Bolthole Index

Scott County, Indiana

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Austin, Indiana

The City of Austin, Indiana (in Scott County) has its own Unified Development Ordinance, adopted in 2026, which replaced the old zoning chapter1. The city's Building Commission Office takes residential building permit applications2. Septic permits for homes off the sewer come from the Scott County Health Department3.

At a glance

Zoning
Yes, the City of Austin's own Unified Development Ordinance and zoning map1
Building permits
Applications go to the City of Austin Building Commission Office2
Sewer in R1 districts
Public water and sewer required4
Septic lots in AG districts
1 acre minimum5
Septic permits
Scott County Health Department, Environmental Health3
Minimum home size (R1 and AG)
1,100 sq ft of living area, 24 feet wide67
RV or tiny home living
Not confirmed; ask the Building Commission Office2

Who to call

Building permits

City of Austin Building Commission Office

Residential and commercial building permit applications, code enforcement, zoning questions and rezoning applications inside Austin city limits

(812) 794-2877

Septic permits

Scott County Health Department — Environmental Health

Site evaluations, permits, consultations and inspections for onsite sewage systems in Scott County

1 E. McClain Ave Scottsburg, IN 47170

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 24, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

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

Yes. The City of Austin zones its own land under a Unified Development Ordinance and official zoning map, which replaced the city's earlier zoning and subdivision rules1. The ordinance publishes the zoning and overlay districts, including AG, R1 and R28.

Rules differ by district. In R1 (low density residential), the minimum lot is 6,000 sq ft with 60 feet of road frontage9. R1 setbacks are 20 feet in front, 8 feet on the sides and 15 feet in the rear10, and structures top out at 30 feet11.

In the AG (agricultural) district, a lot on sewer needs 12,000 sq ft and a lot on septic needs 1 acre, with 90 feet of frontage5. AG setbacks are 30 feet in front, 10 feet on the sides and 20 feet in the rear12, with a 45-foot height limit13. We could not confirm lot coverage limits; ask the Building Commission Office.

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

Austin runs its own building office. The City of Austin Building Commission Office handles residential, commercial and meter permit applications and inspects residential and commercial building permits2. The city's page offers a building and improvement permit application that must be submitted online2.

The zoning ordinance leaves the city's separate Chapter 150 (Building and Housing Regulations) and Chapter 151 (Flood Hazard Areas) in force1. We could not confirm the permit fee schedule, the text of those chapters, or whether an owner-builder exemption exists, so call the Building Commission Office before you start.

Indiana's residential code applies statewide14. The county's Improvement Location Permit rules cover unincorporated Scott County, not land inside Austin15.

How do septic and sewer work inside Austin?

Whether you can use septic depends on the district. R1 lots require public water and sewer4. AG lots need public utilities only if the lot lies within 300 feet of public water or sewer16. An AG lot on septic must be at least 1 acre5.

Where septic is allowed, Scott County runs the program: its Environmental Health Specialist conducts site evaluations, and the Health Department provides permits, consultations and inspections for new and repair onsite sewage systems17. The county lists a $100 new or full system permit and a $40 partial permit18. We could not confirm that this office also handles lots inside city limits, so confirm with the Scott County Health Department before you buy.

Indiana bars drywells and cesspools as onsite sewage treatment19.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Austin?

We could not confirm Austin's rules for living in an RV, a tiny home or a manufactured home on private land. The city's ordinance lists campground and RV park uses in the AG district, but we could not confirm the standards that go with them. Ask the City of Austin Building Commission Office before you buy or place anything2.

Do not rely on the county's campground rules or Indiana's campground rule for a private lot. Indiana's campground rule excludes tracts divided into individually deeded lots20, and Scott County's RV limits apply to campgrounds in unincorporated areas, not Austin lots21.

Building a home in Austin: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm the lot's zoning district on the city's zoning map and check lot size, frontage and setbacks8.
  2. Find out whether public sewer reaches the lot. R1 requires it4, and AG lots within 300 feet of public water or sewer must connect16.
  3. If the lot is on septic, ask the Scott County Health Department for a site evaluation and permit17.
  4. Submit the building and improvement permit application to the Building Commission Office2.
  5. Plan the home to meet the minimum 1,100 sq ft of living area and 24-foot width in R1 and AG6.
  6. Schedule inspections with the Building Commission Office2.

What stays with Scott County, and what to check before you buy in Austin

Septic permits come from the Scott County Health Department3. Land outside Austin falls under the county's zoning and permits; see the Scott County page for those rules.

