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

Rules another office applies inside Marion Township

Marion 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 code adoptedAdopted

  State-adopted residential building code for one- and two-family dwellings, which applies inside Marion township (statewide rule, not a Marion township ordinance)

  • The table lists the 2020 Indiana Residential Code as currently in effect, based on the 2018 International Residential Code for one- and two-family dwellings.
  • Which local building authority enforces it in Marion township was not located on an official page.
  • Commercial structures and other state codes were not examined.

  “675 iac 14-4.4 2020 indiana residential code free access (model code with incorporated amendments) 2018 international residential code for one- and two-family dwellings, first printing currently in effect effective: 12/26/2019”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Marion township outside the City of Greencastle and the Towns of Bainbridge, Cloverdale and Roachdale is covered by the Putnam County Plan Commission's zoning jurisdiction. This is county zoning, not a Marion township ordinance.

  • Official agendas show the county Plan Commission hears rezonings under its own district codes (A1, A2, R1, C2) in several townships, but no Marion township zoning ordinance or statement that the township has adopted or not adopted zoning was located on an official page.
  • Marion township is not among the excluded areas named in the jurisdiction statement, so county zoning is treated as applying here by inference from that statement.
  • Verify with the county Department of Planning & Building before relying on this for a specific parcel.

  “the jurisdiction of the plan commission is all of putnam county except the city of greencastle, and the towns of bainbridge, cloverdale, and roachdale.”

• Zoning districtsPartial

  County zoning districts applicable to unincorporated land in Marion township

  • Official agendas confirm the Plan Commission uses at least the rural preservation (A1), agricultural (A2), residential (R1) and local commercial (C2) district codes.
  • The full district list and zoning map were not located on an official page, so this is partial.

  “rezoning of approximately 9.8 acres from rural preservation (a1) to agricultural (a2)”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  On-site sewage (septic) systems for residential and commercial use in Putnam County, including land inside Marion township

  • Commercial systems also need design specifications and approval from the Indiana State Department of Health, per the packet.
  • The packet does not name Marion township, but it covers permits for on-site systems 'in putnam county', and Marion township is not excluded from the county.

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

• Septic permitRequired

  New or repaired residential on-site septic systems inside Marion township

  • A soil evaluation by a registered soil scientist must be submitted first.
  • Construction may proceed only after the permit is issued.

  new system permit fee: 225 USD (other fee categories apply to replacements and resubmittals)

  “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 inside Marion township

  • The registered installer must contact the health department two business days before starting installation.
  • A final inspection is conducted before the homeowner receives a copy of the completed record.

  “a final inspection conducted by the putnam county health department will be completed and a copy will be provided for the homeowner”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  Homes inside Marion township that use an on-site septic system, when a sanitary sewer becomes available

  • Applies only to sewer connection; the packet says nothing about a water-connection requirement.
  • The packet does not give a distance threshold for when sewer availability triggers connection.
  • Municipal sewer service availability in Marion township was not located.

  “if sanitary sewers become available you may be required to connect.”

• Permit feesPublished

  On-site septic permit fees for land inside Marion township; building permit fees not located

  • Replacement, resubmittal and repair categories carry different fees on the same form.
  • The fee schedule is printed on the application dated 03.25 in the packet.

  new system permit fee: 225 USD (new system with existing dwelling, remodel/expansion, replacement/reconstruction and repair are listed at $225 on the form; resubmittal is $50)

  “new system - $225 new system with existing dwelling (system not previously installed) - $225”

• Permit processPartial

  On-site septic permit process for land inside Marion township; the building permit process was not located

  • Steps: soil evaluation by a registered soil scientist, application and fee, soil evaluation review sheet, system design submitted for approval, permit issued, installation, final inspection.

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

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Building permits for new single-family homes on land inside Marion township
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for building a home inside Marion township
• Inspections — Building inspections for new single-family homes inside Marion township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for a new home inside Marion township
• Minimum dwelling size — Single-family residential (R1) district land inside Marion 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.