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

Rules another office applies inside Pleasant Township

Pleasant 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

  Structures, improvements and uses of land inside Pleasant township (unincorporated Switzerland County) under the county improvement location permit

  • Improvement location permit issued by the county executive director; may include building permit authorization by the county building commissioner
  • Site plan or development plan must be filed with the application
  • Application not approved until the use meets county health officer sewage and water standards
  • Certificate of occupancy required before occupancy
  • Work must start within the time limit in § 153.080(r)

  “within the jurisdiction of the county area plan commission, no structure, improvement, or use of land may be altered, changed, placed, erected, or located on platted or unplatted lands, unless the structure, improvement, or use, and its location conform with the comprehensive plan the county, the town of vevay and the town of patriot, and this chapter and an improvement location permit for such structure, improvement, or use has been obtained from the executive director by the owner(s) of the property or his or her agent.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Pleasant township, which lies in unincorporated Switzerland County and is covered by the Switzerland County area zoning code administered by the county area plan commission (not a township-adopted ordinance)

  • No zoning ordinance adopted by Pleasant township itself was found; this is county zoning applying in the township
  • Zoning districts include A-1, A-2, FR, R-1, R-2 and others per § 153.005
  • Zone map dated 1996 as amended governs district boundaries

  “the area of jurisdiction of the county area planning commission includes all of the territory within the county, in accordance with the provisions of the state area planning law.”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Onsite septic systems inside Pleasant township, permitted by the Switzerland County Health Department

  • Application, permit fee and soil report from a certified soil scientist are required
  • Design by licensed installer is reviewed and inspected by the health department, with final inspection before use

  “a permit from the department of health is required to install, replace, or repair a septic system in switzerland county.”

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.