Bolthole Index

Warren County, Ohio

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Massie Township, Ohio

Massie Township, in Warren County, has township zoning, and covered residential work requires building approval under Ohio's residential code.12 The Warren County Health District issues permits for onsite septic systems and private drinking-water systems.34

At a glance

Building permit
Required for new homes and other listed residential work2
Zoning
Administered by Massie Township in the unincorporated area1
Septic
Installation and operating permits required through the county health district5
Private well
Health-district permit required before installation or alteration4
R1 home size
At least 1,200 square feet of qualifying living space6
R1 lot size
At least 87,120 square feet with 200 feet of width7
RV living
Not confirmed; ask the township zoning office before relying on it8

Who to call

Zoning

Massie Township Zoning Department

Massie Township zoning permits, zoning questions, appeals and local district rules

937-608-0508

Building permits

Warren County Building & Zoning Department

Building permit applications, residential plan review and inspections

513-695-1290

406 Justice Drive Lebanon, OH 45036

Online permits →

Septic permits

Warren County Health District - Environmental Health

Onsite sewage-treatment and private-water-system permits and inspections

513-695-1220

416 S. East St. Lebanon, OH 45036

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 9, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

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Do you need a building permit in Massie Township, Ohio?

Yes. New one-, two-, and three-family homes in Massie Township require building permits, as do listed projects such as additions, remodeling, decks, detached structures, electrical installations, swimming pools, fireplaces, demolition, structural changes and changes of use.2 Ohio's residential code also requires an owner or authorized agent to obtain approval from the certified residential building department before covered construction, alteration, repair, movement or occupancy changes begin.9

Covered work is inspected, and the owner or representative must notify the building department when the work is ready and leave it accessible for inspection.10 A new residential building, or a covered addition or alteration, cannot be occupied until the residential building official issues a certificate of occupancy or completion.11 The Warren County Building & Zoning Department publishes the residential plan-submittal instructions and can be reached at 513-695-1290.12

Who issues building permits for Massie Township?

The Warren County Building & Zoning Department handles the building-permit application, residential plan review and inspections described for Massie Township.2 Submit plan files through the county's online citizen portal; approved construction plans must remain at the job site for inspections.12 The office is at 406 Justice Drive, Lebanon, OH 45036, and its building line is 513-695-1290.12

A building permit does not replace township zoning approval. Massie Township separately requires a zoning permit before a structure is erected, moved, added to or structurally altered, or before a building, structure or land changes use, unless a written zoning-appeal order applies.13 Contact the Massie Township Zoning Department at 937-608-0508 for zoning-permit forms, the parcel's district and the applicable site standards.8

Does Massie Township have zoning?

Yes. Massie Township zoning applies in the township's unincorporated area; incorporated Harveysburg is outside that township-specific rule.1 The township publishes its zoning code, zoning-permit application and appeal application.14

The parcel's district matters. In the R1 Low Residential Density District, a single-family dwelling needs at least 1,200 square feet of qualifying living space, excluding porches, garages, cellars, basements and attics.6 An R1 single-family lot needs at least 87,120 square feet and 200 feet of width, while its principal-home setbacks are 50 feet in front, 25 feet on each side and 50 feet at the rear.715 In the AG Agricultural District, a non-agricultural single-family use needs at least 41 acres and 200 feet of lot width.16 Confirm the mapped district with the township before using any of these dimensions.8

How do septic and well permits work in Massie Township?

The Warren County Health District handles onsite sewage treatment systems in Massie Township.3 Before installation, a new, replacement or altered system requires a soil evaluation, a system design, site review, a sewage-system installation permit and an operating permit.5 The installer must arrange an inspection before backfilling; after final approval, the health district inspects within 1 year and then every 3 years through its operation and maintenance program.17

Site feasibility deserves early attention because only 0.7% of Warren County soils are rated without severe limits for a conventional septic drain field.18 A private well or another private drinking-water system also needs a Warren County Health District permit before installation or alteration, followed by inspection and water sampling.4 Environmental Health is at 416 S. East St., Lebanon, OH 45036 and can be reached at 513-695-1220.19

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Massie Township?

We could not confirm a Massie Township rule that allows full-time RV occupancy or temporary camping on private land. Ask the Massie Township Zoning Department at 937-608-0508 about the parcel, proposed duration, utility connections and whether a zoning permit is required before buying or moving an RV onto the site.8 Ohio's campground standards regulate RVs in licensed campgrounds, but those standards do not answer whether someone may live in an RV on a private Massie Township parcel.20

We also could not confirm a township rule specifically defining tiny homes. A tiny house used as a dwelling still has to fit the parcel's zoning district and applicable residential approvals.1 In R1, the minimum qualifying living area is 1,200 square feet.6 One secondary living quarter may be placed entirely within an owner-occupied single-family dwelling under specified conditions, but that rule does not authorize a detached tiny home.21

How do you build a home in Massie Township?

