Bolthole Index

Licking County, Ohio

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

Union Township in Licking County, Ohio runs its own zoning, under a code adopted April 6, 20261. Building permits come from the Licking County Building Code Department, which asks for a township zoning certificate first2; we could not confirm that county coverage reaches Union Township, so ask before you plan. Septic permits come from the Licking County Health Department3.

At a glance

Zoning
Yes. Union Township adopted its own zoning code on April 6, 20261
Building permit
Issued by the Licking County Building Code Department where it has jurisdiction; Union Township coverage not confirmed45
Septic
Installation and operating permits from the Licking County Health Department3
Minimum lot size
10 acres in Agriculture (A); 3 acres in Preservation Residential (PR)67
RV living
Prohibited in the PR District; other districts not confirmed8
Well permit
Licking County Health Department permit for county private water systems9
Property tax
Licking County effective rate about 1.3%10

Who to call

Planning & zoning

Union Township Zoning Department

Township zoning questions, residential zoning permit applications, variances, map amendments and lot splits

740-929-3111

Building permits

Licking County Building Code Department

Building permits and construction-document review in the Licking County Building Code Department's jurisdiction

740.349.6671

675 Price Road, Newark, OH 43055

Septic permits

Licking County Health Department (Sewage Treatment Program)

Household sewage treatment system permits and inspections, and private water system permits

(740) 349-6535

675 Price Road, Newark, OH 43055

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 24, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Union Township means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Does Union Township, Ohio have zoning, and what does it mean for lot size and setbacks?

Yes. Union Township, Licking County, has a zoning code that applies within the township's unincorporated boundaries, adopted April 6, 2026 and effective May 7, 20261. The township, not Licking County, enforces it11. Rules differ by district, so find your parcel's district before you buy.

In the Agriculture (A) District, the minimum lot size is 10 acres6, with setbacks of 50 feet front, 25 feet side and 50 feet rear12 and a 35-foot height limit13. In the Preservation Residential (PR) District, the minimum lot is 3 acres7, with setbacks of 50 feet front, 20 feet side and 50 feet rear14 and lot coverage capped at 35 percent15.

We could not confirm a minimum dwelling size or a tiny-home rule for Union Township; ask the Union Township Zoning Department16.

Do you need a building permit in Union Township, Ohio, and who issues it?

Licking County's Building Code Department issues building permits for new dwellings and additions in its jurisdiction17. The department says it covers the majority of Licking County18, but we could not confirm that it covers Union Township, so call2 before you assume.

Whatever the answer, the township's zoning comes first: the county asks for a zoning certificate from the local zoning inspector before it will review a project2. Union Township takes residential zoning permit applications, variances and lot splits through its Zoning Department19.

Ohio's owner-builder rule lets an owner build where a certified building department has jurisdiction, but plans must be submitted and approved before work starts20. Farm buildings incident to agricultural use do not need a township zoning certificate, subject to Ohio Revised Code 519.2121.

How do septic permits work in Union Township, Ohio?

The Licking County Health Department issues septic permits for Union Township. A sewage system installation permit and an operating permit must both be obtained before installation3. The installer must call for an inspection before backfilling, and the department follows up on new systems 12 months after completion22.

Soils matter. Not all lots can take an on-lot system, because flood plains, saturated soils and steep slopes can make a design impossible or impractical23. Across Licking County, only about 3.6% of soils rate as not limited for a conventional drain field24, so expect a site evaluation and possibly an engineered system. The Health Department advises evaluating a lot early, before you buy or build25.

Private wells need a Health Department permit before installation9.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on your land in Union Township, Ohio?

In the Preservation Residential (PR) District, no. Union Township's code bars using a recreational vehicle for living, sleeping, housekeeping, business or storage there8. Parking an RV in PR is allowed only under separate size, location, surface and one-RV-per-dwelling conditions8.

