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

Rules another office applies inside Lexington Township

Lexington 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, alteration, or change of use of structures in unincorporated Lexington township, under the Scott County zoning ordinance

  • This is an improvement location permit, which the ordinance says is issued before a building permit.
  • The building permit itself, and which office issues it, was not confirmed in this research.
  • The ordinance also lists land use changes and vacant-land occupancy as requiring the permit.

  “an improvement location permit is required for any of the following: 1. occupancy or use of any structure hereafter created, erected, changed, converted, or wholly or partly altered or enlarged.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  One- and two-family homes (Class 2 structures) and their accessory structures in Lexington township, Indiana, under the state-adopted 2020 Indiana Residential Code

  • The state circular says the code applies to all construction on Class 2 structures and their accessory structures.
  • Local units of government must enforce the code under IC 36-7-2-9, as the circular states.
  • The code is the 2018 IRC model with Indiana state amendments.
  • Commercial and other non-residential structures are governed by other state rules, which were not checked.

  “since that date, the 2020 indiana residential code has been in full force and effect in every location within the state of indiana.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land in the unincorporated part of Lexington township, Scott County, Indiana. Zoning here is administered under the Scott County area plan commission ordinance, not a Lexington township ordinance. No Lexington township zoning ordinance was found.

  • The ordinance applies to all structures, lands, water, and air within the city of Scottsburg and all unincorporated portions of Scott County, so it covers unincorporated Lexington township.
  • Whether any part of Lexington township is within an incorporated town or city, which this ordinance does not cover, was not checked.
  • The text reviewed is the 2004 ordinance hosted by the City of Scottsburg. A 2023 text appears on a third-party site but was not opened or verified as current.

  “the provisions of this ordinance shall apply to all structures, lands, water, and air within the city of scottsburg and all unincorporated portions of scott county, including land owned by local, city, county, state, or federal agencies”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning districts that apply to unincorporated land in Lexington township under the Scott County ordinance

  • The district list is from the 2004 ordinance text; the current district list was not verified.
  • The ordinance also covers the City of Scottsburg, which is not part of Lexington township.

  “1. a-1 – agricultural (and rural residential) 2. r 1 – single family residential”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Single-family dwelling in the R-1 single family residential district in unincorporated Lexington township

  • Minimum total floor area 950 sf and minimum first-floor area 600 sf.
  • Minimum width of primary structure 20 ft.

  minimum total floor area: >= 950 sf · minimum first floor area: >= 600 sf

  “e. maximum lot coverage (structures and paving): 50% minimum first floor area: f. 1) total: 950 sf 2) first floor: 600 sf g. minimum width of primary structure: 20 ft”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Single-family dwelling in the A-1 agricultural (rural residential) district in unincorporated Lexington township

    “minimum first floor area: f. 1) total: 950 sf g. minimum width of primary structure: 20 ft”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Lots in the R-1 single family residential district in unincorporated Lexington township

  • Minimum lot area 8,400 sf.
  • Minimum street frontage 70 ft.
  • The R-1 district is intended for areas served by an approved municipal sanitary sewer system, so it may not apply to rural parcels.

  minimum lot area: >= 8400 sf · minimum street frontage: >= 70 ft

  “a. minimum lot size requirements 1) area: 8400 sf 2) street frontage: 70 ft”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Lots in the A-1 agricultural (rural residential) district in unincorporated Lexington township

    “a. minimum lot size requirements 1) area: 2 acres 2) street frontage: 200 ft”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Structures in the A-1 agricultural (rural residential) district in unincorporated Lexington township, measured from road centerline

  • Setbacks differ by road type: city street, county road and state road each have their own front setback.
  • Front setback is the average front setback in a built-up area, otherwise 55 ft on a city street, 65 ft on a county road, and 100 ft on a state road.
  • Side setback 30 ft and back setback 30 ft.

  side setback: 30 ft (corner lots have 2 front setbacks) · back setback: 30 ft · front setback on city street (not built-up): 55 ft (county road 65 ft; state road 100 ft; average front setback in built-up area)

  “b. minimum setbacks on a city street (from centerline) 1) front: in built up area use the average front setback otherwise 55 ft 2) side: 30 ft (corner lots have 2 front setbacks) 3) back: 30 ft”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Structures in the R-1 single family residential district in unincorporated Lexington township, measured from road centerline

