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

Rules another office applies inside Ohio Township

Ohio 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 on unincorporated land inside Ohio township (Spencer County building permit, issued through the county plan commission and building inspector)

  • Required for new construction costing more than $2,000 and for alterations, remodeling or repair costing more than $5,000, per the county page.
  • Construction must start within 90 days of the permit being issued.
  • Incorporated municipalities inside Ohio township are not covered by this county permit.

  new construction cost threshold above which a building permit is required: > 2000 USD · alteration, remodeling or repair cost threshold above which a building permit is required: > 5000 USD

  “you should obtain a building permit before beginning any new construction of a building or structure the cost of which exceeds $2,000; or beginning any alteration, remodeling or repair of any building or structure the cost of which exceeds $5,000.00;”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts of the Spencer County zoning map for unincorporated land inside Ohio township

  • Districts listed on the page include agriculture (A), R-1 and R-2 residential, and business districts B-1, B-2 and B-3; the page text was truncated in the research pass, so districts after B-3 were not read.
  • Dimensional standards per district were not located on the opened page.

  “(a) agriculture --- the areas zoned agricultural be preserved for agricultural uses, which uses include, but are not limited to, production of crops, animal husbandry”

• SetbacksSpecified

  New buildings on unincorporated land inside Ohio township, measured from state or county right-of-way lines

  • These are right-of-way setbacks from the county building-permit page; the district-by-district lot-line setbacks of the R-1 and agricultural districts were not located.
  • Setbacks from state highways and other rights-of-way are set by the controlling agency; driveway connections require contacting the highway agency.

  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 buildings on unincorporated land inside Ohio township

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

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Residential on-site sewage systems on land inside Ohio township, administered by the Spencer County Health Department under the state rule

  • The state rule 410 IAC 6-8.3 governs residential on-site systems; the county health department administers them.
  • Commercial systems are handled under a separate county application and state rule 410 IAC 6-10 per the county application form; not opened in this pass.

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

• Septic permitRequired

  New home construction on unincorporated land inside Ohio township that uses an on-site septic system

  • Building permit application requires a septic permit or sewer receipt, if required.
  • Permit application forms for private residential systems are listed on the county health department page; contents not opened.

  “septic permit or sewer receipt, if required”

• Driveway accessRequired

  New driveway connections serving new construction on unincorporated land inside Ohio township

  • Driveways off state highways require contacting the state highway department; driveways off county roads require contacting the county garage.
  • 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

  New structures on parcels in the floodplain on unincorporated land inside Ohio township

  • Applies only if the property is in the floodplain.
  • Elevation certificate required showing the structure at least 2 feet above the base flood elevation.
  • Floodplain map is listed on the county plan commission page; map 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 permit fees for unincorporated land inside Ohio township

  • Fees are figured when all information has been turned in to the plan commission; the county page gives a residential swimming pool fee of $60.00 and an electrical hook-up fee on liquid storage tanks of $60.00 but the full building permit fee table did not render in the research pass.
  • An improvement location permit fee is charged in addition to the building permit fee.

  residential swimming pool permanent and non-portable fee: 60 USD (full fee schedule not rendered)

  “the permit fees will be figured when all information has been turned in to the plan commission. residential swimming pool permanent and non-portable - $60.00”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building permit process for unincorporated land inside Ohio township

  • Permits may not be issued the same day; the page says the permit must be posted in an obvious location.
  • Permit does not expire while reasonable progress continues on the same structure; substantial changes may require a new permit.
  • Applicants must call the plan commission office before coming in: (812) 649-6010.

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

  “construction must start within 90 days of the permit being issued. the permit does not expire as long as you are making reasonable progress on the building”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for building in Ohio township
• Building code adopted — Building code adopted for construction inside Ohio township
• Inspections — Whether construction inside Ohio township must be inspected by the county building inspector
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes inside Ohio township
• Local zoning — Whether Ohio township itself adopts and administers a zoning ordinance for land inside its limits

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.