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

Rules another office applies inside Jackson Township

Jackson 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 inside Jackson township (unincorporated Shelby County), permits issued by the county building inspector

  • Improvement location permit is required by the Shelby County UDO and issued when zoning standards are met on the approved site plan.
  • Permits may be obtained by the homeowner with a homeowner affidavit, or by a registered contractor.

  “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)

  Homeowners building a home inside Jackson township (unincorporated Shelby County)

  • Homeowner obtains the improvement location, building and electrical permits with a homeowner affidavit.
  • Homeowner may obtain the plumbing permit only if they will reside in the home.
  • Otherwise a contractor registered with the county is required.

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

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  New buildings inside Jackson township, enforced by the Shelby County building inspector

  • Enforcement is by the county building inspector for unincorporated Shelby County.

  “by ensuring that all new buildings comply with the indiana state building code.”

• InspectionsRequired

  New construction inside Jackson township (unincorporated Shelby County)

  • Inspections are conducted by the county building inspector; inspection hours are listed on the county page.

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

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Jackson township, which is unincorporated Shelby County. Zoning here is administered under the Shelby County Unified Development Ordinance, not a Jackson township ordinance; no Jackson township zoning ordinance was located.

  • The county plan commission serves the unincorporated area of shelby county.
  • Owners of property within other municipal limits contact that jurisdiction; Jackson township is not listed among those municipalities on the county page.

  “the shelby county plan commission serves the unincorporated area of shelby county.”

• Zoning districtsPartial

  Zoning districts applying to unincorporated Shelby County land, including Jackson township

  • The FAQ names districts A1, A2, RE, R1, VR, VM and IS, but the full UDO district list was not opened.
  • The county GIS system includes a zoning map that shows each parcel's district.

  “the shelby county gis system includes a zoning map.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  New house lots inside Jackson township (unincorporated Shelby County); a typical minimum, not a district-by-district figure

  • Lots established before 2008 are grandfathered as building lots regardless of size, if the new home complies with other zoning requirements.
  • Creating a new lot requires platting; the planning director verifies buildable lot status.

  typical minimum lot size: 2 acres (lots established before 2008 grandfathered regardless of size)

  “how much land do i need to build a new house in shelby county? typically, 2-acres.”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Accessory structures on parcels zoned A2 (agricultural) in unincorporated Shelby County, including Jackson township. Principal-building setbacks in UDO Article 2 were not opened.

  • Table is from the county FAQ for accessory structures, not principal buildings.
  • Front setback is measured from the right-of-way line of the road (typically 25 feet from the center of the road).
  • Confirm the parcel's zoning on the county GIS zoning map.

  front setback, accessory structure: 60 feet · side setback, accessory structure: 10 feet · rear setback, accessory structure: 10 feet

  “the table below includes the setback requirements for accessory structures in the most common zoning districts.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • District specific (with conditions) — Accessory structures on parcels zoned R1 (single-family residential) in unincorporated Shelby County, including Jackson township. Principal-building setbacks in UDO Article 2 were not opened.

    “r1 35-feet and not in front yard 5-feet 5-feet”

• Living in an RVProhibited

  Occupying an RV on private land inside Jackson township (unincorporated Shelby County)

  • Occupied RVs are permitted only in RV parks.
  • Board of zoning appeals may grant a variance for temporary occupancy in cases of hardship.

  “no. the county only permits occupied rvs, mobile homes, and manufactured homes in rv and mobile home parks. the board of zoning appeals may grant a variance for temporary occupancy in cases of hardship.”

• Manufactured homesProhibited

  Occupying a mobile or manufactured home on private land inside Jackson township (unincorporated Shelby County)

  • Occupied mobile and manufactured homes are permitted only in mobile home parks.
  • Board of zoning appeals may grant a variance for temporary occupancy in cases of hardship.

  “no. the county only permits occupied rvs, mobile homes, and manufactured homes in rv and mobile home parks. the board of zoning appeals may grant a variance for temporary occupancy in cases of hardship.”

• Accessory dwellingsLimited

  Mother-in-law quarters or a detached secondary dwelling on private land inside Jackson township

  • Requires a variance from the Shelby County Board of Zoning Appeals.
  • The Board will typically grant a variance for temporary occupancy in cases of hardship.
  • The county defines an attached dwelling unit / mother-in-law quarters as a unit with a full kitchen, full bathroom, and living area without access to the main dwelling through an interior door.

  “the county does not permit these types of structures without approval of a variance from the shelby county board of zoning appeals.”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Residential sewage disposal systems inside Jackson township, permitted by the Shelby County Health Department

  • Shelby County Health Department, 20 W Polk Street, Suite 202, Shelbyville, IN 46176.
  • Exception: homes using sewer or water from the Waldron Conservancy District.

  “we issue permits for all residential and commercial sewage disposal systems that are not connected to a regulated sewage facility.”

• Septic permitRequired

  New homes inside Jackson township

  • Exception: not required where the home uses sewer/water from the Waldron Conservancy District.
  • Septic installers must be on the health department's registered list.

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

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Residential septic repairs and new construction inside Jackson township

  • Work must be inspected and signed off by the health department's inspectors.

  “all repairs and new construction must be inspected and signed off by our inspectors.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdividing land inside Jackson township (unincorporated Shelby County)

  • Simple subdivision (no more than three lots, no internal streets, public improvements, or common area) goes to the plan commission.
  • Four or more lots is a traditional subdivision request to the plan commission.
  • Creating a new lot, for example by purchasing part of a farm, must go through the platting process.

  “simple subdivision request to subdivide a property into no more than three lots and without internal streets, public improvements, or common area.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Driveway connection to a county road for a home inside Jackson township

  • On state highways, the access permit must also come from the INDOT Greenfield district office.
  • Permit is issued by the Shelby County Highway Department.

  “an access permit is for access to the county road and ensures that a proper sized driveway and culverts are installed.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Construction or grading in a designated flood hazard area inside Jackson township

  • Flood hazard area is defined using Indiana DNR best available data; the county's floodplain layer is checked during lot verification.
  • Variance from flood protection elevation requires the Board of Zoning Appeals.

  “to grade land in an area designated as a flood hazard area by the indiana department of natural resources division of water best available data.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  New home permitting sequence for land inside Jackson township

  • Steps: buildable lot verification, soil samples, site plan approval by the plan commission, septic permit, access permit, then building permits.
  • Site plan committee meets Thursdays; submittals due by noon Tuesday.

  “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 Jackson Township or Shelby County directly.

• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes inside Jackson township
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum floor area for a dwelling inside Jackson township
• Lot coverage — Maximum lot coverage for parcels inside Jackson township
• Building height — Maximum building height for parcels inside Jackson township
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Jackson 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.