We could not confirm a rule for RVs in the Agriculture District, for temporary camping on private land, or for tiny homes. Ohio's campground rules cover licensed campgrounds, not a private lot26. Ask the Union Township Zoning Department about your district in writing before you move an RV onto land16.

Building a home in Union Township, Ohio: the steps, in order

  1. Find your parcel's zoning district and confirm lot size, setbacks and frontage with the Union Township Zoning Department16.
  2. Ask the Licking County Health Department to evaluate the site for a septic system before closing25.
  3. If the lot is a split from a larger parcel, ask about a lot split with the township19 and check the county's subdivision rules for unincorporated areas27.
  4. Apply for the township residential zoning permit19.
  5. Take the zoning certificate to the Licking County Building Code Department with two complete sets of construction plans4.
  6. Get septic installation and operating permits, then schedule the pre-backfill inspection22.
  7. Obtain the building official's approval before moving in28.

What stays with Licking County, and what should you check before buying in Union Township?

Licking County keeps septic and well permits through the Health Department29 and runs the building code department17. County subdivision rules apply to land divisions in unincorporated areas27.

If your lot lies in a floodplain designated by the county, the township code points owners to the Flood Damage Prevention Regulations for Licking County30. Short-term rentals in residential districts are a conditional use needing a township permit31.

County-wide figures, not township figures: Licking County's effective property tax rate is about 1.3%10 and farmland averages $8,946 per acre32. For land outside Union Township, see the Licking County page.

Watch-outs

  • Union Township's zoning code took effect May 7, 20261, and the township says application forms will change19; confirm current forms with the Zoning Department.
  • We could not confirm whether the Licking County Building Code Department or another office handles building permits and inspections inside Union Township; call 740.349.6671 before you rely on either answer2.
  • We could not confirm township zoning permit fees, driveway permit rules or the road authority for a new driveway; ask the Zoning Department16 and the county.
  • Several Ohio townships share the name Union; make sure your parcel is in Union Township, Licking County1.

Sources

  1. Union Township, Licking County, Ohio Zoning Code, as adopted April 6, 2026 (Union Township), quoted and re-checked
  2. Licking County Building Code Department (lickingcounty.gov)
  3. Licking County Health Department Sewage Treatment Program (Union Township), quoted and re-checked
  4. Building Code, quoted and re-checked
  5. Licking County - Building Code (2026 county census)
  6. Union Township, Licking County, Ohio Zoning Code, as adopted April 6, 2026 (Union Township), quoted and re-checked
  7. Union Township, Licking County, Ohio Zoning Code, as adopted April 6, 2026 (Union Township), quoted and re-checked
  8. Union Township, Licking County, Ohio Zoning Code, as adopted April 6, 2026 (Union Township), quoted and re-checked
  9. lickingcohealth.org, quoted and re-checked
  10. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  11. Township & Zoning Info, quoted and re-checked
  12. Union Township, Licking County, Ohio Zoning Code, as adopted April 6, 2026 (Union Township), quoted and re-checked
  13. Union Township, Licking County, Ohio Zoning Code, as adopted April 6, 2026 (Union Township), quoted and re-checked
  14. Union Township, Licking County, Ohio Zoning Code, as adopted April 6, 2026 (Union Township), quoted and re-checked
  15. Union Township, Licking County, Ohio Zoning Code, as adopted April 6, 2026 (Union Township), quoted and re-checked
  16. Union Township Zoning Department (uniontownship-licking.com)
  17. Summary of residential work that does or does not require approval, quoted and re-checked
  18. Building Code, quoted and re-checked
  19. Zoning Department | Licking County | Union Township (Union Township), quoted and re-checked
  20. Section 3791.04 | Submission of plan - approvals - prohibition - fine (2026 county census)
  21. Union Township, Licking County, Ohio Zoning Code, as adopted April 6, 2026 (Union Township), quoted and re-checked
  22. Licking County Health Department Sewage Treatment Program (Union Township), quoted and re-checked
  23. Licking County Health Department Sewage Treatment Program (Union Township), quoted and re-checked
  24. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
  25. Licking County Health Department (Sewage Treatment Program) (lickingcohealth.org)
  26. Rule 3701-26-04 | Campground requirements (Ohio statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  27. Licking County Subdivision Regulations, quoted and re-checked
  28. Ohio Residential Code, Section 111, quoted and re-checked
  29. Sewage Treatment Program, quoted and re-checked
  30. Union Township, Licking County, Ohio Zoning Code, as adopted April 6, 2026 (Union Township), quoted and re-checked
  31. Union Township, Licking County, Ohio Zoning Code, as adopted April 6, 2026 (Union Township), quoted and re-checked
  32. Farmland value per acre (USDA census): Bolthole Index county data

