tiny home in Poseyville?

Not in an RV on an ordinary lot. Poseyville's zoning bars recreational vehicles from being used as living or sleeping quarters except in an approved mobile home park or by special exception in the agricultural district, and travel, storage and construction trailers face the same limit⁵.

Manufactured homes are allowed with conditions. A manufactured home with under 950 square feet of livable floor area cannot be used as living quarters outside an approved mobile home park, except by special exception in the agricultural district, and an improvement location permit is required before one is placed⁶. Homes in the special flood hazard area must also meet the ordinance's floodplain standards.

We found no tiny-home provision in the Poseyville zoning sections we reviewed, so whether a tiny home on a foundation is allowed is unconfirmed. Ask the Area Plan Commission with your plans in hand¹¹.

Building a home in Poseyville: the steps, in order

Call the Posey County Area Plan Commission to confirm your lot's zoning district, setbacks and lot-size minimum¹¹.
If the lot is not on public sewer, apply to the Posey County Health Department for a septic permit¹⁵.
Apply for the improvement location permit and pay the fee before any work starts²¹².
Ask the Area Plan Commission and the Town of Poseyville who inspects construction and issues building-code approval in town, since the county building department excludes Poseyville⁴.
Notify the health department before the septic system is covered¹⁶.
Ask the Area Plan Commission whether a separate certificate of occupancy is issued; the improvement location permit serves as the occupancy approval²⁰.

What stays with Posey County, and what to check before you buy in Poseyville

For land outside town limits, the rules differ: see the Posey County page for unincorporated Posey County. Septic permits stay with the county health department whether a lot is in town or not²¹.

A driveway onto a state highway needs permission through INDOT's electronic permit system²². In a mapped floodway, the Indiana DNR Division of Water has jurisdiction over most development²³.

Posey County's effective property tax rate is 0.6%, with a median bill of $1,370 a year²⁴²⁵.

Watch-outs

We could not confirm which office inspects building-code compliance inside Poseyville, since the Posey County Building Department excludes the town; ask the Area Plan Commission before you start⁴.
The zoning ordinance we reviewed is a joint document with amendments noted through 2019, and its current status was not checked against the town's official code, so confirm the current rules with the Area Plan Commission¹.
Setbacks, building height, lot coverage, accessory dwellings and temporary camping rules for Poseyville lots are unconfirmed; ask the Area Plan Commission¹¹.

Sources

Written October 23, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Town of Poseyville

