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

Rules another office applies inside Carter Township

Carter 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 construction in Spencer County administered by the Spencer County Plan Commission & Building Inspector; applies inside Carter township if the county issues permits there (not verified).

  • Permit required before beginning new construction costing more than $2,000.
  • Also required before beginning alteration, remodeling or repair costing more than $5,000, an inground swimming pool, electrical or plumbing or mechanical construction costing more than $750, HVAC installation, and underground storage tank work.
  • The page calls its information very general and says additional requirements may apply depending on location and use.
  • Construction may proceed after the permit is issued, so status is conditional.

  new construction permit threshold: > 2000 USD (alterations over $5,000 and electrical, plumbing or mechanical work over $750 have separate thresholds)

  “you should obtain a building permit before beginning any new construction of a building or structure the cost of which exceeds $2,000”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Spencer County zoning (zoning map and schedule of uses) administered by the Spencer County Plan Commission; applies inside Carter township only where no township zoning exists and the land is governed by county zoning (not verified for Carter township).

  • This is a county-level zoning rule, not a Carter township ordinance.
  • The county zoning definitions page does not state the boundary of the zoned area, so whether it covers Carter township land was not verified.
  • Carter township's own zoning status was not found on any official township page; see local-zoning-township-unknown.

  “definitions for spencer county zoning map (a) agriculture --- the areas zoned agricultural be preserved for agricultural uses”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Spencer County zoning districts (A, R-1, R-2, B-1, B-2, B-3, I-1, I-2) on the county zoning map, applicable inside Carter township only where county zoning applies (not verified).

  • Published definitions give district purposes; the R-1 district is single-family residential.
  • The official schedule of uses PDF lists permitted and special-exception uses by district; per-district permissions were not read.

  “(r-1) residential zone --- this area is preserved for the use of single family dwellings.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Building setbacks from state and county road right-of-way lines for construction in Spencer County administered by the county Plan Commission; applies inside Carter township if the county permit process applies there (not verified).

  • Setbacks are measured from state or county right-of-way lines.
  • Values are listed for secondary road (county road), primary road (blacktop, highway), arterial highway and local (residential) road.
  • The page says its information is very general and additional restrictions may apply.
  • The residential zone (R-1) and agricultural district setbacks from property lines are not stated on this page.

  setback from secondary road (county road) right-of-way: 60 feet · setback from primary road (blacktop, highway) right-of-way: 70 feet · setback from arterial highway right-of-way: 75 feet · setback from local (residential) road right-of-way: 30 feet

  “required setbacks from state or county right-of-way lines: secondary road (county road) 60' primary road (blacktop, highway) 70' arterial highway 75' local (residential) 30'”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Accessory buildings on lots in Spencer County under the county permit process; applies inside Carter township if county rules apply there (not verified).

    “accessory buildings must be at least 5' from the back property line, and 10' from the side property line.”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Onsite sewage disposal for new construction in Spencer County, run by the Spencer County Health Department; applies inside Carter township if within its service area (not verified).

  • Permits, consultations and inspections apply to new construction and replacement systems.
  • The health department's service area for Carter township was not verified on an official page.
  • Septic permit is listed as a requirement on the county building permit application, 'if required'.

  “permits, consultations and inspections are provided for new construction and replacement of onsite sewage disposal systems.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  New driveways in Spencer County; applies inside Carter township on county roads (state highways are handled by INDOT, not the county).

  • For a new driveway off a state highway, contact the state highway department in Tell City.
  • Show the driveway location and the road name on the site plan.

  “if constructing a new driveway off a county road, you must contact the county garage (812) 362-8331”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  New structures in a mapped floodplain in Spencer County; applies inside Carter township only where the parcel is in a mapped floodplain.

  • Elevation certificate required showing the new structure is at least 2 feet above the base flood elevation.
  • Applies only to properties in the floodplain; the floodplain map page was not opened.

  minimum elevation above base flood elevation: >= 2 feet

  “if the property is in the floodplain, you will need an elevation certificate showing the new structure will be at least 2' above the base flood elevation.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building permit application and posting process in Spencer County administered by the Plan Commission & Building Inspector; applies inside Carter township if the county permits there (not verified).

  • Application requires plans, contractor name and phone, septic permit or sewer receipt if required, recorded deed, site plan, estimated completion date and estimated cost.
  • Permit must be posted in an obvious location once issued.
  • Permit may not be available the same day as application.
  • Permit does not expire while reasonable progress is being made on the same structure.

  construction start deadline after permit issued: <= 90 days (permit does not expire while reasonable progress is being made)

  “construction must start within 90 days of the permit being issued.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption from permits in Carter township
• Building code adopted — Which building code applies to new construction in Carter township
• Inspections — Building inspections for new construction in Carter township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes in Carter township
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in R-1 or agricultural districts in Carter 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.