  1. Ask the Massie Township Zoning Department to confirm that the parcel is in the unincorporated township, identify its zoning district and review the proposed use, lot size and setbacks.18
  1. Obtain the township zoning permit before erecting, moving, adding to or structurally altering a structure or changing the land use.13
  1. If the site will use onsite sewage, complete the soil evaluation and system design, then obtain the health district's site review, installation permit and operating permit.5 Obtain the health-district permit before installing or altering a private drinking-water system.4
  1. Submit the residential building plans and application through the Warren County portal, and keep approved plans on site.12
  1. Call for required building inspections while the work remains exposed, and arrange the septic inspection before backfilling.105
  1. Do not occupy the covered new home until the building official issues the required certificate.11

What should you check before buying land in Massie Township?

Start with jurisdiction and zoning: verify that the parcel is outside incorporated Harveysburg, confirm its Massie Township district and compare the survey with that district's lot and setback standards.1 For a split or new lot, Warren County subdivision regulations and Ohio platting law also apply.22

Check sewage feasibility before treating a parcel as buildable. Only 0.7% of Warren County soils rate without severe limitations for a conventional drain field, so the soil evaluation and system design can materially shape the site plan.18 Ask the health district about both septic and the private-water permit if public service is unavailable.54

Finally, check any mapped floodplain before placing a house or driveway: Massie Township limits development in floodplain, floodway and floodway-fringe areas and caps the supported rise in flood elevation at 1 foot.23

Watch-outs

  • Massie Township zoning covers the unincorporated township, not incorporated Harveysburg; confirm the parcel's jurisdiction first.1
  • An R1 parcel must meet the district's 87,120-square-foot lot minimum and 200-foot width, not merely accommodate a house footprint.7
  • Do not backfill a new or altered septic system before the registered installer schedules the health-district inspection.5
  • We could not confirm private-land RV occupancy or temporary-camping rules; ask the Massie Township Zoning Department before relying on an RV for housing.8

Sources

  1. Massie Township Zoning Code (Massie Township), quoted and re-checked
  2. Frequently Asked Questions - Permits (Massie Township), quoted and re-checked
  3. Sewage Treatment Systems – Warren County Health District (Massie Township), quoted and re-checked
  4. Private Water Systems (Massie Township), quoted and re-checked
  5. Sewage Treatment Systems (Massie Township), quoted and re-checked
  6. massietwp-oh.gov (Massie Township), quoted and re-checked
  7. massietwp-oh.gov (Massie Township), quoted and re-checked
  8. Massie Township Zoning Department (massietwp-oh.gov)
  9. Residential Code of Ohio for One-, Two-, and Three-Family Dwellings (Massie Township), quoted and re-checked
  10. Residential Code of Ohio for One-, Two-, and Three-Family Dwellings (Massie Township), quoted and re-checked
  11. Residential Code of Ohio for One-, Two-, and Three-Family Dwellings (Massie Township), quoted and re-checked
  12. Warren County Building & Zoning Department (warrencountyohio.gov)
  13. Massie Township Zoning Code (Massie Township), quoted and re-checked
  14. Zoning Department — Massie Township (Massie Township), quoted and re-checked
  15. Massie Township Zoning Code (Massie Township), quoted and re-checked
  16. massietwp-oh.gov (Massie Township), quoted and re-checked
  17. Sewage Treatment Systems (Massie Township), quoted and re-checked
  18. 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
  19. Warren County Health District - Environmental Health (warrencohealthoh.gov)
  20. Rule 3701-26-04 | Campground requirements (Ohio statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  21. Massie Township Zoning Code (Massie Township), quoted and re-checked
  22. Massie Township Zoning Code (Massie Township), quoted and re-checked
  23. Massie Township Zoning Code (Massie Township), quoted and re-checked

Written October 9, 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 Massie Township

Massie Township’s own rules

  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Massie Township, including township-administered zoning matters.

    • The township page publishes a Massie Code Book and zoning-permit and appeal applications.
    • The linked 2021 zoning-code PDF could not be opened in this research pass, so district-specific provisions are not extracted here.
    “Zoning Department Zoning Documents Massie Code Book Application for Zoning Permit Application for Appeal”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Present — Zoning for the unincorporated portion of Massie Township; incorporated Harveysburg is outside this township-specific claim.
      “the effect of this Resolution shall be a general plan of zoning for all of the unincorporated areas of Massie Township, Warren County, Ohio at the effective date following the adoption of this Zoning Code”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Unincorporated Massie Township zoning districts.

