Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Newbury Township, Ohio

Newbury Township’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Newbury Township, Geauga County, Ohio.

  • The Township's zoning activities include creation, amendment, interpretation, and enforcement of its Zoning Resolution.
  • Any structure with a roof requires a zoning permit application, including garages, houses, pole barns including agricultural structures, and storage buildings.
  • Covered and uncovered decks and porches require a Zoning Certificate and a Building Permit.

  “Zoning activities include the creation, amendment, interpretation, and enforcement of the Newbury Township Zoning Resolution.”

Rules another office applies inside Newbury Township

Newbury 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 inside Newbury Township, a Geauga County township.

  • The County Planning Commission's information sheet relates to townships only and states that all four identified county and township approvals are required for construction.
  • The owner is ultimately responsible for ensuring all required approvals are obtained before construction begins and that the work complies with the permit.
  • The Township will not issue a Zoning Certificate until the sewage permit and, when applicable, Geauga Soil and Water Conservation District approval are obtained.
  • The Building Department generally requires the other approvals before issuing a Building Permit, but may issue its permit when its requirements are met; this does not relieve the applicant of the other approvals.
  • Residential accessory structures under 200 square feet are excluded from permits; detached residential decks under 200 square feet and under 30 inches above finished grade are also excluded.

  “The Building Permit, issued by the Geauga County Building Department, is approval for how the building or structure must be physically constructed.”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  Household sewage treatment systems serving homes inside Newbury Township, Geauga County, Ohio.

  • The County's township new-home guidance says household sewage treatment systems and private water wells require Geauga Public Health review and approval under Ohio Department of Health regulations.
  • A lot evaluation is required to determine feasibility of installing a septic system.
  • The applicant must hire a soil scientist and a septic designer to prepare the soil report, calculations, and plans; system capacity is based on the proposed home's number of bedrooms.
  • Where public sanitary sewer is provided, the County owns the system and the Geauga County Department of Water Resources operates and maintains it; construction plans must be submitted to the County Sanitary Engineer for review and approval before a sewer permit issues.
  • Some subdivisions maintain private sewer or water systems not affiliated with the County, and municipalities maintain their own infrastructure.

  “Homes located within the townships of Geauga County are primarily served by household sewage treatment systems, AKA a "septic system" and private water wells, both of which require review and approval by Geauga Public Health ("GPH") based upon regulations adopted by the Ohio Department of Health.”

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.