    “b. minimum setbacks on a city street (from centerline) 1) front: in built up area use the average front setback otherwise 50 ft 2) side: 8 ft (corner lots have 2 front setbacks) 3) back: 20 ft”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  Lots in the A-1 agricultural (rural residential) district in unincorporated Lexington township

  • Lot coverage includes structures and paving.

  maximum lot coverage (structures and paving): <= 35 percent

  “e. maximum lot coverage (structures and paving): 35% minimum first floor area: f. 1) total: 950 sf”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Lots in the R-1 single family residential district in unincorporated Lexington township

    “e. maximum lot coverage (structures and paving): 50% minimum first floor area: f. 1) total: 950 sf 2) first floor: 600 sf”

• Building heightSpecified

  Structures in the A-1 agricultural (rural residential) district in unincorporated Lexington township

  • Accessory structure limit does not apply to agricultural structures.
  • Front yard fence limit 4 ft on corner lots with 2 front yards.

  maximum height, primary structure: <= 35 ft · maximum height, accessory structure: <= 35 ft (no restriction for agricultural structures)

  “h. maximum height 1) primary structure: 35 ft 2) accessory structure: 35 ft (no restriction for agricultural structures}”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Structures in the R-1 single family residential district in unincorporated Lexington township

    “h. maximum height 1) primary structure: 35 ft 2) accessory structure: 18 ft 3) front yard fence: 4 ft (corner lots have 2 front yards)”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Campgrounds and recreational vehicle parks in unincorporated Lexington township. The rule does not address RV occupancy on private land outside campgrounds.

  • Table 5-10 limits recreational vehicles that are not permanently sited to 6 months per calendar year in campgrounds and RV parks.
  • Campground rules also require state and local standards, adequate sewage disposal, and a plan commission-approved development plan.

  maximum occupancy time for RV not permanently sited: 6 months per calendar year (campgrounds and RV parks only)

  “a. campsites shall be for seasonal, temporary occupancy only, limited to the time periods shown on the table below.”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Temporary camping in campgrounds in unincorporated Lexington township. Camping on private land outside a campground was not addressed by the text reviewed.

  • Tent or other temporary abode: 60 days per visit, with 48 hours between visits.
  • RV not permanently sited: 6 months per calendar year.
  • Cabins: 6 months per calendar year.

  maximum occupancy per visit for tent or other temporary abode: 60 days (campgrounds and RV parks only; 48 hours required between visits)

  “a. campsites shall be for seasonal, temporary occupancy only, limited to the time periods shown on the table below.”

• Manufactured homesAllowed (with conditions)

  Manufactured homes of 950 square feet or more in R-1 and R-2 residential districts in unincorporated Lexington township

  • Applies only in R-1 and R-2 districts; not in A-1.
  • Homes must meet the building code compliance rule in the ordinance (International Residential Code for foundation, roofing and siding).
  • Mobile homes in parks are governed by a separate section.

  minimum floor area for manufactured home treated as single-family dwelling: >= 950 sf (modular or mobile home built after 1974)

  “any manufactured home (modular homes and mobile homes built after 1974) that contains at least 950 square feet of floor area shall be considered to be a single-family dwelling and shall be permitted in the same manner as any other single-family dwelling in r-1 and r-2 zoning districts.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Allowed (with conditions) — A manufactured home as the principal dwelling on an A-1 agricultural (rural residential) lot in unincorporated Lexington township

    “manufactured housing may be used as a principal dwelling in the a-1 district, provided that there are no other principal uses on the same lot and that such dwelling complies with all other applicable regulations.”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  New and existing onsite septic systems in Lexington township, which lies in Scott County. The Scott County Health Department handles septic permits and inspections across the county, including this township.

  • The health department page does not name Lexington township; this is inferred from its county-wide service.
  • State rules for onsite sewage systems also apply, and were not checked.

  “inspections of existing septic systems and for failures; permits issued for new septic systems; investigation of complaints on septic systems incidents;”

• Septic inspectionLimited

  Existing septic systems in Lexington township, through the Scott County Health Department

  • The official page says the department inspects existing systems and investigates failures, not that every system is inspected on a schedule.
  • Inspection requirements for new installations were not confirmed.

  “inspections of existing septic systems and for failures;”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for residential construction in Lexington township
• Inspections — Building inspections for residential construction in Lexington township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes in unincorporated Lexington township
• Tiny homes — Tiny home occupancy in unincorporated Lexington township
• Accessory dwellings — Accessory dwelling units in unincorporated Lexington 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.