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

Village of Bellville’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land within Bellville village.

  • The ordinance provides for zoning permits, conditional zoning permits, and variances.

  “An ordinance imposing comprehensive regulations upon the use of land within the village”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Corporate limits of Bellville village.

  • The listed use districts regulate land and structures under Chapter 155.

  “the corporate limits of the village are hereby divided into the following use districts:”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Permitted dwelling uses in Bellville's R-1 Residential District.

  • Lots served by EPA-approved municipal or private sewer systems serving more than one lot require 90-foot width, 130-foot length, 11,700 square feet, and 90-foot width at setback.
  • Without an EPA-approved municipal or private sewer system, the lot must obtain on-site-system approval under current Richland Public Health Department rules and meet the stated 100-foot width, 130-foot length, one-acre, and 100-foot setback-width minima.
  • Pre-January 1, 1987 R-1 lots have a 60-foot required width and no minimum length; changed dimensions trigger the new-construction requirements.

  minimum lot area without qualifying sewer: >= 43560 square feet (Also must obtain approval for an on-site system under current Richland Public Health Department rules and regulations.)

  “Total square feet: 11,700 square feet. [...] Total square feet: 43,560 (one acre).”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Specified R-1 Residential District dwelling uses inside Bellville village.

  • Accessory-building setbacks are governed by § 155.294.
  • Corner lots must meet the district minimum setbacks along both public streets.

  front setback: >= 30 feet (Measured from street right-of-way.) · side setback: >= 6 feet (Measured from side property line.) · rear setback: >= 40 feet (Measured from rear property line.)

  “Front: 30 feet from street right of way. Side: six feet from side property line. Rear: 40 feet from rear property line.”

• Building heightSpecified

  Specified R-1 Residential District dwelling uses inside Bellville village.

  • Steeples, chimneys, aerials, and other appurtenances are excepted.

  maximum building height: <= 35 feet (Or two stories above ground level; steeples, chimneys, aerials, and other appurtenances are excepted.)

  “shall not exceed more than 35 feet in height or two stories [...] except for a steeple, chimney, aerial or other appurtenances.”

• Living in an RVLimited

  House-trailer residential occupancy inside Bellville village following accidental destruction or damage to a dwelling.

  • The owner may reside in the trailer only while the damaged dwelling unit is being rebuilt.
  • Occupancy may not exceed one year.

  maximum temporary occupancy: <= 1 year (Only after accidental destruction or damage to the owner's dwelling unit and while it is being rebuilt.)

  “the owner thereof may for a period of time, not to exceed one year, reside in a house trailer upon the premises”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  Water or sewer connections associated with a zoning permit, conditional zoning permit, or site-plan approval inside Bellville village.

  • A zoning permit, conditional zoning permit, or site-plan approval does not guarantee municipal water or sewer availability.
  • Connections must comply with village ordinances and rules.

  “All connections to water and sewer systems shall be in accordance with the ordinances and rules of this village.”

• Permit processPartial

  Zoning approvals inside Bellville village.

  • The published zoning ordinance provides for zoning permits, conditional zoning permits, and variances.

  “providing for zoning permits, conditional zoning permits and variances”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Residential construction inside Bellville village.
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residences inside Bellville village.
• Building code adopted — Building construction inside Bellville village.
• Inspections — Building work inside Bellville village.
• Certificate of occupancy — New or altered buildings inside Bellville 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.

Off-grid gear

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

• Water Crystal Quest Filter any source — well, rain, or creek — to drinking-clean.
• Power Bluetti Solar generators and home battery backup for living off the grid.
• Septic Soil percolation test kit Run your own perc test before paying an engineer — the first thing a septic office asks about.
• Water Well water test kit Bacteria, nitrates, hardness — know what the well on a parcel is really pumping.

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