    • The code identifies AG Agricultural, R1 Low Residential Density, R2 Medium-Low Residential Density, R3 Medium Density Residential, CB Convenience Business, GB General Business, and M1 Light Industrial districts.
    • The official zoning map is part of the zoning materials; parcel-specific district designation requires consulting the map.
    “Section 8.01 Agricultural District (AG) [...] Section 8.02 Low Density Residential District (R-1) [...] Section 8.03 Medium-Low Density Residential (R-2) [...] Section 8.04 Medium Density Residential District (R-3) [...] Section 8.05 Convenience Business (CB) [...] Section 8.06 General Business District (GB) [...] Section 8.07 Industrial District (M-1)”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    Single-family dwelling in the R1 Low Residential Density District.

    • Living space is measured by outside dimensions and excludes porches, garages, cellars, basements, and attics.

    minimum dwelling area: >= 1200 square feet (Living space by outside dimensions; excludes porches, garages, cellars, basements, and attics)

    “Dwelling Area: A dwelling structure shall have a minimum area of twelve hundred (1,200) square feet of living space by outside dimensions, exclusive of porches, garages, cellars, basements, or attics.”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    Non-agricultural single-family residential use in the AG Agricultural District.

    • The lot area is exclusive of road right-of-way and is in addition to easements of record.
    • Maximum density is one dwelling per 41 acres and no more than one residence per lot.

    minimum lot area: >= 41 acres (Exclusive of road right-of-way and in addition to easements of record) · minimum lot width: >= 200 feet

    “Maximum Density: shall be one dwelling per forty-one (41) acres and there shall be no more than one residence on a lot. [...] Minimum Lot Area and Width: Every lot shall have a minimum width of two hundred (200) feet and a minimum lot area of not less than forty-one (41) acres, exclusive of road right-of-way, and shall be in addition to any easements of record.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — Single-family residential use in the R1 Low Residential Density District.
      “Every lot shall have a minimum width of two hundred (200) feet and minimum lot area of not less than eighty seven thousand, one hundred and twenty (87,120) square feet, exclusive of road right-of-way, and shall be in addition to any easements of record.”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    Single-family residential structures in the R1 Low Residential Density District.

    • The R1 front-yard average rule may establish the front-yard depth where 40 percent or more of the frontage is developed with buildings whose front yards vary by no more than 10 feet.
    • Other exceptions in the zoning code may apply.

    front yard: >= 50 feet (Subject to the code's developed-frontage averaging rule) · side yard: >= 25 feet · rear yard: >= 50 feet

    “There shall be a front yard of not less than 50 feet in depth, provided, however, that where normal lots comprising forty (40) per cent or more of the frontage are developed with buildings having front yards with a variation of not more than ten (10) feet in depth, the average of such developed front yards shall establish the front yard depth for the entire frontage, except as provided elsewhere in these regulations. e. Side Yard: - There shall be a side yard of not less than twenty-five (25) feet. f. Rear Yard: There shall be a rear yard of not less than fifty (50) feet.”
  • Accessory dwellingsLimited

    Secondary living quarters inside an owner-occupied single-family dwelling in Massie Township.

    • One secondary living quarter is permitted per owner-occupied single-family dwelling.
    • The unit must be entirely within the primary dwelling, have no separate address or utilities, not alter the front facade for access, and have sufficient off-street parking.
    • A zoning permit, site plan, building elevations, and floor plan are required.
    “One (1) secondary living quarter is permitted in conjunction with an owner-occupied single-family dwelling, subject to following requirements:”
  • Building in a floodplainLimited

    Development within floodplain, floodway, or floodway-fringe areas inside Massie Township.

    • Floodplain boundaries are based on FEMA's 100-year flood study and maps, with other listed data sources available where detailed profiles are absent.
    • Floodway development is limited to listed agricultural, recreational, and utility/public-facility uses, with stated building exceptions.
    • Floodway-fringe development must not increase the 100-year flood elevation by more than one foot and buildings require an approved Planned Unit Development or Conditional Use Permit as appropriate.

    maximum flood-elevation increase: <= 1 foot (Floodway-fringe development)

    “No development, use or activity (including fill, grading and/or substantial improvements to structures, etc.) shall be permitted in the Floodway Fringe unless the applicant for the proposed development, use or activity has demonstrated that the proposed undertaking, when combined with all other existing and anticipated development, uses and activities, will not increase the water surface elevation of the one-hundred (100) year flood more than one foot at any point.”
  • Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

    Massie Township zoning permits, appeals, site plans, and other matters under the zoning resolution.

