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

Rules another office applies inside Richland Township

Richland 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 Richland township, Steuben County, permitted by the county building department.

  • Construction requires the other county letters and permits listed on the same page (driveway, septic or well or letter of non-objection, ditch encroachment release, improvement location permit, and waste district consent where applicable) before the building permit.
  • Requirements for towns that issue their own building permits were not applied to this claim.

  “in order to obtain a building permit in steuben county, you will need to get the following letters/permits.”

• Local zoningVaries (with conditions)

  Unincorporated Steuben County, including unincorporated land inside Richland township. This county-level conclusion aggregates township and municipal zoning and does not show that Richland township itself adopted zoning.

  • The Steuben County Plan Commission controls development in unincorporated Steuben County through the county zoning ordinance, effective 8/1/2008.
  • Angola, Fremont, Orland, Hamilton, Ashley-Hudson and Clear Lake have their own plan commissions and are outside this county claim.
  • Richland township's own zoning status is recorded in a separate claim and was not established.

  “guided by the comprehensive plan, the plan commission controls the type, location, and timing of development in unincorporated steuben county.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts of the Steuben County Zoning Ordinance for unincorporated land in Richland township.

  • Index lists agricultural and environmental control, residential, manufactured home, business, and industrial district chapters.
  • Applies only where the county plan commission has zoning control (unincorporated areas).

  “03 agricultural and environmental control districts document seq 1.00 04 residential districts document seq 2.00”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Onsite sewage (septic) systems on land inside Richland township, which is within Steuben County and served by the county health department.

  • The Steuben County Health Department performs septic permitting and inspection for the county; state rules that the county applies were not opened within the research budget.

  “the steuben county health department is committed to providing environmental health awareness through inspections, permits, investigations, and regulatory enforcement of onsite sewage systems.”

• Septic permitRequired

  New or replacement onsite sewage systems on land inside Richland township, permitted by the Steuben County Health Department.

  • The building permit checklist says a septic permit is needed 'if needed', or a letter of non-objection may be obtained from the health department instead.
  • All septic installers in Steuben County must be certified by the Indiana Onsite Wastewater Professionals Association.
  • Permits are valid for 1 year from issue date and are not transferable or refundable.
  • Appointments and applications go through the health department at (260) 668-1000 ext. 1500.

  onsite sewage system permit cost: 60 USD (per permit)

  “onsite sewage system permit cost: $ 60.00 per permit permit is valid for 1 year from issue date.”

• Well permitRequired

  Residential water wells on land inside Richland township, Steuben County.

  • The building permit checklist says a well permit is needed 'if needed'.
  • Permit is valid for 1 year from issue date and is not transferable or refundable.

  residential water well permit cost: 40 USD (per permit)

  “residential water well cost: $40.00 per permit permit is valid for 1 year from issue date.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land divisions in unincorporated Richland township under the Steuben County subdivision control ordinance.

  • The Subdivision Control Ordinance is listed on the plan commission zoning page but its text was not opened; thresholds for exemption were not established.

  “the steuben county plan commission is responsible for the steuben county comprehensive plan, and its implementation through the county zoning ordinance, the subdivision control ordinance, and various policies and practices.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Driveway access for a new home on land inside Richland township, Steuben County.

  • Permit comes from the state or county highway department depending on the road; the county highway office is at 1900 N 200 W, Angola, (260) 668-1000 ext 3600, and the state office at Fox Lake Rd, Angola, (260) 665-9506.

  “1. you will need a driveway permit application from the state or county highway department.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building permit process for construction on unincorporated land inside Richland township, Steuben County.

  • Contact the office listed in item 5 for permitted uses or zoning restrictions before starting.
  • Step list: driveway permit (state or county highway); waste district consent where applicable; septic or well permit or letter of non-objection (health); ditch encroachment release (surveyor); improvement location permit (plan commission); building permit (building department).

  “before starting this process, contact your local or county office listed below in #5 for permitted uses or zoning restrictions.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for residential construction inside Richland township, Steuben County.
• Building code adopted — Building code adoption for land inside Richland township, Steuben County.
• Inspections — Building inspections for construction inside Richland township, Steuben County.
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy certificates for new buildings inside Richland township, Steuben County.
• Minimum dwelling size — Residential districts (Section 04) of the Steuben County Zoning Ordinance as applied to unincorporated land in Richland 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.