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

Rules another office applies inside Highland Township

Highland 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 home construction on unincorporated land inside Highland township (the county UDO covers all unincorporated land in Vermillion County); the county, not the township, issues the permit

  • A county building permit for a new home is issued by the zoning office after a septic permit is obtained from the health department and floor plans are submitted (zoning page, step 3).
  • The zoning-compliance permit under the UDO does not authorize building code compliance; building code review is separate.
  • Fee conflict: the zoning page gives $150.00 + $.15/sq ft, while the 2024 county guide gives $135. The zoning page is the newer figure and both are reported here.
  • Payment is cash or check only, per the zoning page.

  new home building permit fee: 150 USD (plus $.15 per square foot)

  “the building permit for a new home is $150.00 + $.15/sq ft.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Construction on unincorporated land inside Highland township

  • The opened text says the building code review is conducted by a building inspector. It does not state how many inspections are required or when they occur.
  • The building inspector review is separate from the zoning compliance permit.

  “the review for compliance with the building code is conducted by a building inspector and is a separate process from the zoning compliance permit.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts that apply to unincorporated land inside Highland township, set by the county UDO and zoning map

  • The UDO lists the districts (for example CO, A1, A2, RR, R1, R2, UR, M1, M2, IS, UC, GC) and a final county zoning map is linked from the zoning page.
  • Which district applies to a given parcel is not established by this claim; the county zoning map governs.

  “co, a1, a2, pr, rr, r1, r2, m1, m2, is, gc, hc, i1, i2, and hi”

• Minimum dwelling sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Dwelling in the A1 general agriculture district on unincorporated land inside Highland township

  • Applies to the A1 district only.

  minimum dwelling size: >= 1000 square feet

  “maximum lot coverage • 20% of lot area minimum dwelling size • 1,000 square feet”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • District specific (with conditions) — Single-family detached dwelling in the R1 single-family residential district on unincorporated land inside Highland township

    “maximum lot coverage • 30% of lot area minimum dwelling size • 1,000 square feet”

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  R1 single-family residential district lots on unincorporated land inside Highland township

  • Lot size is 14,520 square feet with public sanitary sewer and 21,780 square feet without it.
  • Minimum lot width is 80 feet with sanitary sewer and 100 feet without it.

  minimum lot area with sanitary sewer: >= 14520 square feet (21,780 square feet without sanitary sewer)

  “minimum lot area • ⅓ acre (14,520 sq ft) with sanitary sewer • ½ acre (21,780 sq ft) without sanitary sewer”

  2 more reviewed findings on this topic

  • District specific (with conditions) — A1 general agriculture district lots on unincorporated land inside Highland township

    “minimum lot area • 2 acres minimum lot width • 200 feet”

  • District specific (with conditions) — Rural residential (RR) district lots on unincorporated land inside Highland township

    “minimum lot area • 1 acre minimum lot width • 200 feet”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  A1 general agriculture district lots on unincorporated land inside Highland township

  minimum front yard setback: >= 50 feet · minimum side yard setback, primary structure: >= 30 feet (30 feet for accessory structure) · minimum rear yard setback, primary structure: >= 35 feet (10 feet for accessory structure)

  “minimum front yard setback • 50 feet minimum side yard setback • 30 feet for primary structure • 30 feet for accessory structure minimum rear yard setback • 35 feet for primary structure • 10 feet for accessory structure”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • District specific (with conditions) — R1 single-family residential district lots on unincorporated land inside Highland township

    “minimum front yard setback • 30 feet minimum side yard setback • 20 feet for primary structures • 10 feet for accessory structures minimum rear yard setback • 25 feet for primary and accessory structures”

• Lot coverageDistrict specific (with conditions)

  A1 general agriculture district lots on unincorporated land inside Highland township

  maximum lot coverage: <= 20 percent of lot area

  “maximum lot coverage • 20% of lot area minimum dwelling size • 1,000 square feet”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • District specific (with conditions) — R1 single-family residential district lots on unincorporated land inside Highland township

    “maximum lot coverage • 30% of lot area minimum dwelling size • 1,000 square feet”

• Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Primary structure in the A1 general agriculture district on unincorporated land inside Highland township

  • Only the A1 primary-structure height was captured; the R1 height limit was not in the extracted text and remains unverified.

  maximum structure height, primary structure: <= 45 feet (accessory structure height also listed in the district table)

  “maximum structure height • 45 feet for primary structure • 45 feet for accessory structure • 2 ½ stories for primary structures”

• Living in an RVProhibited

  Use of a recreational vehicle as a dwelling on unincorporated land inside Highland township

  • Applies as a definition; the UDO separately permits temporary RV use on A1 land (TU-04).
  • Does not restrict RV use that is not as a dwelling unit.

  “a recreational vehicle (rv), boat, tent, camper, shipping container, detached garage, or shed shall not be considered a dwelling unit.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Limited — Recreational vehicle used as temporary accessory dwelling on A1 general agriculture land inside Highland township

    “a recreational vehicle (rv) may be used for up to six (6) months per calendar year on a lot without a primary structure, or up to thirty (30) days per calendar year on a lot with a permanent single-family dwelling unit, but shall meet the following standards.”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Temporary RV camping on A1 land inside Highland township

  • Up to six months per calendar year on a lot without a primary structure; up to thirty days per calendar year with a permanent single-family dwelling.
  • Other camping rules (campgrounds, RV parks) were not opened; the UDO defines an RV park as commercially zoned.

