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

Rules another office applies inside Washington Township

Washington 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

  Building permits for construction in Washington township (unincorporated Shelby County)

  • Electrical-only projects submit the Electrical Permit Application; a site plan and health department approval is not required for them.
  • In-person applications: site plan first, Health Department approval, then the Courthouse Annex for the permit; permits generally issued the same business day.
  • Card payments carry a 4% transaction fee; cash or check preferred.

  “visit the shelby county courthouse annex (25 w. polk st., room 201) to fill out an application, submit the prepared site plan, and to obtain permit(s).”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  New buildings in Washington township (unincorporated Shelby County), enforced by the Shelby County Building Inspector

  • The county page describes the department's duty to ensure compliance with the state code; it does not separately list the code edition.

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

• Zoning districtsPartial

  Zoning districts for land in unincorporated Shelby County, which includes Washington township, under the county Unified Development Ordinance

  • The FAQ names districts A1, A2, RE, R1, VR, VM and IS; the full district list and purposes in UDO Article 2 were not extracted.
  • The county GIS map is the source for each parcel's district.

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

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Accessory-structure setbacks in zoning district R1 (single-family residential) in unincorporated Shelby County, including Washington township (principal-building setbacks not extracted)

  • Front setback is 35 feet and not in front yard, per the FAQ table.
  • The FAQ says 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).
  • Source is the Plan Commission FAQ table for accessory structures, not the UDO text.

  front setback: 35 feet (and not in front yard) · side setback: 5 feet · rear setback: 5 feet

  “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”

  2 more reviewed findings on this topic

  • District specific (with conditions) — Accessory-structure setbacks in zoning district A1 in unincorporated Shelby County, including Washington township (principal-building setbacks not extracted)

    “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”

  • District specific (with conditions) — Accessory-structure setbacks in zoning district A2 in unincorporated Shelby County, including Washington township (principal-building setbacks not extracted)

    “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”

• Living in an RVProhibited

  Occupying an RV on private land in Washington township (unincorporated Shelby County)

  • Occupancy is allowed only in RV and mobile home parks.
  • The Board of Zoning Appeals may grant a variance for temporary occupancy in cases of hardship.
  • This is Plan Commission FAQ guidance; the UDO text was not read.

  “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 in Washington township (unincorporated Shelby County)

  • Occupancy is allowed only in mobile home parks.
  • The Board of Zoning Appeals may grant a variance for temporary occupancy in cases of hardship.
  • This is Plan Commission FAQ guidance; the UDO text was not read.

  “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

  Detached secondary dwelling or attached mother-in-law quarters on private land in Washington township (unincorporated Shelby County)

  • Allowed only with a variance from the Shelby County Board of Zoning Appeals; the Board typically grants a variance for temporary occupancy in cases of hardship.
  • The Plan Commission 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.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Land grading or construction in designated flood hazard areas in Washington township (unincorporated Shelby County)

  • Floodway development also requires a permit from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Water (per the FAQ).
  • Applies to designated flood hazard areas; the county points to the Indiana floodplain information portal for maps.

  “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 processPublished (with conditions)

  In-person building permit process for work in Washington township (unincorporated Shelby County)

  • Steps: site plan, Health Department approval, then Courthouse Annex application and permit.
  • Electronic submission is encouraged; the page says applications may be submitted in person or electronically.

  “prepare a site plan showing: general layout of property (include lot size) location of existing home on the site location of proposed structure including setbacks from all property lines and distance from septic system and well.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for a home in Washington township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes in Washington township
• Local zoning — Whether Washington township adopts its own zoning for land inside its limits
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in Washington township
• Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size for a new house in Washington 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.