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

Rules another office applies inside Washington Township

Washington 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

  Construction on land inside Washington township (Wayne County, IN) that is unincorporated Wayne County territory, not inside an incorporated town or city

  • Permit triggers listed by the source: all new detached structures; any alteration, addition or repair over $1,000.00 in cost; moving a building or structure; construction of a swimming pool; installation of a modular, manufactured or mobile home.
  • Exceptions stated by the source: agriculture use structures on five acres or more in the A-1 agricultural district or A-2 agricultural big-lot district; fences; industrialized building systems or mobile structures; and private home, residential room addition or accessory structure built or altered by the homeowner for their own occupancy or use, in which case other permits may be required and a notice of intent to build must be approved prior to construction.
  • Electrical permits must be obtained before any electrical wiring work; plumbing permits must be obtained before plumbing work when cost exceeds $1,000.00 or when it is part of a larger building project such as a new home or room addition.
  • The source addresses unincorporated areas only; any incorporated town or city inside Washington township is not covered by this claim.

  alteration, addition or repair cost threshold: > 1000 USD (stated as exceed $1,000.00 in cost)

  “the building code requires those in the unincorporated areas of wayne county to obtain a building permit prior to the construction of all new detached structures; any alteration, addition or repair to a structure that exceed $1,000.00 in cost; the moving of any building or structure; the construction of a swimming pool and the installation of a modular, manufactured or mobile home.”

• Owner-builder exemptionConditional

  Homeowner-built private homes and residential accessory structures in unincorporated Wayne County land inside Washington township

  • Exemption from the standard permit list applies to a private home, residential room addition or accessory structure built or altered by the homeowner for their own occupancy or use.
  • Other permits may be required, and a notice of intent to build must be approved before construction.
  • Homeowner plumbing work requires a plumbing permit and inspections as required by the ordinance.

  “any private home, residential room addition or accessory structure that is built or altered by the homeowner for their own occupancy or use, in which case other permits may be required and a notice of intent to build must be approved prior to construction.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Building construction in unincorporated Wayne County land inside Washington township

  • Source says the county building code (Chapter 58) enforces the Indiana Fire Prevention and Building Safety Commission rules listed in Title 675 of the Indiana Administrative Code: building code, one- and two-family dwelling code, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, energy conservation and swimming pool codes.
  • Source says the current permit fee schedule was adopted May 1, 2002 and supersedes earlier fee schedules.

  “the current one in use, chapter 58: wayne county building code was adopted april 1, 1998.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Building projects in unincorporated Wayne County land inside Washington township (not incorporated towns or cities)

  • Source lists footing, foundation, under-slab, framing and final inspections, which must be performed in the listed order and approved before the next inspection.
  • Final inspection occurs at project completion, prior to using or occupying the structure.
  • Failure to comply may result in a stop work order; fines are described as a last resort.

  “specific inspections are required for most building projects. they must be performed in the order listed and the work must be approved before commencing to the next inspection”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  On-site sewage (septic) systems on land inside Washington township (Wayne County, IN); the Wayne County Health Department reviews, approves and permits them

  • Health department page describes new construction, replacement and repair systems.
  • Soil evaluation by a certified soil scientist is required first; the health department issues the technical data sheet and letter of requirement.
  • Source does not state the township boundary; the claim relies on the health department operating countywide.

  “if at any time there are to be changes to the design of the approved system, an approval in writing must be issued by the health department.”

• Septic permitRequired

  New, replacement and repair on-site sewage systems on land inside Washington township (Wayne County, IN)

  • Permit issued only after permitting requirements are met and fees are paid.
  • Permit valid for one year; design changes need written health department approval.
  • Soil evaluation report valid for two years; a registered soil scientist must confirm no site alterations after two years.
  • Prior on-site meeting with the health department is required before work on the permitted system.
  • Perimeter drain outlet must be identified before permit issuance; an easement is needed if the outlet is off the property.

  new construction septic permit fee: 400 USD (per source fee list) · replacement septic permit fee: 300 USD (per source fee list) · repair septic permit fee: 100 USD (per source fee list)

  “cost: new construction permit- $400 replacement permit- $300 repair permit- $100”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Permitted on-site sewage systems on land inside Washington township (Wayne County, IN)

  • Layout of all system components on site must be approved before design approval.
  • A prior on-site meeting with the health department is required before work begins.
  • All installers must be registered with the Wayne County Health Department.

  “prior inspection- before work is to be performed on the permitted system, an onsite meeting must be scheduled with the health department.”

• Agricultural exemptionConditional

  Agriculture use structures in unincorporated Wayne County land inside Washington township, only in A-1 or A-2 districts

  • Applies only to agriculture use structures on five acres or more in the A-1 agricultural district or the A-2 agricultural big-lot district.
  • This is a building-permit exception; it does not establish an agricultural exemption from zoning, which the source does not address.

  minimum parcel size for agricultural structure exception: >= 5 acres (A-1 or A-2 district only)

  “the exceptions would be any agriculture use structure on five acres or more in the a-1 agricultural district or the a-2 agricultural big-lot district;”

• Permit processPartial

  Building permit process in unincorporated Wayne County land inside Washington township

  • Building Commission office: 401 East Main Street, Richmond, IN; open Monday to Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. except holidays; [email protected].
  • Permits are valid for one year from issue date and may be extended, renewed or replaced at reduced cost.
  • The page does not publish a full step-by-step application procedure; it covers inspections and validity only.

  “all permits are valid for one year from issue date with an opportunity to extend, renew or replace the permit at a reduced cost.”

Still unanswered

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

• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new construction inside Washington township (Wayne County, IN)
• Local zoning — Whether Washington township (Wayne County, IN) adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance
• Zoning districts — Zoning districts applying inside Washington township (Wayne County, IN)
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside Washington township (Wayne County, IN)
• Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size for main single-family residential and agricultural districts inside Washington township (Wayne County, IN)

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.