Written October 24, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Union Township

Union Township’s own rules

  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land within the legal, unincorporated boundaries of Union Township, Licking County, Ohio.

    • The township page states that the zoning resolution was adopted April 6, 2026 and effective May 7, 2026.
    “This Code shall be in full force and effect within the legal, unincorporated boundaries of Union Township, Licking County, Ohio.”
  • Agricultural exemptionAvailable

    Agricultural land use and buildings or structures incident to agricultural use in Union Township.

    • The exemption is subject to the exceptions in Ohio Revised Code 519.21 and the zoning code.
    • The code separately permits township regulation of agricultural uses in qualifying platted subdivisions or qualifying 15-or-more-lot areas.
    “Except as otherwise provided below and ORC 519.21, nothing contained herein shall prohibit the use of any land for agricultural purposes or the construction or use of buildings or structures incident to the use for agricultural purposes of the land on which such buildings or structures are located, and no zoning certificate shall be required for any such use, building or structure.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Development requiring a plat in Union Township, particularly in the Gateway Corridor Overlay.

    • No zoning certificate may issue for a structure in a Gateway Corridor Overlay portion requiring a plat until the applicable authority has approved the plat and it has been recorded with the Licking County Recorder.
    • The approval and recording must comply with the approved development plan and the Licking County Subdivision Regulations.
    “No zoning certificate shall be issued for any structure in any portion of the GCO for which a plat is required until such plat for that portion has been approved by the applicable platting authorities and recorded with the Licking County Recorder in accordance with the approved Development Plan and the Subdivision Regulations of Licking County, Ohio.”
  • Building in a floodplainLimited

    Lots in Union Township located in floodplain areas designated by Licking County.

    • The owner should consult and follow the Flood Damage Prevention Regulations for Licking County, Ohio.
    • The reviewed provision does not itself identify a permit issuer or a permit requirement.
    “In the scenario that the Lot is located within the Floodplain as designated by the County, the Owner should consult with and follow the procedures listed within the Flood Damage Prevention Regulations for Licking County, Ohio.”
  • Permit processPartial

    Township zoning permit, variance, map-amendment, and lot-split submissions inside Union Township.

    • The township indicates that application changes are anticipated but the submittal process will remain unchanged.
    • The page links residential zoning-permit, variance, map-amendment, and lot-split forms.
    “While changes to our applications are expected in the near future, the submittal process itself will remain unchanged.”

Rules another office applies inside Union Township

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

  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    Agriculture (A) District inside Union Township.

    • The cited table also sets a maximum density of one dwelling unit per 10 acres and a minimum frontage of 300 feet.

    minimum lot size: >= 10 acres

    “Development Standards Agriculture Minimum Lot Size (Acres) 10”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • SetbacksSpecified

    Agriculture (A) District inside Union Township.

