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

Rules another office applies inside Clinton Township

Clinton 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 buildings and structures, enlargements, alterations, and changes of use on land inside Clinton township that lies in unincorporated Putnam County (outside Greencastle and the Towns of Bainbridge, Cloverdale, and Roachdale), administered by the county Plan Commission and Department of Planning & Building.

  • An improvement location permit (ILP) is required under the county zoning chapter before erecting, constructing, enlarging, altering or converting a building or structure, or changing the use or condition of land.
  • Excepted from an ILP: fences, sidewalks, patios, decks, flagpoles, mail boxes, agricultural drives and lanes, gates, portable sheds, new roofs on existing buildings, landscaping, play or tree houses, or dog houses.
  • The ILP text was read from a 1992 chapter copy hosted by Purdue Extension; later amendments were not verified against an official county copy.
  • Plan Commission jurisdiction stated in the October 8, 2026 agenda excludes Greencastle and the Towns of Bainbridge, Cloverdale and Roachdale.
  • Fee amounts and ILP application details were not located in the opened text.

  “improvement location permit (ilp). a document issued under provisions of this chapter permitting a person, firm, government or corporation to erect, construct, enlarge, alter or convert, any building or structure within its jurisdiction, or cause the same to be done or to change the use or condition of the land. the following improvements are excepted from an ilp: fences, sidewalks, patios, decks, flagpoles, mail boxes, agricultural drives and lanes, gates, portable sheds, new roofs on existing buildings, landscaping, play or tree houses, or dog houses.”

• Zoning districtsPartial

  County zoning districts applying to unincorporated land inside Clinton township, because Clinton township has no zoning ordinance located.

  • Chapter 155 lists districts including floodplain (FP), A1, A2, R1, R2, CC, CG, I, PUD, PV and ME.
  • The copy read is a 1992 Purdue-hosted text, so its currency is not confirmed; the district map was not opened.
  • The Area Plan Commission jurisdiction excludes Greencastle and the Towns of Bainbridge, Cloverdale and Roachdale.

  “the county plan commission has divided the county into districts and has prepared regulations pertaining to such districts”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  On-site sewage (septic) systems on land inside Clinton township; the Putnam County Health Department issues permits and performs inspections for the county.

  • Soil evaluation first, then a design submitted by a registered professional engineer or county-registered installer, then county review and approval.
  • Recorded geography is district-specific because the schema does not allow township-specific for health districts; the health department serves the whole county.

  “the designer will submit the system design plan to the putnam county health department for review and approval.”

• Septic permitRequired

  New or repaired on-site septic systems serving land inside Clinton township.

  • No installation or repair work may start until the Putnam County Health Department issues the permit.
  • Application is made through the health department (P.O. Box 507, Greencastle, IN 46135; (765) 653-0203) and the on-site septic system permit application form.

  “no work on any septic system – new or repair – is allowed until a permit has been issued!”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  New on-site septic systems installed on land inside Clinton township.

  • The registered installer must contact the health department two (2) business days before starting installation.
  • Final inspection by the Putnam County Health Department is required after installation; a copy is given to the homeowner and kept on file.
  • The packet describes holding-tank inspection rules separately; they were not opened.

  installer notice before start: >= 2 business days

  “a final inspection conducted by the putnam county health department will be completed and a copy will be provided for the homeowner, and a copy will be kept on file in our office. the registered installer is to contact the health department two (2) business days prior to starting the installation.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivisions of land in unincorporated Putnam County, including land inside Clinton township.

  • Lots under three acres may be permitted only in an approved and recorded subdivision under the county subdivision control regulations, and only if they are at least 30,000 square feet.
  • The county subdivision control regulations themselves were not located or opened.

  minimum lot area for lots under three acres in a recorded subdivision: >= 30000 sq ft (applies only in an approved and recorded subdivision under the county subdivision control regulations)

  “lots of less than three acres may be permitted in an approved and recorded subdivision under the county subdivision control regulations, if such lots are equal to or greater than 30,000 square feet in area.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption from licensing or permit for a home built by the owner inside Clinton township.
• Building code adopted — Building code adopted for residential construction inside Clinton township.
• Inspections — Building inspections for new homes in unincorporated Clinton township.
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes in unincorporated Clinton township.
• Local zoning — Whether Clinton township itself adopts a 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.