Town of Poseyville’s own rules

Local zoningPresent (with conditions)
All land inside Poseyville town limits, under the joint Posey County zoning ordinance that the Poseyville Town Council adopted by ordinance 2012-08-15-02 and that the Posey County Area Plan Commission administers.
- The ordinance is one joint document for Mount Vernon, Cynthiana, Poseyville and unincorporated Posey County; the Poseyville row is in its adoption table.
- The copy reviewed is a PDF hosted by Purdue Extension with amendments noted through 2019. It is not the American Legal Publishing copy, and its current status was not verified against the town's official code.
- The Area Plan Commission, not the town, issues improvement location permits under this ordinance.
“the posey county area plan commission shall exercise the planning and zoning powers for the city of mt. vernon, the town of cynthiana, the town of poseyville, and the unincorporated area of posey county, indiana.”
Zoning Ordinance of the City of Mount Vernon, Town of Cynthiana, Town of Poseyville, and Unincorporated Posey County (as amended), Posey County Area Plan Commission (PDF hosted by Purdue Extension) ↗Re-checked Oct 23, 2026
Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)
Zoning districts applying inside Poseyville town under the joint Posey County zoning ordinance
- The official zoning map is kept at the Area Plan Commission office; the map was not opened.
“the official zoning map shall be maintained and located in the area planning commission office.”
Zoning Ordinance of the City of Mount Vernon, Town of Cynthiana, Town of Poseyville, and Unincorporated Posey County (as amended), Posey County Area Plan Commission (PDF hosted by Purdue Extension) ↗Re-checked Oct 23, 2026
Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)
Residential use lots in the R-1 or RS single-family detached district (Section 153.043) inside Poseyville town
- Lot must front a dedicated street or public right-of-way.
- Where sanitary sewers are available the minimum is 7,000 square feet and 70 feet of width; where no public sewers exist and disposal is by soil absorption the minimum is one acre.
- The Posey County Health Department may require a larger lot.
minimum lot area (with sanitary sewers): >= 7000 sq ft · minimum lot width (with sanitary sewers): >= 70 ft · minimum lot area (soil absorption, no public sewers): >= 1 acre (Posey County Health Department may require a larger lot)
“the lot area shall be a minimum of seven thousand (7000) square feet with a minimum width of seventy (70) feet (where sanitary sewers are available).”
Zoning Ordinance of the City of Mount Vernon, Town of Cynthiana, Town of Poseyville, and Unincorporated Posey County (as amended), Posey County Area Plan Commission (PDF hosted by Purdue Extension) ↗Re-checked Oct 23, 2026
One more reviewed finding on this topic
- District specific (with conditions) — Lots in the agricultural A district (Section 153.033 bulk and area requirements) inside Poseyville town
  “have a minimum area of one (1) acre with or without public sewers: however, the posey county health department may require a larger lot where public sewers area lacking.”
  Zoning Ordinance of the City of Mount Vernon, Town of Cynthiana, Town of Poseyville, and Unincorporated Posey County (as amended), Posey County Area Plan Commission (PDF hosted by Purdue Extension) ↗Re-checked Oct 23, 2026
Living in an RVLimited
Recreational vehicles, trailers and house cars used as living or sleeping quarters on land inside Poseyville town
- Recreational vehicles may not be used as living or sleeping quarters except in an approved mobile home park or by special exception in the agricultural district.
- Trailers, including travel, storage or construction trailers, are subject to the same restriction.
“(1) recreational vehicles, (2) trailers (including travel, storage or construction trailers),”
Zoning Ordinance of the City of Mount Vernon, Town of Cynthiana, Town of Poseyville, and Unincorporated Posey County (as amended), Posey County Area Plan Commission (PDF hosted by Purdue Extension) ↗Re-checked Oct 23, 2026
Manufactured homesLimited
Manufactured homes used as dwellings on land inside Poseyville town under the joint Posey County zoning ordinance
- A manufactured home may not be used as living quarters with less than 950 square feet of livable floor area, except in an approved mobile home park or by special exception in the agricultural district.
- Before a manufactured or modular home is located, relocated or established, the homeowner must obtain an improvement location permit from the Area Plan Commission's designated administrator.
- Manufactured homes placed in the special flood hazard area must also meet the floodplain standards in the ordinance.
minimum livable floor area, manufactured home used as living quarters outside mobile home park: >= 950 sq ft (approved mobile home park or special exception in agricultural district)
“manufactured homes with a minimum livable floor area less than 950 square feet”
Zoning Ordinance of the City of Mount Vernon, Town of Cynthiana, Town of Poseyville, and Unincorporated Posey County (as amended), Posey County Area Plan Commission (PDF hosted by Purdue Extension) ↗Re-checked Oct 23, 2026

