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

Rules another office applies inside Brandywine Township

Brandywine 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 home construction in Shelby County, including land inside Brandywine township (the source is a countywide procedure and does not name the township)

  • Homeowner may obtain the improvement location, building and electrical permits with a homeowner's affidavit; contractors must be listed with the county building inspector's office; plumbing permits may only be obtained by listed plumbers, except a homeowner who will reside in the home.
  • Confirm the county UDO jurisdiction section (1.08) covers unincorporated Brandywine township; not verified in this run.

  building permit fee: 200 USD · electrical permit fee: 150 USD · plumbing permit fee: 150 USD

  “building, electrical, and plumbing permits are required and allow for inspection of new construction to ensure it complies with building code.”

• Owner-builder exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

  Homeowner-applicant building in Shelby County, including land inside Brandywine township (countywide procedure)

  • Available for the improvement location, building and electrical permits with a homeowner's affidavit.
  • Homeowner may obtain a plumbing permit only if they will reside in the home.
  • Ordinary contractor registration applies to non-homeowner applicants.

  “improvement location permit, building, and electrical permits may be obtained by the homeowner with submittal of a homeowner’s affidavit.”

• InspectionsRequired

  New home construction in Shelby County, including land inside Brandywine township (countywide procedure)

  • The permit applicant must call for each inspection; inspections are requested from the plan commission, the building inspector's office and the health department.
  • Site development inspection is required when site work is complete, before final certificate of occupancy.

  “it is the responsibility of the permit applicant to call all applicable departments and agencies to request necessary inspections at the appropriate times, including the plan commission, inspector’s office, and health department.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  New homes in Shelby County, including land inside Brandywine township (countywide procedure)

  • A temporary certificate of occupancy may be issued where weather or other mitigating circumstances prevent completion of site work.
  • Final certificate issues only after all inspections, including the septic system inspection, and after the planning director approves the site development inspection.

  “the home shall not be occupied until issuance of a temporary or final certificate of occupancy.”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  Residential septic systems for new homes in Shelby County, including land inside Brandywine township (the Shelby County Health Department is the permitting body)

  • Septic permit is not required for a new home that uses sewer or water from the Waldron Conservancy District (not known to serve Brandywine township; not verified).

  “obtain a septic permit from the shelby county health department.”

• Septic permitRequired

  New homes served by an onsite septic system on land inside Brandywine township, Shelby County, Indiana

  • Exception: no septic permit where the new home uses sewer/water from the Waldron Conservancy District (not known to serve Brandywine township; not verified).
  • Qualified soil scientist samples are needed to determine septic feasibility; the health department keeps a list of soil scientists.

  septic permit fee: 25 USD

  “a septic permit is required for all new homes, unless utilizing sewer/water from the waldron conservancy district.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  New homes with a septic system in Shelby County, including land inside Brandywine township

  • Septic system inspection is a precondition to the final certificate of occupancy; the health department is listed as an inspection contact.

  “the shelby county inspector’s office will issue a final certificate of occupancy after completion and approval of all inspections, including inspection of the septic system.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Creating a new lot in Shelby County, including land inside Brandywine township (countywide procedure)

  • Lots that existed in their current configuration before 2008 are treated as grandfathered and eligible for a building permit regardless of subdivision and lot dimensional standards.
  • Lot must be checked with the county planning director before a building permit.

  “*creation of a new lot (example – purchase of a portion of farm ground) must go through the platting process.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Driveway access to a Shelby County road, including land inside Brandywine township (countywide procedure)

  • Access permit ensures a properly sized driveway and culverts; on state highways the access permit also comes from INDOT's Greenfield district office.
  • Driveway installation is checked at the site development inspection.

  “obtain an access permit from the shelby county highway department.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  New home permits in Shelby County, including land inside Brandywine township (countywide fee list)

  • Additional basement fee ($100) and floodplain permit fee ($60) apply only if applicable.
  • Fee list is as printed on the New Home Procedure; no later fee schedule was located.

  site plan fee: 60 USD · septic permit fee: 25 USD · access permit fee: 20 USD · improvement location permit fee: 190 USD · building permit fee: 200 USD · electrical permit fee: 150 USD · plumbing permit fee: 150 USD

  “permit fees site plan - $60.00 septic permit – $25.00 access permit - $20.00 improvement location permit - $190 building permit - $200 electrical permit - $150 plumbing permit - $150 additional basement fee (if applicable) - $100 floodplain permit fee (if applicable) - $60”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  New home permit process in Shelby County, including land inside Brandywine township (countywide procedure)

  • Site plans are reviewed weekly by the site plan committee; submissions due by noon Tuesday for Thursday review; permits issue only after every committee member approves.
  • Improvement location permit is issued when zoning standards are met on the approved site plan.
  • Site plans must be certified by a professional surveyor or engineer.

  “submit a site plan application and site plan, certified by a professional surveyor/engineer, to the shelby county plan commission office”

Still unanswered

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

• Building code adopted — Land inside Brandywine township, Shelby County, Indiana
• Local zoning — Land inside Brandywine township, Shelby County, Indiana (outside the Town of Fairland)
• Zoning districts — Zoning districts applying inside Brandywine township, Shelby County, Indiana
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside Brandywine township, Shelby County, Indiana
• Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size inside Brandywine township, Shelby County, Indiana

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.