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

Rules another office applies inside Chester Township

Chester 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 homes and other new structures on land inside Chester township, Wells County, Indiana (unincorporated; outside Bluffton city limits), where the Wells County Area Plan Commission issues the improvement location permit

  • The county improvement location permit covers all of Wells County including the City of Bluffton; a second city of Bluffton building permit applies only within Bluffton.
  • Permit is for homes, commercial structures, industrial structures, public structures, towers, wind turbines, signs, decks, porches, sheds, barns, silos, grain bins, detached garages, pools, dog kennels, pavilions, gazebos and additions to these.
  • Reroofing, residing, painting, interior remodels, sidewalks, driveways and similar repairs do not need the permit; fences, parking lots and temporary structures may need additional approvals.
  • A septic permit must be issued before the area plan commission building permit (see septic_permit claim).
  • Construction may proceed after the permit is issued, so status is conditional.

  “what do you need a permit for? homes, commercial structures, industrial structures, public structures, towers, wind turbines, signs, decks, porches, sheds, barns, silos, grain bins, detached garages, above or below ground pools, dog kennels, pavilions, gazebos, the addition to any of these, and any other similar structures.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  County zoning districts (including agriculture-residential A-R and agriculture-intensive A-1) on land in Chester township, Wells County, Indiana; district mapped for Chester parcels not confirmed

  • Zoning maps are on the county GIS website; the ordinance states the Zoning Ordinance is effective April 14, 2026.
  • Ordinance text quoted is the 2023 compilation updated 2024, not the April 2026 version.
  • Chester township is unincorporated; municipal zoning in Bluffton, Ossian or Markle does not apply.

  “zoning maps are available on the wells county gis website. www.wellscountygis.org”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Onsite sewage (septic) systems for new homes and repairs inside Chester township, Wells County, Indiana, administered by the Wells County Health Department

  • Application starts with a site evaluation by a registered soil scientist and a $25.00 site evaluation administration fee.
  • Health department issues a minimum requirement letter, then the septic permit.
  • Health department is listed at 223 W. Washington Street, Bluffton, IN 46714; phone 260-824-6489.

  “how do i get my septic permit? wells county health department environmental health specialist 223 west washington street, bluffton, in 46714”

• Septic permitRequired

  New septic systems and system repairs for homes inside Chester township, Wells County, Indiana

  • Septic permit must be issued before any construction of the residence or system begins.
  • Septic permit is required to obtain the area plan commission building permit.
  • Separation distances include 50 feet from residential wells and ponds, 5 feet from lot lines, 10 feet from buildings, pools, foundations, roads and slabs, and 75 feet from a legal drain.
  • Construction may proceed after the permit is issued, so status is conditional.

  “construction of any kind may not begin until the septic permit is issued.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Septic system installation inspections for homes inside Chester township, Wells County, Indiana

  • Health department must be notified before any component is installed and when the system is ready for inspection.
  • Inspections occur at completion of each component, at completion of the entire system, and at final cover.
  • Permittee or owner must request the final inspection; the installer may notify as the owner's agent.

  “the health department must be notified before any component of the system is installed and when it is ready for inspection.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land divisions on unincorporated land in Chester township, Wells County, Indiana

  • Plat committee handles ponds, minor subdivisions, additions and combines; the area plan commission handles major subdivision approvals.
  • Governed by the Wells County Subdivision Control Ordinance.
  • Subdivision steps are conditional on approval.

  “the wells county plat committee holds hearing on ponds, minor subdivisions, additions, and combines.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Area plan commission permit and petition fees for property in Chester township, Wells County, Indiana

  • The fee schedule is linked from the area plan commission page; the amounts were not opened.
  • Payment accepted by cash, personal check, certified check, money order, or credit/debit card; checks payable to Wells County APC.
  • Septic site-evaluation fee of $25.00 is separate (health department).

  “wells county area plan commission fee schedule online permitting step #1 wells county improvement location permit for all of wells county, including city of bluffton.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption from permits or inspections for work inside Chester township, Wells County, Indiana
• Building code adopted — Building code adoption for construction inside Chester township, Wells County, Indiana
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes inside Chester township, Wells County, Indiana
• Local zoning — Whether Chester township, Wells County, Indiana adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance for land inside its limits
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in the agriculture districts (A-R, A-1) that cover Chester township land, if mapped there

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.