County-level numbers help with planning: Scott County's effective property tax rate is 0.6%22, and its median property tax bill is $931 a year23. USDA rates only 0.2% of the county's soils as not limited for a conventional septic drain field, so expect a site evaluation and possibly an engineered system on any lot that cannot use sewer24.

Indiana state highway driveways need an INDOT permit25. Floodplain rules inside Austin are in Chapter 151, which we could not read; ask the city before you buy near water1.

Watch-outs

  • Austin's R1 district requires public water and sewer, so a bare R1 lot without a sewer connection is not a septic lot4.
  • Setbacks grow to 30 feet from the edge of pavement in R1 and 40 feet in AG when the parcel boundary runs to the middle of a public road1012.
  • We could not confirm Austin's building permit fees, owner-builder rules, driveway rules or well rules; call the Building Commission Office2.
  • Scott County's zoning ordinance covers Scottsburg and unincorporated areas, not Austin's land, so county setback and lot rules do not apply inside city limits26.

Sources

  1. City of Austin, Indiana Unified Development Ordinance (adopted 3-9-2026) (Austin), quoted and re-checked
  2. City of Austin Building Commission Office (cityofaustin.in.gov)
  3. Environmental | Scott County, IN, quoted and re-checked
  4. City of Austin, Indiana Unified Development Ordinance (adopted 3-9-2026) (Austin), quoted and re-checked
  5. City of Austin, Indiana Unified Development Ordinance (adopted 3-9-2026) (Austin), quoted and re-checked
  6. City of Austin, Indiana Unified Development Ordinance (adopted 3-9-2026) (Austin), quoted and re-checked
  7. City of Austin, Indiana Unified Development Ordinance (adopted 3-9-2026) (Austin), quoted and re-checked
  8. City of Austin, Indiana Unified Development Ordinance (adopted 3-9-2026) (Austin), quoted and re-checked
  9. City of Austin, Indiana Unified Development Ordinance (adopted 3-9-2026) (Austin), quoted and re-checked
  10. City of Austin, Indiana Unified Development Ordinance (adopted 3-9-2026) (Austin), quoted and re-checked
  11. City of Austin, Indiana Unified Development Ordinance (adopted 3-9-2026) (Austin), quoted and re-checked
  12. City of Austin, Indiana Unified Development Ordinance (adopted 3-9-2026) (Austin), quoted and re-checked
  13. City of Austin, Indiana Unified Development Ordinance (adopted 3-9-2026) (Austin), quoted and re-checked
  14. DHS: Rules of the Indiana Fire Prevention and Building Safety Commission, quoted and re-checked
  15. Zoning Ordinance of Scott County, Indiana, quoted and re-checked
  16. City of Austin, Indiana Unified Development Ordinance (adopted 3-9-2026) (Austin), quoted and re-checked
  17. Scott County Health Department — Environmental Health (scottcounty.in.gov)
  18. Scott County Health Department Fee Schedule, quoted and re-checked
  19. 410 IAC 6-8.3 Residential On-Site Sewage Systems (Indiana statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  20. Environmental Public Health: 410 IAC 6-71 Campgrounds (Indiana statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  21. Zoning Ordinance of Scott County, Indiana, quoted and re-checked
  22. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  23. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  24. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
  25. INDOT Driveway Permit Guide 2024 (Indiana statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  26. Zoning Ordinance of Scott County, Indiana, quoted and re-checked

Written October 24, 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 Austin

Austin’s own rules

  • Local zoningPresent

    All land within the City of Austin, Indiana jurisdiction governed by the Unified Development Ordinance and official zoning map

    • Chapter 152 Zoning and prior zoning and subdivision control ordinances are replaced by the UDO and official zoning map.
    • Chapter 150 Building and Housing Regulations and Chapter 151 Flood Hazard Areas are expressly not repealed by the UDO.
    • Adopted 3-9-2026; effective upon adoption per the ordinance text.
    “chapter 152: zoning, subsequent amendments to chapter 152: zoning (including but not limited to ord. 2021-04 and 2021-04), and all other previous ordinances and regulations regarding zoning and subdivision control within the jurisdiction of the city of austin (excluding those identified below) are replaced by the adoption of this udo and official zoning map.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Zoning districts of the City of Austin

    • Chapter 3 publishes the zoning and overlay districts, including AG, R1 and R2 development standards tables.
    “d. low density residential district (r1) development standards low density residential district (r1) development standards minimum lot width (road frontage)”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    Dwellings on AG district lots inside Austin city limits

    • Minimum living area 1,100 sq ft; minimum structure width 24 feet.

