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

Rules another office applies inside Center Township

Center 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 in Ripley County, including unincorporated land inside Center township

  • Any building or structure that is 144 square feet or larger requires a building permit.
  • No permit is issued without the required building plans or pertinent structural drawings (for example a truss sheet).
  • Construction may proceed after the permit is issued and inspections are passed.

  minimum structure area requiring a building permit: >= 144 square feet

  “any building or structure that is 144 square feet or larger, requires a building permit.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Building code for construction in Ripley County, including unincorporated land inside Center township, as administered by the county Area Planning and Building department

  • The county page states the code was adopted under IC 36-7-8-3 and IC 36-7-2-9; it does not list the code edition or adoption date.
  • Incorporated towns inside the county (for example Osgood) may administer their own building rules; not checked for this record.

  “ripley county has, by requirement of the indiana department of homeland security, adopted their building code under ic 36-7-8-3 and ic 36-7-2-9.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Construction covered by a county building permit in Ripley County, including unincorporated land inside Center township

  • Footer/hole, wall, underfloor plumbing, perimeter drain, framing and rough-in, second rough-in, and final inspections are listed on the county page.
  • A minimum 24-hour notice is required for all inspections.
  • The county page lists the inspection sequence; exceptions and fees not stated.

  inspection notice: >= 24 hours

  “attention! inspections required for all construction. a minimum of 24 hour notice is required on all inspections.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Completed construction under a county building permit in Ripley County, including unincorporated land inside Center township

  • A certificate of occupancy is issued only after all inspections are completed and codes are met.
  • The county page says the final inspection requires everything complete, including gutters, handrails, driveway culvert and a permanent 911 address per ordinance 1991-3.

  “all inspections shall be completed and codes met before the certificate of occupancy will be issued.”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Residential on-site septic systems in Ripley County, including land inside Center township, handled by the Ripley County Health Department

  • Applies to residential septic permits; the county page covers residential systems only.
  • Soil analysis by a soil scientist, a residential septic application and house plans must be submitted to the county health department before a permit issues.

  “you can send these to the ripley county health department either by mailing to our office at p.o. box 745, versailles in 47042, submitting in person at our office, or by email.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Residential septic systems in Ripley County, including land inside Center township

  • A registered Ripley County septic installer must draw the septic design and submit it to the health department.
  • The permit is signed and paid for in person at the health department; not by phone, mail or email.
  • Card payments carry a small fee; personal checks are not accepted.
  • A full street address (with street number) is required for a septic permit; the driveway permit comes first for new construction.

  residential septic permit fee: 100 USD (plus a small fee on card payments)

  “you must read through, complete, and submit specific information to obtain residential septic permits in ripley county.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land division into plats in Ripley County, including unincorporated land inside Center township, through the Ripley County Area Plan Commission

  • The county page lists a subdivision plat application form and links 'zoning and subdivision control regulations'; the regulations were not opened, so plat standards are not recorded.
  • Whether incorporated towns follow the same county process is not stated on the page.

  “application for subdivision plats --> application for unit development”

• Driveway accessRequired

  New construction needing driveway access in Ripley County, including land inside Center township; permits from the county highway department

  • Driveway permit must be issued before a street number is assigned and before the septic permit (the county page says a full street address is required for a septic permit).
  • The building-permit page's final inspection lists a driveway culvert as part of completion.

  “for new construction, driveway permits are obtained through the ripley county highway department.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Residential septic permit fee in Ripley County, including land inside Center township; this claim covers only the septic permit

  • Paid in person at permit pickup, in cash or by card; personal checks not accepted; small fee on card payments.

  residential septic permit fee: 100 USD (plus a small fee on card payments)

  “when picking up your permit, you will need to pay $100 for the septic permit.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Residential septic permit process in Ripley County, including land inside Center township

  • Steps: soil analysis by a soil scientist; submit residential septic application and house plans; registered installer design; pay and pick up permit in person.
  • The county page says the permit is issued only after the office receives the soil analysis, application and house plans.

  “after our office receives your soil analysis, residential septic application, and house plans, you will need to pick a ripley county registered installer.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder permit exemption for a home in Center township, Ripley County
• Local zoning — Whether Center township (Ripley County, IN) adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance for land inside its limits
• Zoning districts — Zoning district map and districts covering unincorporated Center township
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in the main single-family residential district and agricultural district, unincorporated Center township
• Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size in the main single-family residential district and agricultural district, unincorporated Center 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.