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

Village of Bolivar’s own rules

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Use of new or changed structures, buildings or land in Bolivar village (zoning certificate of compliance, not a building-code certificate)

  • Not required for change of ownership or tenancy only without change in use
  • Zoning inspector approves within 30 days of accepting application
  • Certificate expires if work not 50% complete within one year

  review period: <= 30 days

  “if the work has not been more than fifty percent (50%) completed within one (1) years of issuance, the certificate shall expire and be revoked by the zoning inspector.”

• Local zoningPresent

  All land inside Bolivar village (Tuscarawas County) limits

  • Code posted is dated as of 3/2/2020; later amendments (e.g., 2023 new official zoning map ordinance) not reviewed

  “this zoning code is adopted under the provisions of o.r.c. chapters 713.06 to 713.15, as may be amended.”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Bolivar village zoning districts (R-1, R-2, T/MH, B/C, I/M)

  • Official zoning map replaced by 2023 ordinance; map not reviewed

  “the medium density residential district (r-2) is provided for areas of bolivar that have a moderate residential density”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Single-family dwellings in the R-1 low density residential district, Bolivar village

  • Excludes breezeways, porches, terraces and garages
  • R-1 also requires full basement, on-site built home and attached garage

  minimum gross ground floor area: >= 1600 sq ft

  “no single-family dwelling located in an r-1 district shall be erected with less than sixteen hundred (1,600) square feet of gross ground floor area, exclusive of breezeways, porches, terraces, and garages.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Single-family dwellings in the R-2 medium density residential district, Bolivar village

    “if the dwelling does not have a basement, then the dwelling shall not be less than fourteen hundred (1,400) square feet; and shall be not less than twenty (20) feet in width or depth, whichever is the smaller dimension.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  R-2 medium density residential district, Bolivar village

  • Special requirements for duplex or multi-family dwellings (Section XX)
  • Minimum lot width 60 feet for single-family

  minimum lot area: >= 7200 sq ft

  “1. minimum lot area. seven thousand two hundred 7,200 square feet. special requirements exist for a duplex or multi-family dwelling. see section xx for more details. 2. minimum lot width. a. sixty (60) feet for a single-family residence.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — R-1 low density residential district, Bolivar village

    “1. minimum lot area. ten thousand eight hundred ninety (10,890) square feet”

• SetbacksSpecified

  R-1 low density residential district, Bolivar village (R-2 has same front/side/rear figures)

  • Corner lots: same setback from all street lines as front yard, never less than 20 feet
  • Setback lines measured from overhang of structure (Section XX)

  front yard: >= 30 ft · side yard: >= 10 ft · rear yard: >= 15 ft

  “5. minimum rear yard. fifteen (15) feet as measured from the rear property line.”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  R-1 low density residential district, Bolivar village (R-2 also 35%)

  maximum lot coverage by structure: <= 35 percent

  “6. maximum lot coverage. no lot shall be covered more than thirty-five percent (35%) by the structure.”

• Building heightSpecified

  Principal structures in R-1 district, Bolivar village (R-2 also 35 ft)

  maximum height of principal structure: <= 35 ft

  “7. maximum height of principal structure is thirty-five (35) feet.”

• Living in an RVLimited

  RVs and camping vehicles on residential lots in Bolivar village

  • Must be stored in an enclosed building; may be parked up to 24 hours for loading/unloading
  • Temporary residence in trailer coach allowed up to nine months while a dwelling is being built, with separate zoning certificate (R-1/R-2)

  temporary residence during construction: <= 9 months

  “no recreational or camping vehicle or equipment shall be parked or stored on any lot in a residential district except in an enclosed building. however, such vehicle may be parked anywhere on a residential premises for a time period not to exceed 24 hours during loading or unloading of the vehicle. no such vehicle shall be used for living, sleeping, or housekeeping purposes when parked or stored on a residential lot.”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Tent residence in R-1 (R-2 same) districts and village parks, Bolivar village

  • Overnight camping on village park property not permitted

  “2. camping. overnight camping on park property shall not be permitted.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Mobile and manufactured homes in Bolivar village

  • R-1 and R-2 require on-site built homes; trailer coach/mobile home allowed only as temporary residence up to nine months during construction

  “the trailer park, mobile home, and manufactured home district (t/mh) is the only district in bolivar where trailer parks, mobile homes, and manufactured homes are permitted.”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  Duplex and multi-family dwellings in Bolivar village (single-family connection rule not found)

  • Rule found only for duplex/multi-family properties

  “2. all duplex or other multi-family dwelling properties located within the village shall be required to establish sanitary sewer and water services.”

• Permit processPartial

  Zoning certificate applications in Bolivar village

  • Covers zoning certificates only; building permit process not found
  • Planning commission hearing may be required; decision within 30 days of hearing

  zoning inspector review: <= 30 days

  “within thirty (30) days after acceptance of an application for a zoning certificate, the zoning inspector shall approve a certificate of zoning compliance provided he/she is satisfied”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Building permits in Bolivar village
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption in Bolivar village
• Building code adopted — Building code in Bolivar village
• Inspections — Building inspections in Bolivar village
• Tiny homes — Tiny homes in Bolivar 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.