Building permits, zoning and land rules in Putnam County, Ohio

A building permit is required for projects in Putnam County's zoned townships, and each township sets its specific application requirements⁵. Putnam County directs applicants inside corporation limits to their village and applicants outside corporation limits to their township¹. Ohio has statewide residential and nonresidential building codes, but the local enforcement authority varies^1,8. Published building-permit fees also vary by township, so confirm the current amount and inspection process with the village or township before ordering materials⁹. An owner-builder working where a certified building department has jurisdiction must submit plans and wait for approval before starting covered work⁷.

Putnam County has no single building counter identified for every residential parcel; the village handles property inside corporation limits and the township handles property outside them¹. The Putnam County Planning Commission enforces subdivision and floodplain regulations and assists local zoning officials¹⁰. Call the Planning Commission at 419-523-8758 or visit 245 East Main Street, Ottawa, Ohio 45875⁶. A driveway installed from a county road requires a County Engineer permit⁵. State-highway access goes to ODOT, county-road access goes to the County Engineer and township-road access goes to township trustees⁶. Call the County Engineer's Office at 419-523-6931 for county-road access⁶.

Putnam County does not administer zoning itself; zoning is handled at the village or township level². The county reports that 12 of its 15 townships are zoned; township zoning inspectors handle setbacks, minimum acreage and other local standards where zoning applies⁵. Village officials handle zoning inside village limits⁶. Most townships require at least 1 acre, Jackson and Van Buren require 2 acres, and septic needs can increase the required lot size⁵. Ottawa Township's A-1 and R-1 districts generally use a 1-acre minimum, increasing to 2 acres for an A-1 lot with a pond⁹. Because the county materials do not identify every unzoned township consistently, ask the applicable township to confirm the parcel's zoning status, district, allowed use, setbacks and minimum lot size⁵.

Start a rural home project with the Putnam County Health Department when the site will not connect to municipal water or sewer³. No individual or contractor may install or alter a sewage system without a permit; connecting to an existing system and replacing a septic tank count as alterations³. The published 2025 fees are $500 for a sewage-treatment-system permit and $425 for a private-water-system permit⁵. Septic systems are evaluated once during each 5-year permit cycle, although a pumping report may be accepted instead¹¹. Site work deserves early attention because 0% of mapped county soils are rated without severe limitations for a conventional drain field¹². Drinking-water systems, including new wells, an existing well connected to a new dwelling and ponds, require a Health Department permit⁴. Call Environmental Health at 419.523.5608 or visit 256 Williamstown Rd, Ottawa, OH 45875³.

We could not confirm a countywide rule allowing or prohibiting full-time RV living or tiny-home occupancy on private land in Putnam County. Because zoning varies by village and township, ask the local zoning official how the proposed unit is classified and whether residential occupancy, utilities, setbacks or a principal dwelling are required⁶. Palmer Township's published materials prohibit mobile homes, trailers and trailer coaches, so a movable tiny home or RV should not be assumed legal there⁹. A qualifying permanently sited manufactured home is permitted wherever a political subdivision permits single-family homes, although uniformly applicable single-family zoning requirements may still apply¹³.

1. Confirm whether the parcel is inside village limits or in a township, then ask that local office about zoning, the building permit, inspections and fees^1,5.

1. Ask the Putnam County Planning Commission about subdivision and floodplain review; lot splits of 5 acres or fewer go through the commission^2,6.

1. Submit the sewage-treatment and private-water applications and required documents to the Health Department⁹.

1. Obtain the Health Department permits before requesting the applicable township building permit⁹.

1. Get driveway approval from ODOT, the County Engineer or township trustees according to who controls the road⁶.

1. If a plat is required, allow for the county guide's stated 10-day Planning Commission signature process before recording it¹⁴.

First identify the village or township because building permits, zoning rules, lot standards and fees depend on that jurisdiction^1,5,9. Make the offer contingent on a satisfactory septic site evaluation because 0% of mapped county soils are rated without severe limitations for a conventional drain field¹². Check floodplain status with the Planning Commission for unincorporated land and with village officials inside village limits⁶. Confirm driveway approval with the authority controlling the road; a county-road driveway requires the County Engineer's permit⁵. Send lot splits of 5 acres or fewer through the Planning Commission². The nearest city of 100,000 or more is about 49 miles from the county center¹². The typical farmland value is $8,403 per acre and the median annual property-tax bill is $1,870, but parcel prices and tax bills vary¹².