    minimum living area: >= 1100 sq ft · minimum structure width: >= 24 feet

    “90 feet sewer: 12,000 sq ft septic: 1 acre 30 feet; or 40 feet from edge of pavement if parcel boundary is identified as the middle of public road1 10 feet 20 feet 45 feet2 n/a 1,100 sq ft 24 feet none (unless within 300 feet of public water and/or sewer)”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — Dwellings on R1 low density residential lots inside Austin city limits
      “60 feet 6,000 sq ft 20 feet; or 30 feet from edge of pavement if parcel boundary is identified as the middle of public road1 8 feet 15 feet 30 feet n/a 1,100 sq ft 24 feet public water & sewer required”
  • Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Lots in the agricultural (AG) district inside Austin city limits

    • Minimum lot area is 12,000 sq ft where served by sewer, or 1 acre where septic is used.
    • Minimum lot width (road frontage) 90 feet.

    minimum lot area: >= 12000 sq ft (lot served by sewer) · minimum lot area: >= 1 acre (lot served by septic) · minimum lot width (road frontage): >= 90 feet

    “90 feet sewer: 12,000 sq ft septic: 1 acre 30 feet; or 40 feet from edge of pavement if parcel boundary is identified as the middle of public road1 10 feet 20 feet 45 feet2 n/a 1,100 sq ft 24 feet none (unless within 300 feet of public water and/or sewer)”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • District specific (with conditions) — Single-family lots in the R1 low density residential district inside Austin city limits
      “60 feet 6,000 sq ft 20 feet; or 30 feet from edge of pavement if parcel boundary is identified as the middle of public road1 8 feet 15 feet 30 feet n/a 1,100 sq ft 24 feet public water & sewer required”
  • SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Principal structures on AG district lots inside Austin city limits

    • Front yard 30 feet, or 40 feet from edge of pavement if the parcel boundary is identified as the middle of public road (footnote 1: applies if right-of-way is not dedicated by written, recorded instrument).

    front yard setback: >= 30 feet (40 feet from edge of pavement if parcel boundary is the middle of public road) · side yard setback: >= 10 feet · rear yard setback: >= 20 feet

    “90 feet sewer: 12,000 sq ft septic: 1 acre 30 feet; or 40 feet from edge of pavement if parcel boundary is identified as the middle of public road1 10 feet 20 feet 45 feet2 n/a 1,100 sq ft 24 feet none (unless within 300 feet of public water and/or sewer)”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • District specific (with conditions) — Principal structures on R1 low density residential lots inside Austin city limits
      “60 feet 6,000 sq ft 20 feet; or 30 feet from edge of pavement if parcel boundary is identified as the middle of public road1 8 feet 15 feet 30 feet n/a 1,100 sq ft 24 feet public water & sewer required”
  • Building heightSpecified

    Structures on AG district lots inside Austin city limits

    • Maximum structure height 45 feet; see section 5.9 for height exemptions (not opened).

    maximum structure height: <= 45 feet (section 5.9 height exemptions)

    “2 -see section 5.9: structures for height exemptions”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — Structures on R1 low density residential lots inside Austin city limits
      “60 feet 6,000 sq ft 20 feet; or 30 feet from edge of pavement if parcel boundary is identified as the middle of public road1 8 feet 15 feet 30 feet n/a 1,100 sq ft 24 feet public water & sewer required”
  • Mandatory utility hookupConditional

    New homes on agricultural (AG) district lots inside Austin city limits

    • Required public utilities for the AG district: none, unless the lot is within 300 feet of public water and/or sewer.
    • Sewer lots are 12,000 sq ft; septic lots are 1 acre, per the AG table.

    distance to public water or sewer that triggers connection: <= 300 feet

    “none (unless within 300 feet of public water and/or sewer)”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Water and sewer (with conditions) — New homes on R1 low density residential lots inside Austin city limits
      “60 feet 6,000 sq ft 20 feet; or 30 feet from edge of pavement if parcel boundary is identified as the middle of public road1 8 feet 15 feet 30 feet n/a 1,100 sq ft 24 feet public water & sewer required”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Austin or Scott County directly.

  • Building permit — Building permit requirement for new homes inside Austin city limits
  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside Austin city limits
  • Building code adopted — Building code adoption inside Austin city limits
  • Inspections — Building inspection inside Austin city limits
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy inside Austin city limits
15 more unanswered
  • Lot coverage
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Permit fees
  • Permit process

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 Austin publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Scott County’s page lists the county offices to call.

← All of Scott County: county rules, score and offices