  “a recreational vehicle (rv) may be used for up to six (6) months per calendar year on a lot without a primary structure, or up to thirty (30) days per calendar year on a lot with a permanent single-family dwelling unit, but shall meet the following standards.”

• Manufactured homesAllowed (with conditions)

  Manufactured home used as a dwelling on unincorporated land inside Highland township

  • The dwelling must conform to the requirements of its district and to all building codes.
  • A dwelling must be used exclusively for residential occupancy.
  • Mobile home dwellings must be at least eight feet wide and built on a permanent foundation or tied down with perimeter skirting when connected to utilities; trailer homes under the UDO definition do not qualify.
  • Minimum dwelling sizes in the district apply (see minimum_dwelling_size claims).

  “conforming to all requirements applicable to the district in which it is located, all building codes, and that is used exclusively for residential occupancy, including single-family attached dwelling units, single-family detached dwelling unit, duplexes, manufactured home dwelling, and multiple-family dwelling units”

• Accessory dwellingsLimited

  Accessory dwellings on unincorporated land inside Highland township

  • A permitted accessory building may not be used for human occupancy.
  • Temporary RV accessory dwellings are allowed only on A1 land under TU-04.
  • No permanent accessory dwelling unit allowance was found in the opened text; the parking standards mention accessory dwelling units only when permitted.

  “a permitted accessory building shall not be used for human occupancy.”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  On-site septic systems for homes inside Highland township (unincorporated Vermillion County), handled by the Vermillion County health department

  • The septic permit is issued by the county health department based on the number of bedrooms.
  • Soil test is required first; the county guide lists a private soil test at about $400.00 (non-county contractor).

  “they will issue you your septic permit ($75.00) based on the number of bedrooms.”

• Septic permitRequired

  New septic system for a new home inside Highland township

  • The septic permit is required before the county zoning building permit is issued (zoning page step 3).
  • The permit fee is set by bedroom count.

  septic permit fee: 75 USD (based on the number of bedrooms)

  “they will issue you your septic permit ($75.00) based on the number of bedrooms.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Dwellings on unincorporated land inside Highland township

  • A dwelling unit must have a sanitary waste disposal system from a public sewer or a permitted, properly functioning septic system (or other on-site system approved by the health department).
  • An RV is not a dwelling unit, so an RV cannot serve as a dwelling without a sanitary connection.
  • Public sewer connection rules (300 feet) apply where a sewer line is nearby.

  “a dwelling unit shall have a sanitary waste disposal system, either provided by a public sanitary sewer system or with a permitted and properly functioning septic system (or other on-site waste treatment system approved by the health department).”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  New primary structure on a lot inside Highland township, when a gravity sewer or water main is nearby

  • Sewer: a new primary structure must connect to a gravity sewer line within 300 feet of the lot.
  • Water: a private well is not permitted if the lot is within 300 feet of a water main; the new primary structure must connect to the public water supply.
  • Where public sewer or water is not available, on-site sewer and private wells are permitted (district text, e.g. R1 and RR).

  distance to gravity sewer or water main that triggers connection: <= 300 feet (applies to gravity sewer and water main; pressurized sewer connection is required only for certain uses)

  “if the subject lot is located within 300 feet of a gravity sewer line, any new primary structure located on the subject lot shall connect to that sewer.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land division on unincorporated land inside Highland township, handled by the Vermillion County Area Plan Commission

  • Major subdivisions require a primary plat before the Area Plan Commission.
  • For a minor subdivision, no building permit is issued until proof of recording of the final plat is submitted.

  “a major subdivision primary plat allows the area plan commission the opportunity to review the details of a subdivision of land to determine compliance with the provisions of this unified development ordinance.”

• Driveway accessLimited

  Driveway curb cuts on unincorporated land inside Highland township

  • No driveway within 50 feet of an intersection in unincorporated areas (30 feet in incorporated areas).
  • Driveways in unincorporated areas may use crushed limestone or compactible gravel.
  • Driveways onto a state road or highway need an on-site turnaround.

  minimum distance from intersection: >= 50 feet (unincorporated areas)

  “under no circumstances shall a driveway be allowed within thirty (30) feet of any intersection in incorporated areas or within fifty (50) feet in unincorporated areas.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  New home construction permit process on unincorporated land inside Highland township

  • Step 1: soil test (private contractor). Step 2: septic permit from county health department. Step 3: building permit at the county zoning office with floor plans.
  • The building permit is issued the same day when paperwork is in order (zoning page).

  “step 3: bring your septic permit and paper work from the health department along with a set of floor plans to the zoning office”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for a home inside Highland township
• Building code adopted — Which building code applies to new construction inside Highland township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for a new home inside Highland township
• Local zoning — Whether Highland township itself adopts and administers a zoning ordinance
• Tiny homes — Tiny home occupancy inside Highland 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.