    • The Board of Township Trustees establishes the schedule.
    • The schedule is posted in the Zoning Inspector's office and may be amended only by the Board.
    • All applicable fees must be paid before action is taken on an application or appeal.
    • The current numerical schedule was not published in the opened source.
    “The Board of Township Trustees shall establish a schedule of fees, charges, and expenses and a collection procedure for zoning permits, appeals, and other matters pertaining to this resolution. The schedule of fees shall be posted in the office of the Zoning Inspector, and may be altered or amended only by the Board of Township Trustees. Until all applicable fees, charges, and expenses have been paid in full, no action shall be taken on any application or appeal.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Massie Township zoning-permit process for construction or land-use changes.

    • No structure may be erected, moved, added to, structurally altered, or land use changed without a zoning permit from the Zoning Inspector unless a written Board of Zoning Appeals order applies.
    • Applications require property description, existing and proposed uses, zoning district, triplicate plans, building heights, parking/loading information, and dwelling-unit count.
    • The Zoning Inspector acts within 30 days; work must commence within one year and be substantially completed within 2.5 years.

    initial decision period: 30 days · commencement deadline: 1 year · substantial-completion deadline: 2.5 years

    “No building or other structure shall be erected, moved, added to, structurally altered, nor shall any building, structure, or land be established or changed in use without a permit therefore, issued by the Zoning Inspector that does not conform with the provisions of this resolution unless he/she receives a written order from the Board of Zoning Appeals deciding an appeal, or variance, as provided by this resolution.”

Rules another office applies inside Massie Township

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

  • Building permitRequired

    Residential construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, movement, or occupancy change inside Massie Township when the Ohio residential code applies.

    • Application must be made to a certified residential building department.
    • The rule contains work-specific exemptions, including certain detached accessory structures of 200 square feet or less, fences, minor repairs, and listed systems or equipment.
    “Any owner or authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, or change the occupancy of a residential building or structure, or portion thereof, or to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert or replace any electrical, gas, mechanical, plumbing system, other residential building service equipment, or piping system the installation of which is regulated by this code, or to cause any such work to be done, shall first make application to the residential building official of a certified residential building department and obtain the required approval.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Required — New one-, two-, and three-family structures and the other listed construction categories inside Massie Township.
      “Permits are required for all new 1,2,3-family structures, additions, remodels, fire damages, decks, detached structures, electrical installations, swimming pools (in and above ground), fireplaces/wood burning stoves, demolitions, any structural changes, change of use, any commercial construction or use.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Buildings inside Massie Township that are subject to Ohio Revised Code Chapters 3781 and 3791.

    • Before construction, plans and specifications must be submitted to the municipal, township, or county building department having jurisdiction.
    • If no certified municipal, township, or county building department certified for residential buildings has jurisdiction, the residential submission requirement in division (A)(1) does not apply.
    • Agricultural exemptions under R.C. 3781.061 may apply when the required zoning certificate is issued.
    “The board shall incorporate those rules into separate residential and nonresidential building codes.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Adopted (with conditions) — Residential construction inside Massie Township that falls within Ohio residential-building-code jurisdiction.
      “The provisions of the “Residential Code of Ohio for One-, Two-, and Three-Family Dwellings” shall apply to the construction, alteration, movement, enlargement, replacement, repair, equipment, use and occupancy, location, maintenance, removal, and demolition of every one-, two-, or three-family dwelling, any appurtenances connected or attached to such buildings or structures, or any accessory structure incidental to that dwelling house”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Residential construction inside Massie Township subject to approval under the Ohio residential code.

    • The owner or authorized representative must notify the building department when work is ready.
    • Work must remain accessible and exposed until inspected.
    • The building official provides a project-specific inspection list, including applicable footing, foundation, slab, rough, final, and other inspections.
    “Construction or work for which an approval is required shall be subject to inspection. It shall be the duty of the owner or the owner’s duly authorized representative to notify the residential building department when work is ready for inspection. Access to and means for inspection of such work shall be provided for any inspections that are required by this code.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Required — Permitted building construction inside Massie Township.
      “If you are planning to start construction right away, you can excavate all you want, but you cannot pour any concrete until the permit has been issued and a footer inspection has been made.”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    New residential buildings and residential alterations or additions inside Massie Township subject to the Ohio residential code.

    • A certificate of occupancy or certificate of completion is required before use or occupancy.
    • Partial, time-limited, and temporary-structure occupancy may be issued under the stated conditions.
    • Unaffected spaces may continue to be occupied when the residential building official determines they are safe.
    “No residential building or structure, in whole or in part, shall be used or occupied until the residential building official has issued an approval in the form of a certificate of occupancy or certificate of completion in compliance with this section.”
  • Who permits septicCounty

    Onsite sewage treatment systems inside Massie Township, administered by the Warren County Health District.

