Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Otter Creek Township, Indiana

Rules another office applies inside Otter Creek Township

Otter Creek Township does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Otter Creek township that lies in the unincorporated area of Vigo County. This is the county's Unified Zoning Ordinance, not an ordinance adopted by Otter Creek township.

  • The ordinance's effective date for the unincorporated areas of Vigo County is November 22, 1996.
  • The Area Plan Commission of Vigo County administers it for unincorporated areas.
  • Land within the corporate boundaries of Terre Haute, Riley, Seelyville or West Terre Haute is governed by the ordinance's incorporated-area provisions instead; whether any part of Otter Creek township is incorporated was not verified.
  • No Otter Creek township zoning ordinance was found, and the township has not been shown to adopt its own zoning.

  “the area plan commission of vigo county shall be the duly authorized plan commission for the incorporated areas of the city of terre haute, the town of riley, the town of seelyville and the town of west terre haute, and the unincorporated areas of vigo county pursuant to the area planning law of the indiana code.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Land in unincorporated Vigo County, including unincorporated Otter Creek township, under the county Unified Zoning Ordinance.

  • Districts include A-1 (agriculture and rural residential), R-S, R-1, R-2, R-2M, R-3, R-3H and R-T, among others.
  • District maps are part of the official zoning maps (Section 3.02); the maps were not opened.

  “the territory within the jurisdiction of the commission is hereby classified and divided into the following districts: symbol district name a-1 agriculture and rural residential district”

• Minimum dwelling sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Dwellings in the single-family residential suburban district (R-S) in unincorporated Vigo County, including any such parcels in unincorporated Otter Creek township.

  • Floor area is measured exclusive of garage, carports and open porches.
  • Applies only to the R-S district. The R-1, R-2 and A-1 district standards were not captured.

  minimum main floor area, one story building: >= 900 sq ft (exclusive of garage, carports and open porches) · minimum main floor area, greater than one story: >= 400 sq ft (total floor area must be at least 900 sq. ft.)

  “h. minimum main floor area - exclusive of garage, carports and open porches: 1.one story building - 900 sq. ft. 2. greater than one story - 400 sq. ft., provided that the total floor area shall be at least 900 sq. ft.”

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Parcels in the single-family residential suburban district (R-S) in unincorporated Vigo County, including any such parcels in unincorporated Otter Creek township.

  • Minimum lot area may be increased depending on soil conditions and requirements of the Vigo County Health Department.
  • Applies only to the R-S district. The R-1, R-2 and A-1 district standards were not captured.

  minimum lot area with sewers: >= 20000 sq ft (may be increased depending on soil conditions and requirements of the vigo county health department) · minimum lot area without sewers: >= 20000 sq ft (may be increased depending on soil conditions and requirements of the vigo county health department)

  “c. minimum lot area 1.with sewers - 20,000 sq. ft. 2.without sewers - 20,000 sq. ft., provided, however, minimum lot area may be increased depending on soil conditions and requirements of the vigo county health department.”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Parcels in the single-family residential suburban district (R-S) in unincorporated Vigo County, including any such parcels in unincorporated Otter Creek township.

  • Front setbacks are measured from the street right-of-way by street class.
  • Rear and side setbacks are measured from the property line.
  • Applies only to the R-S district. The R-1, R-2 and A-1 district standards were not captured.

  front yard setback, minor or local street: >= 25 ft (from street right-of-way) · front yard setback, sub collector street: >= 30 ft (from street right-of-way) · front yard setback, collector street: >= 40 ft (from street right-of-way) · front yard setback, arterial street: >= 60 ft (from street right-of-way) · rear setback, principal use building: >= 25 ft · rear setback, accessory use building: >= 10 ft · side setback, principal use building: >= 5 ft · side setback, accessory use building: >= 5 ft

  “f. minimum rear yard and setback - shall be provided from the property line as follows: 1. principal use building - 25, 2. accessory use building - 10, g. minimum side yard and setback - shall be provided from the property line as follows: 1. principal use building – 5’ 2. accessory use building – 5’”

• Lot coverageDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Parcels in the single-family residential suburban district (R-S) in unincorporated Vigo County, including any such parcels in unincorporated Otter Creek township.

  • Applies only to the R-S district. The R-1, R-2 and A-1 district standards were not captured.

  maximum coverage by principal building: <= 30 % · minimum vegetative cover: >= 40 %

  “i. lot coverage. 1.maximum coverage by principal building – 30% 2.minimum vegetative cover – 40%”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Mobile homes in the single-family residential suburban district (R-S) in unincorporated Vigo County, including any such parcels in unincorporated Otter Creek township.

  • Mobile home is a special exception use in R-S, subject to the provisions of Section 18 (special exception regulations).
  • Permitted-use status in R-1, R-2, A-1 and other districts was not captured.

  “special exception uses (subject to the provisions of section 18). bed & breakfast child care home that is not used as the primary residence of the person who operates the child care home golfcourse group home mobile home public pool utility substation”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  New single-family development in unincorporated Vigo County, including unincorporated Otter Creek township, under the county ordinance's R-1 and R-S district purpose statements.

  • R-S: public water and sewer facilities should be present under most circumstances but are not mandatory if they are more than 300 feet from the property line.
  • R-1: development requires sanitary sewer and/or public water facilities.
  • These are district purpose statements. The enforcing mechanism was not located, and no township-level connection rule was found.

  public water and sewer distance threshold, R-S: > 300 ft (public water and sewer facilities not mandatory beyond this distance)

  “under most circumstances, public water and sewer facilities should be present but are not mandatory if the facilities are more than threehundred (300) feet from the property line.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Construction permits for new homes inside Otter Creek township
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for a home built by the owner inside Otter Creek township
• Building code adopted — Residential building code applicable to new homes inside Otter Creek township
• Inspections — Building inspections for new homes inside Otter Creek township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes inside Otter Creek 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.