Rules another office applies inside Town of Poseyville

Town of Poseyville 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
Erecting, moving, adding to or structurally altering any building inside Poseyville town (improvement location permit from the Posey County Area Plan Commission)
- The permit is issued by the Area Plan Commission, and the ordinance says construction may not proceed until it is issued.
- Building-code permits under the state code were not verified and may be separate.
“it shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to erect, move, add to or structurally alter any building or structure, or to use or change the use of any building or land or to permit the afore mentioned actions, until an improvement location permit has been issued by the area plan commission.”
Zoning Ordinance of the City of Mount Vernon, Town of Cynthiana, Town of Poseyville, and Unincorporated Posey County (as amended), Posey County Area Plan Commission (PDF hosted by Purdue Extension) ↗Re-checked Oct 23, 2026
Certificate of occupancyRequired
Occupancy or use of a structure inside Poseyville town (the improvement location permit serves as the occupancy approval)
- The ordinance defines the improvement location permit as the permit needed before occupancy, so no separate certificate of occupancy was identified.
- Confirm with the Area Plan Commission whether a separate certificate is issued.
“a permit which must be applied for and received before any structure may be occupied, or use commenced certifying that the structure and or the proposed use comply with the provisions of this ordinance.”
Zoning Ordinance of the City of Mount Vernon, Town of Cynthiana, Town of Poseyville, and Unincorporated Posey County (as amended), Posey County Area Plan Commission (PDF hosted by Purdue Extension) ↗Re-checked Oct 23, 2026
Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)
Private sewage disposal systems for homes inside Poseyville town; the Posey County Health Department in Mt. Vernon approves them
- The application form cites Ordinance No. 1973-3-4 as amended by 1973-5; the form may be dated and was not checked against a current health ordinance.
- The joint zoning ordinance also states the Posey County Health Department may require larger lots where public sewers are lacking.
“approval by the posey county health department, mt. vernon, indiana of this proposed.sewage disposal system is not a written guarantee that it will provide trouble free service.”
Posey County Health Department application for sewage disposal permit ↗Re-checked Oct 23, 2026
Septic permitRequired
New or repaired private sewage disposal systems serving homes inside Poseyville town
- Application must be completed before approval.
- The application is void after one year, and any change of plan requires resubmission.
- Absorption field, tank and system design details are required on the form.
- Soil evaluation requirements and fees were not confirmed.
“any change of plan requires resubmission this application is void after one year, resubmissions necessary”
Posey County Health Department application for sewage disposal permit ↗Re-checked Oct 23, 2026
Septic inspectionRequired
Private sewage disposal systems serving homes inside Poseyville town, before the system is covered
- The applicant certifies that the owner will notify the health department before the system is covered.
- This is an applicant's notice obligation, not a confirmed inspection schedule.
“and that i will notify the health department before the system is covered.”
Posey County Health Department application for sewage disposal permit ↗Re-checked Oct 23, 2026
Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)
Land divisions into subdivisions inside Poseyville town
- Subdivisions are prohibited in the agricultural A district other than exempt subdivisions under the Posey County subdivision ordinance, which was not opened.
- Platting requirements apply under the zoning ordinance's general lot limitations.
“other than exempt subdivisions as provided in posey county subdivision ordinance, subdivisions are prohibited within the "a" district.”
Zoning Ordinance of the City of Mount Vernon, Town of Cynthiana, Town of Poseyville, and Unincorporated Posey County (as amended), Posey County Area Plan Commission (PDF hosted by Purdue Extension) ↗Re-checked Oct 23, 2026
Permit feesVariable (with conditions)
Improvement location permit and other planning fees for land inside Poseyville town
- The fee schedule is set annually by the Area Plan Commission and posted in its office; the amounts were not found online.
- No permit issues before the fee is paid.
“no improvement location permit shall be issued until a fee has been paid in accordance with the schedule of fees.”
Zoning Ordinance of the City of Mount Vernon, Town of Cynthiana, Town of Poseyville, and Unincorporated Posey County (as amended), Posey County Area Plan Commission (PDF hosted by Purdue Extension) ↗Re-checked Oct 23, 2026
Permit processPublished (with conditions)
Improvement location permit process for land inside Poseyville town
- A permit is revoked if active work does not start within 60 days of issue, or if work stops for six months.
- The permit must be posted on the site.
“the permit will be revoked if active work is not commenced within 60 days after date of permit’s issue, or if work was started and then stopped for a period of six months.”
Zoning Ordinance of the City of Mount Vernon, Town of Cynthiana, Town of Poseyville, and Unincorporated Posey County (as amended), Posey County Area Plan Commission (PDF hosted by Purdue Extension) ↗Re-checked Oct 23, 2026

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Town of Poseyville or Posey County directly.

Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for construction inside Poseyville town
Building code adopted — Building code adopted for construction inside Poseyville town
Inspections — Building inspections for construction inside Poseyville town
Minimum dwelling size — Single-family dwellings inside Poseyville town
Setbacks — Front, side and rear setbacks for single-family residential lots inside Poseyville town (R-1/RS and A districts)

9 more unanswered

Lot coverage
Building height
Camping on your land
Tiny homes
Accessory dwellings
Well permit
Agricultural exemption
Driveway access
Short-term rentals

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.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Town of Poseyville publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Posey County’s page lists the county offices to call.