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

Rules another office applies inside Marion Township

Marion 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 Marion township (unincorporated Shelby County)

  • Building, electrical and improvement location permits may be obtained by the homeowner with a homeowner's affidavit, or by a county-registered contractor.
  • An improvement location permit is required by the Shelby County Unified Development Ordinance and is issued when zoning standards are met on the approved site plan.

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

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  New buildings inside Marion township (unincorporated Shelby County), enforced by the Shelby County building inspector

  • The county building inspector's office serves the unincorporated area of Shelby County and the Town of Fairland; the county page directs other municipal limits to their own jurisdictions.

  “the shelby county building inspector department is established to protect the public health and safety of the citizens of shelby county by ensuring that all new buildings comply with the indiana state building code.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  New homes inside Marion township (unincorporated Shelby County)

  • The final certificate follows completion and approval of all inspections, including the septic system.
  • A temporary certificate may be issued when weather or other circumstances prevent completion of site work.

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

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Accessory structures in the A1 district in unincorporated Shelby County, including Marion township (principal-building setbacks not retrieved)

  • Front setback is measured from the right-of-way line of the road (typically 25 feet from the center of the road).
  • Table values are the county's accessory-structure setbacks; principal-building setbacks are in UDO Article 2, which could not be opened.

  front setback, accessory structure, A1: 50 feet · side setback, accessory structure, A1: 10 feet · rear setback, accessory structure, A1: 10 feet

  “zoning district front setback side setback rear setback a1 50-feet 10-feet 10-feet a2 60-feet 10-feet 10-feet re 50-feet and not in front yard 10-feet 10-feet r1 35-feet and not in front yard 5-feet 5-feet”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • District specific (with conditions) — Accessory structures in the R1 district in unincorporated Shelby County, including Marion township (principal-building setbacks not retrieved)

    “zoning district front setback side setback rear setback a1 50-feet 10-feet 10-feet a2 60-feet 10-feet 10-feet re 50-feet and not in front yard 10-feet 10-feet r1 35-feet and not in front yard 5-feet 5-feet”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Residential septic systems inside Marion township (unincorporated Shelby County), administered by the Shelby County Health Department

  • Applies to systems not connected to a regulated sewage facility; the county page does not describe the regulated-facility route.

  “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 Marion township (unincorporated Shelby County)

  • Exception: no septic permit where the home uses sewer/water from the Waldron Conservancy District, per the county new-home procedure.

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

• Septic inspectionRequired

  New septic systems and repairs inside Marion township (unincorporated Shelby County)

  • Inspections are requested by the permit applicant; the health department must sign off before the final certificate of occupancy.

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

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Creating a new lot inside Marion township (unincorporated Shelby County)

  • Purchasing a portion of a parcel to create a new lot requires the platting process; contact the county planning director.
  • Lots created before 2008 are treated as grandfathered (see minimum lot size claim).

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

• Driveway accessRequired

  Driveway connections to county roads from land inside Marion township (unincorporated Shelby County)

  • On state highways, the access permit must also be obtained from INDOT's Greenfield district office.

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

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  County permit fees for new home construction inside Marion township (unincorporated Shelby County)

  • The county sheet lists a septic permit fee of $25.00, which conflicts with the $300 septic permit fee on the health department page; see the health-department fee claim.
  • The county sheet also lists a $100 additional basement fee and $60 floodplain permit fee where applicable.
  • The schedule is on an undated county form; no effective date was stated.

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

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Published (with conditions) — Septic permit and installer registration fees for systems serving homes inside Marion township

    “septic permits are $300. the septic installer registration fee is $50.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  New home permitting sequence for land inside Marion township (unincorporated Shelby County)

  • Steps run in order: buildable-lot verification, soil samples, site plan approval, septic permit, access permit, building-type permits, inspections, site development inspection, final certificate of occupancy.
  • Site plans are due by 12:00 pm Tuesday for Thursday review; no permit is issued until every site plan committee member approves.

  “all site plans must be submitted by 12:00pm on tuesday to be eligible for review on the following thursday.”

Still unanswered

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

• Local zoning — Land inside Marion township's limits: whether Marion township adopts its own zoning ordinance
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in unincorporated Shelby County, including Marion township
• Lot coverage — Lot coverage limits in unincorporated Shelby County, including Marion township
• Building height — Building height limits in unincorporated Shelby County, including Marion township
• Living in an RV — RV occupancy on private land in unincorporated Shelby County, including Marion 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.