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

Rules another office applies inside Monroe Township

Monroe 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 construction inside Monroe township, Putnam County, Indiana (unincorporated; Monroe township is not one of the towns named in § 150.10(4)).

  • Construction may proceed only after a valid building permit is issued by the county building commissioner.
  • Section 150.04(2) excludes industrialized building systems and mobile structures certified under IC 22-15-4 from this ordinance.
  • Section 150.12(2): property within the two-mile fringe of Greencastle must first obtain an improvement location permit from the city before a county building permit is issued.
  • Section 150.12(3): plumbing without municipal sewer requires a Putnam County Health Department on-site sewage permit before a building permit is issued.
  • Section 150.12(4): a driveway cut permit from the Putnam County Highway Department or INDOT is required before a building permit is issued when access is off a county or state road.
  • Section 150.13: work must be started and have received an approved foundation inspection within three months of permit issuance; the permit is valid one year.
  • Section 150.17(4): a $60 reinspection fee applies when work is not in compliance on inspection.

  reinspection fee: 60 USD (applies when an inspection is requested and/or made and work is not in compliance)

  “construction is prohibited unless in the conformity with a valid building permit obtained from the building commissioner prior to commencement of construction.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Construction in unincorporated Putnam County, Indiana, including Monroe township.

  • Inspections apply whether or not a building permit was required (§ 150.17(1)).
  • The owner or contractor must schedule inspections needed to ensure compliance under an issued permit (§ 150.17(3)).
  • The building commissioner may inspect at any reasonable time (§ 150.17(2)).

  “all construction is subject to periodic inspections by the building commissioner irrespective of whether a building permit has been or is required to be obtained.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Occupancy of any structure built in unincorporated Putnam County, Indiana, including Monroe township.

  • A full, partial, or temporary certificate of occupancy must be issued by the county building commissioner before occupancy.
  • No certificate of occupancy may issue unless the structure was built in compliance with the county building ordinance (§ 150.16).

  “it shall be unlawful to occupy any structure unless a full, partial, or temporary certificate of occupancy has been issued by the building commissioner.”

• Who permits septicCounty

  On-site sewage systems for property in Monroe township, Putnam County, Indiana, not served by municipal sewer.

  • The Putnam County Health Department issues the on-site sewage permit; the county building ordinance requires that permit before a building permit issues.
  • The Indiana state rule on septic design is not reviewed here.

  “a permit from the putnam county health department for an on-site sewage system is required before a building permit will be issued.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  New or repaired septic systems in Monroe township, Putnam County, Indiana.

  • A final inspection by the Putnam County Health Department is completed after installation.
  • The registered installer must contact the health department two business days before starting the installation.

  “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.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Lots in Monroe township whose entrance is off a county-maintained road or state-maintained highway.

  • A driveway cut permit from the Putnam County Highway Department or INDOT is required before the building permit is issued (§ 150.12(4)).
  • Applies only where the property requires an entrance off a county-maintained road or state maintained highway.

  “if the property for which a building permit is being obtained requires an entrance off a county-maintained road or state maintained highway, a driveway cut permit is required from either the putnam county highway department or the indiana department of transportation (indot) before a building permit will be issued.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  New construction and substantial improvements in Monroe township that go through the county building permit.

  • The building commissioner reviews applications to determine whether proposed building sites will be reasonably safe from flooding (§ 150.11(2)).
  • Major repairs within special flood hazard areas must use flood-resistant materials and methods (§ 150.11(3)).
  • The county's flood-prevention rules are not reproduced in the building ordinance text reviewed; the floodplain map and any separate floodplain ordinance were not opened.

  “review all building permit applications for new construction or substantial improvements to determine whether proposed building sites will be reasonably safe from flooding”

• Permit feesPublished

  Septic permit fees for properties in Monroe township, Putnam County, Indiana.

  • A permit application must be returned with a check for $225 (new system, repair, and other listed types); the packet lists lower fees for some other permit types.
  • Building permit fees are set by the county commissioners and are not stated in the ordinance; see the separate unknown fee claim.

  septic permit application fee: 225 USD (listed lower fees apply to minor replacement, failed tank, dose tank and resubmittal permits)

  “a permit application must be completed and returned to the putnam county health department along with a check for $225.”

• Permit processPublished

  Building permit process for construction in Putnam County, Indiana, including Monroe township (unincorporated).

  • Application goes to the county building commissioner on a form the commissioner prepares, with detailed plans and specifications drawn to scale (§ 150.10).
  • The commissioner reviews applications for code compliance and flood safety before issuing a permit (§ 150.11).
  • Permits are issued after a complete application and any fee are submitted (§ 150.12(1)).
  • Permit renewal fees are 80% (one year) or 40% (six months) of the original building fee; minimum renewal fee $60 (§ 150.14).
  • Fee amounts for the original building permit are set by the county commissioners and are not stated in the ordinance text reviewed.

  “any person required to have a building permit shall submit a complete application to the building commissioner.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption from permits in Monroe township.
• Local zoning — Whether Monroe township administers its own zoning ordinance.
• Zoning districts — Zoning districts for Monroe township.
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size for the single-family residential district in Monroe township.
• Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size for the single-family residential district in Monroe 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.