Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Van Buren Township, Indiana

Rules another office applies inside Van Buren Township

Van Buren 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 Van Buren township (unincorporated Shelby County)

  • An improvement location permit is required by the Shelby County UDO and issued when zoning standards are met on the approved site plan.
  • The homeowner may obtain the permits with a homeowner's affidavit; contractors must be listed with the building inspector's office.

  “obtain an improvement location permit, building permit, electrical permit, and plumbing permit from the shelby county building inspector’s office.”

• Owner-builder exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

  Homeowners building a home for themselves in unincorporated Shelby County, including Van Buren township

  • Improvement location, building and electrical permits may be obtained by the homeowner with a homeowner's affidavit.
  • Plumbing permits are limited to listed plumbers, except a homeowner may obtain the plumbing permit if they will reside in the home.

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

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  New construction inside Van Buren township, enforced by the Shelby County building inspector's office

  • Building, electrical and plumbing permits allow inspection to ensure compliance with the building code; the page does not name the code edition.
  • Questions about the building code go to the county building inspector.

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

• InspectionsRequired

  New construction inside Van Buren township (unincorporated Shelby County)

  • The permit applicant must call for the required inspections, including the plan commission, building inspector and health department.
  • Site development inspection is required before a final certificate of occupancy; the county may issue a temporary certificate when weather prevents site completion.

  “it is the responsibility of the permit applicant to call all applicable departments and agencies to request necessary inspections at the appropriate times”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  New homes inside Van Buren township (unincorporated Shelby County)

  • The home may not be occupied until a temporary or final certificate of occupancy is issued.
  • A final certificate is withheld until the planning director approves the site development inspection.

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

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning district map for land in unincorporated Van Buren township, Shelby County, Indiana (county zoning)

  • The map is a county GIS layer; the FAQ says to make sure to check county zoning under the layer button.

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

• SetbacksSpecified

  Accessory structures in the A1 zoning district in unincorporated Shelby County, including Van Buren township

  • Figures are from the planning FAQ table of accessory-structure setbacks; principal-building setbacks in UDO Article 2 were not opened.
  • The FAQ notes that the minimum front yard setback is measured from the right-of-way line of the road (typically 25 feet from the center of the road).

  front setback, accessory structure: 50 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

  • Specified — Accessory structures in the R1 zoning district in unincorporated Shelby County, including Van Buren township

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

• Living in an RVProhibited

  Occupying an RV on private land in unincorporated Shelby County, including Van Buren township

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

  “the county only permits occupied rvs, mobile homes, and manufactured homes in rv and mobile home parks.”

• Manufactured homesProhibited

  Occupying a mobile or manufactured home on private land in unincorporated Shelby County, including Van Buren township

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

  “the county only permits occupied rvs, mobile homes, and manufactured homes in rv and mobile home parks.”

• Accessory dwellingsProhibited

  Mother-in-law quarters attached to a home, or detached secondary dwellings, in unincorporated Shelby County, including Van Buren township

  • A variance from the Shelby County Board of Zoning Appeals is required; the board will typically grant a variance for temporary occupancy in cases of hardship.
  • The planning department defines an attached dwelling unit or mother-in-law quarters as a unit with a full kitchen, full bathroom and living area without interior-door access to the main dwelling.

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

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  Septic systems for new homes inside Van Buren township (Shelby County Health Department)

  • Septic permits and soil evaluation are handled through the Shelby County Health Department; septic systems are not needed where the home uses Waldron Conservancy District water and sewer.
  • State septic rules were not researched.

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

• Septic permitRequired

  New homes inside Van Buren township (Shelby County Health Department septic permit)

  • Exception: no septic permit where the home uses sewer/water from the Waldron Conservancy District.
  • The septic permit fee is $25.00 per the county fee list.

  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 inside Van Buren township with a septic system

  • The septic inspection is one of the inspections completed before the final certificate of occupancy is issued by the county building inspector's office.
  • The page lists the Shelby County Health Department as a contact for inspections.

  “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 from a larger parcel in unincorporated Shelby County, including Van Buren township

  • Lots that existed in their current configuration before 2008 are grandfathered; creating a new lot must go through the platting process.
  • Plan commission contact: 317-392-6338.

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

• Driveway accessRequired

  Driveway access onto county roads in Van Buren township

  • An access permit from the Shelby County Highway Department is required; on state highways, the access permit must also be obtained from the INDOT Greenfield district office.
  • The permit ensures a properly sized driveway and culverts are installed.

  access permit fee: 20 USD

  “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

  Land grading or construction in designated flood hazard areas in Van Buren township

  • Development in the floodway also requires a permit from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Water.
  • Lots in flood hazard areas are checked during buildable-lot verification.

  “a floodplain permit and additional development regulations (such as elevating a structure and floodproofing) apply to land grading or construction in designated flood hazard areas.”

• Permit feesPublished

  Shelby County permit fees for a new home in Van Buren township

  • The listed fees are from the new-home procedure sheet, which is undated; the county's application fees PDF was not opened.
  • Fees listed on the sheet: 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 $100 (if applicable), floodplain permit fee $60 (if applicable).

  building permit fee: 200 USD · improvement location permit fee: 190 USD · septic permit fee: 25 USD

  “site plan - $60.00 septic permit – $25.00 access permit - $20.00 improvement location permit - $190 building permit - $200”

• Permit processPublished

  New-home permit sequence for Van Buren township (unincorporated Shelby County)

  • The published sequence runs: buildable lot verification, soil samples, site plan approval, septic permit, access permit, building-side permits, inspections, site development inspection, and final certificate of occupancy.
  • Site plans go to the plan commission site plan committee, which meets Thursdays, with submittals due by 12:00pm Tuesday.

  “permits will not be issued until each member of the site plan committee has approved the site plan.”

Still unanswered

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

• Local zoning — Whether Van Buren township itself adopts and administers a zoning ordinance
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size for a new home in unincorporated Shelby County, including Van Buren township
• Lot coverage — Lot coverage limits in unincorporated Shelby County, including Van Buren township
• Building height — Maximum building height in unincorporated Shelby County, including Van Buren township
• Camping on your land — Camping on private land in Van Buren 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.