Zoning, building permits and septic rules in New Garden Township, Indiana

Rules another office applies inside New Garden Township

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

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Septic systems for homes inside New Garden township, handled by the Wayne County Health Department (a county health department service area, not a township rule)

  • The Wayne County Health Department applies Indiana rule 410 IAC 6-8.3 and the county requirements; the health department is at 100 S. 5th Street, Richmond, IN.
  • The guide covers Wayne County generally; it does not state a township-specific exception for New Garden township.

  “if all requirements of the permitting process are met and fees have been paid, then a permit for the on-site sewage disposal system will be issued.”

• Septic permitRequired

  New home construction or system replacement with an on-site septic system inside New Garden township, under the Wayne County Health Department

  • A soil evaluation by a certified and registered soil scientist is required first; the health department then issues a technical data sheet and letter of requirement.
  • A detailed system design must be approved by the health department before a permit issues.
  • The permit is valid for one year; changes to an approved design need written approval from the health department.

  permit validity: 1 year

  “if all requirements of the permitting process are met and fees have been paid, then a permit for the on-site sewage disposal system will be issued.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Septic systems installed for homes inside New Garden township, under the Wayne County Health Department

  • Before the design is approved, every system component must be laid out on site (residential sewer line, tank inlets and outlets, D-box, trench ends and middles, SAF corners, perimeter drain outlet).
  • Before work starts on a permitted system, an on-site meeting with the health department must be scheduled.

  “prior to the design being approved, all components of the system must be laid out onsite.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision of unincorporated land inside New Garden township, approved by the Wayne County plan commission or plat committee

  • Applies to unincorporated lands under the county plan commission's jurisdiction; incorporated towns are excluded.
  • Plat and replat approval, secondary approval certificates and the minimum lot width, depth and area standards are set in the county subdivision chapter (chapter 155); those standards were not extracted.

  “the county plan commission or plat committee have exclusive control over the approval of plats and replats, of subdivisions involving unincorporated lands in the county, under its jurisdiction.”

• Permit processPartial

  Septic permit process for new homes and system replacements inside New Garden township, through the Wayne County Health Department. Building permit process is not covered.

  • Steps: soil evaluation by a certified soil scientist, online application submitted and reviewed, technical data sheet and letter of requirement, system design review, and permit issuance.
  • A perimeter drain outlet must be identified before a permit issues where a perimeter drain is required.

  “an application, available online at www.co.wayne.in.us, must be submitted, before a review of a soil evaluation will be conducted.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Building permit for new residential construction inside New Garden township
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption from permits for a home built by the owner inside New Garden township
• Building code adopted — Building code used for new homes inside New Garden township
• Inspections — Building inspections for new residential construction inside New Garden township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for a new home inside New Garden 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.