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

Rules another office applies inside Huff Township

Huff 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 jurisdiction, including land inside Huff township outside any municipality that issues its own permits

  • Permit is required before new construction whose cost exceeds $2,000.
  • Permit is required before alterations, remodeling or repair costing more than $5,000.00, before an inground swimming pool, and before electrical, plumbing or mechanical work over $750.00.
  • Construction must start within 90 days of the permit being issued.
  • Septic permit or sewer receipt, if required, and floodplain items are also required for the application; see related claims.

  new construction permit threshold: > 2000 USD · alteration/repair permit threshold: > 5000 USD · electrical/plumbing/mechanical permit threshold: > 750 USD

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

• InspectionsRequired

  Permitted construction in Spencer County jurisdiction, including land inside Huff township outside any municipality that inspects its own work

  • Inspection is required at footings, underground plumbing, framing, rough-in electrical, rough-in plumbing, rough-in heating and air conditioning, gas meter, and final electrical inspection.
  • Notice to the inspector should be given 24 hours in advance where possible.

  “notify the building inspector at each step if applicable. please give 24hr notice if possible.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Huff township under the Spencer County zoning map administered by the Spencer County Area Plan Commission (county zoning, not a Huff township ordinance)

  • The county page shows a Spencer County zoning map with agricultural, residential, business and industrial zones; it does not itself state the Huff township boundary or that the land is unincorporated.
  • Land inside an incorporated town or city follows that municipality's plan commission instead; Huff township's municipal status was not verified.
  • No Huff township zoning ordinance was found in the pages opened.

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

• Zoning districtsPartial

  County zoning districts that apply to land inside Huff township under the Spencer County zoning map

  • The page lists district definitions (A, R-1, R-2, B-1, B-2, B-3, I-1, I-2) but the schedule of uses table did not render in the captured text.
  • The page does not give numeric dimensional standards.

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

• SetbacksSpecified

  Building setbacks from state or county road right-of-way lines for construction in Spencer County jurisdiction, including land inside Huff township

  • Setbacks are measured from state or county right-of-way lines; the page lists these figures and does not say whether they vary by district.
  • Driveways off a county road also require contact with the county garage.

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

  “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 building setbacks for construction in Spencer County jurisdiction, including land inside Huff township

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

• Driveway accessRequired

  New driveways off a county road serving land inside Huff township

  • A new driveway off a state highway requires contact with the state highway department in Tell City.
  • The driveway location and road name or number must be shown 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

  Construction on land in the floodplain inside Huff township

  • Floodplain properties need an elevation certificate showing the structure will be at least 2 feet above the base flood elevation.
  • A county floodplain map is listed on the Plan Commission site but was not opened.

  minimum elevation above base flood elevation: >= 2 ft

  “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 feesVariable (with conditions)

  Building and improvement location permit fees for construction inside Huff township

  • Fees are figured after all information is submitted to the plan commission.
  • An improvement location permit fee applies in addition to the building permit fee.
  • Fee schedule examples are published on the page (for example, a residential swimming pool at $60.00); the full schedule was not shown.

  residential swimming pool permit fee: 60 USD (other fees are figured when the application is submitted)

  “the permit fees will be figured when all information has been turned in to the plan commission”

• Permit processPartial

  Building permit application process for construction inside Huff township

  • Application requires building 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; construction must start within 90 days of issue.
  • Building permits may not be available the same day the application is submitted.
  • Floodplain properties need an elevation certificate; occupancy by employees or the public needs an Indiana Department of Homeland Security design release.

  “to apply for a building permit you will need the following items”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption from permit or contractor rules inside Huff township
• Building code adopted — Building code adopted for construction inside Huff township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes inside Huff township
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside Huff township
• Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size in the county R-1 single-family district and the agricultural district inside Huff 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.