Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Village of Somerset, Ohio

Village of Somerset’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent

  All land inside Somerset village, Perry County, Ohio

  • Ordinance is administered by a village zoning administrator appointed by council, with a planning commission and board of zoning appeals
  • Historic-district parcels also need a certificate of appropriateness

  “this ordinance shall be enforced by the village of somerset zoning administrator, who shall be appointed by the village council.”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning districts inside Somerset village

  • Eight districts: S-1, A-1, R-1, R-2, R-3, B-1, B-2, M-1
  • District map is part of the ordinance and on the village website

  number of districts: 8

  “for the purpose of this ordinance, the village of somerset is hereby divided into eight (8) categories of zoning districts”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Mobile homes inside Somerset village

  • Only in a mobile home park in R-2 or R-3
  • Park needs at least 4 acres, municipal water, collective sanitary sewer, 4,500 sq ft lots, 45 ft lot width, lot coverage not over 35%
  • Council must approve the site before a zoning certificate issues

  minimum park size: >= 4 acres

  “no mobile home, trailer or similar portable residence structures shall be permitted to locate in the village except in a mobile home park in an r-2 or r-3 residence district.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning certificates inside Somerset village (zoning only; not the building code permit)

  • Plot plan required; drainage plan if impervious surface rises 10% or more; parking plan when adding parking; dimensioned plans for new habitable structures; survey if structure or fence is within 5 feet of the property line
  • Historic-district parcels need a certificate of appropriateness first
  • Mobile home parks and commercial/industrial projects need village council site approval

  “it shall be unlawful for an owner to use or to permit the use of any structure, building or land, or part thereof, hereafter created, erected, changed, converted or enlarged wholly or partly, until a zoning certificate shall have been issued by the zoning inspector.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Village of Somerset or Perry County directly.

• Building permit — Building (not zoning) permits inside Somerset village
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside Somerset village
• Building code adopted — Building code inside Somerset village
• Inspections — Building inspections inside Somerset village
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy inside Somerset village

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.