    • Certain enumerated ancillary structures may be within a required side or rear setback but no closer than 10 feet from a side or rear lot line.
    • Listed architectural features may project up to 2 feet into a required setback.

    minimum front setback: >= 50 feet · minimum side setback: >= 25 feet · minimum rear setback: >= 50 feet

    “Minimum Front Setback (Feet) 50 Maximum Front Setback (Feet) N/A Minimum Side Setback (Feet) 25 Minimum Rear Setback (Feet) 50”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    Preservation Residential (PR) District inside Union Township.

    maximum lot coverage: <= 35 percent

    “Minimum Rear Setback (Feet) 50 Maximum Height (Feet) 35 Maximum Lot Coverage (Percent) 35”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Building heightSpecified

    Agriculture (A) District inside Union Township.

    maximum building height: <= 35 feet

    “Minimum Rear Setback (Feet) 50 Maximum Height (Feet) 35 Maximum Lot Coverage (Percent) N/A”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Living in an RVProhibited

    Use of a recreational vehicle for living, sleeping, housekeeping, business, or storage in the Preservation Residential (PR) District inside Union Township.

    • The cited prohibition is specific to the PR District; parking is separately allowed only under the listed dimensional, location, surface, and one-RV-per-dwelling conditions.
    “In no case, shall a Recreational Vehicle, or any motor vehicle be utilized for living, sleeping, housekeeping, business, or storage purposes.”
  • Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

    Household and small-flow sewage treatment systems inside Union Township, within Licking County Health Department service territory.

    • The system must be installed only after both an installation permit and operating permit are obtained from the Health Department.
    “It’s estimated there are around 30,000 individual household and small commercial sewage treatment systems in Licking County. Under the new state rules, the Health Department is required to enroll all of these systems into a program, verifying proper operation and maintenance.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Installation of a household or small-flow sewage treatment system inside Union Township.

    • Both a sewage-system installation permit and operating permit must be obtained from the Health Department before installation.
    • Lot feasibility depends on site-specific soil characteristics, seasonal water table or bedrock depth, slope, soil texture, and permeability.
    “A sewage system installation permit and operating permit must be obtained from the Health Department prior to installation.”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    New, altered, and replacement household sewage systems inside Union Township.

    • The installer must schedule an inspection before backfilling.
    • LCHD follows up on all new installations 12 months after completion.
    • Off-lot discharging and drip-irrigation systems require annual operation-and-maintenance inspections; soil-absorption systems require inspection every five years.

    follow-up inspection timing: 12 months after completion (All new system installations.) · operation and maintenance inspection interval: per 1 year (Off-lot discharging and drip-irrigation systems.) · operation and maintenance inspection interval: per 5 years (Soil-absorption systems.)

    “The installer must call to schedule an inspection prior to backfilling the system. LCHD performs a follow-up inspection on all new system installations 12 months after the system is completed to evaluate system performance and provide homeowner education.”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    On-lot household sewage treatment systems serving land inside Union Township.

    • An installation permit and operating permit must be obtained before installation.
    • Some lots cannot be developed with an on-lot sewage treatment system because of flood plains, saturated soils, excessive slopes, or other site factors.
    “Not all lots can be developed and served by an on-lot sewage treatment system. Limiting factors like flood plains, saturated soils, excessive slopes can make system design impossible or impractical.”
  • Short-term rentalsLimited

    Short-term rentals in residential districts inside Union Township.

    • A Township permit application or renewal is required with the fee stated in the separately adopted fee schedule.
    • The BZA must determine that Article V conditional-use criteria and the specific short-term-rental criteria are satisfied.
    • The rental must be within a principal or accessory dwelling unit; an accessory structure may not exceed 1,000 square feet.
    • Only one short-term rental is allowed per dwelling unit on a parcel.

    maximum accessory structure size for short-term rental: <= 1000 square feet · maximum short-term rentals: 1 short-term rental per dwelling unit on a parcel

    “Short-Term Rentals are considered Conditional Uses in Residential Districts.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Building permit — Residential building work inside Union Township.
  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-performed residential construction inside Union Township.
  • Building code adopted — Building-code adoption for residential construction inside Union Township.
  • Inspections — Building inspections for construction inside Union Township.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of completed buildings inside Union Township.
7 more unanswered
  • Minimum dwelling size
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Driveway access
  • Permit fees

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.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Union Township publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Licking County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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