    • The Health District enforces sewage-treatment-system rules and conducts inspections of new, replacement, and altered systems.
    • Ohio Department of Health rules are incorporated by reference through the Health District's page.
    “Our Environmental Health Staff issue installation permits and conduct inspections of all new, replacement, and altered (repaired) sewage treatment systems (STS) within Warren County in order to assure the installation was completed correctly and to code.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • County — Onsite sewage treatment systems inside Massie Township.
      “Our Environmental Health Staff issue installation permits and conduct inspections of all new, replacement, and altered (repaired) sewage treatment systems (STS) within Warren County in order to assure the installation was completed correctly and to code.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    New, replacement, or altered onsite sewage treatment systems inside Massie Township.

    • A soil evaluation and system design are required before site review.
    • The Site Review Application must verify that the design is appropriate for the lot and soil conditions.
    • Both a Sewage System Permit to Install and an operating permit must be obtained before installation.
    • The installer must schedule inspection before backfilling.
    “A Sewage System Permit to Install and operating permit must be obtained from the WCHD prior to installation. The registered sewage system installer must call to schedule an inspection prior to backfilling the system.”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    Onsite sewage treatment systems inside Massie Township.

    • Inspection is required before backfilling installation.
    • After final approval, the system enters the Operation/Maintenance Program.
    • The Health District inspects within one year after installation and every three years thereafter.

    first operation/maintenance inspection: 1 year after installation · recurring operation/maintenance inspection: per 3 years

    “Following installation and final approval of the sewage treatment system, the system is placed in the Operation/Maintenance Program whereby the sewage system is inspected by the WCHD staff within one year of installation and every three years thereafter.”
  • Well permitRequired

    New or altered private wells and other private water systems used for drinking water inside Massie Township.

    • The permit must be issued before installing or altering the private water system.
    • Work must be performed by a registered water-system contractor.
    • The Health District inspects new and altered systems.
    • A water sample and required paperwork are needed for approval.
    “In Warren County, new private water systems which include wells, cisterns, hauled water storage tanks, and ponds used for drinking water, are regulated by the Ohio Private Water Systems Regulations. An Application/Permit for a Private Water System must be issued by the Warren County Health District (WCHD) prior to installing or altering a private water system.”
  • Agricultural exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

    A specific agricultural building or structure inside Massie Township when the township zoning inspector issues the required agricultural-use zoning certificate.

    • The exemption depends on issuance of a zoning certificate declaring the specific building or structure is to be used in agriculture.
    • The exemption removes the building from the listed Ohio building-code and plan-submission sections; it does not establish exemption from every other law or approval.
    “Whenever a county zoning inspector under section 303.16 of the Revised Code, or a township zoning inspector under section 519.16 of the Revised Code, issues a zoning certificate that declares a specific building or structure is to be used in agriculture, such building is not subject to sections 3781.06 to 3781.20, 3781.40, or 3791.04 of the Revised Code.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Conditional — Agricultural structures inside Massie Township.
      “If the zoning inspector has verified that the structure is being used in conjunction with the agricultural use of the land, there is no building permit only an electrical permit if electric is installed. Paperwork must be filed at the zoning office.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivisions of land in the unincorporated portions of Massie Township.

    • The regulations apply to subdivisions within the unincorporated area of Warren County.
    • The Warren County Regional Planning Commission administers the regulations.
    • The regulations were most recently revised by the Warren County Commissioners on October 24, 2024.
    “These rules and regulations shall be applicable to all subdivisions of land within the unincorporated area of Warren County.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Regulated (with conditions) — Subdivision and platting inside Massie Township, subject to Warren County subdivision regulations and Ohio Revised Code Chapter 711.
      “The provisions of the Massie Township Zoning Resolution are in addition to any requirements, procedures, and regulations as contained in the Warren County Subdivision Regulations. Nothing in these regulations shall be taken as interpreted as nullifying or superseding the subdivision platting requirements as defined in Section 711 of the Ohio Revised Code, and as further defined, administered and regulated in the Warren County, Ohio Subdivision Regulations.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders constructing buildings inside Massie Township.
  • Lot coverage — Lot coverage inside Massie Township.
  • Building height — Building height inside Massie Township.
  • Living in an RV — Occupancy of recreational vehicles on private land inside Massie Township.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Massie Township.
6 more unanswered
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Driveway access
  • Short-term rentals

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 Massie Township publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Warren County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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