Zoning Administrator and Permits

Roger Azar

Zoning Administrator

317-373-7175

Roger@des-eng.com

WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW?

The current Fountain County Zoning Code requires a permit to be obtained before any structure may be constructed in Residential, Business, or Industrial. A Permit can be picked up at the Fountain County Courthouse or printed from the Web Site. 

The Fountain County Advisory Plan Commission (APC) are currently updating ordinances. Meetings are open to the public and are held each month in the Commissioners Meeting Room, at the Fountain County Courthouse, 301 4th St, Covington IN 47932 at 6:00 p.m. You can visit Fountaincounty.net for updated information.              

What Do I Need a Permit For?  

County Ordinance 5.01 Administration Responsibility: No permit shall be issued unless the proposed structure or use of structure or land is in complete conformity with the provisions of the Fountain County Zoning Ordinance. 

  • An Improvement location permit shall be obtained before any structure in the Business, Residential, Landfill, and Industrial zoning districts may be constructed *unless it falls under an exception, see below        
  • If a building permit is required by the County Ordinance, a building permit must be obtained from the appropriate county staff. Nothing in the Ordinance negates the requirements of the County Building Code, rules, regulation, and Ordinances.
  • *Exception - No improvement location permit shall be required for:
    • Routine maintenance, repair, or remodeling of existing structures UNLESS in involves a change of use, or additional lot coverage. 
    • Essential Services
    • Lot and yard improvements such as children's playhouses, drives, fences, concreate patios, decks, play equipment, retaining walls, sidewalks, and landscaping, UNLESS these improvements are on, over, or within ten (10) feet of a septic system or utility easement, then a permit will be required. 
    • A septic permit will be required for all new construction, in areas not serviced by a municipal sewer system. The septic permit must be issued by the Fountain County Department of Health. 
  • All Applications for permits shall be accompanied by a plot plan.
  • All applications for permits shall be made by the recorded owner (or the recorded owner’s contractor) of the lot on which the improvement is to be located. Contract purchasers, equitable owners, lessees, or other holders of less than a fee simple interest shall not make applications. 

Inspections

The County does not have an inspector at this time, and will not do any inspections. However, if there is a complaint on a structure that has been built, the county will investigate the claim. If an Ordinance Violation is found, fees and legal fines at your expense could be incurred for not following the Local, State or Federal Law. 

Other Important steps

911 Address

 A 911 Address must be assigned to any improvement that will be receiving mail from the USPS. Please be sure there is an address assigned and check existing addresses for accuracy.

Linda Whitaker, Assessors’ Office – Fountain County Courthouse, 765-793-6206,      

lwhitaker@fountaincounty.in.gov

Driveway & Road Access

If you are putting in a new driveway or road access you must contact the Fountain County Highway Department if on a County Road

County Road - Jason Lewis- 765-401-0127,   jlewis@fountaincounty.in.gov

State Road – Justin Patterson- 765-376-6769

Flood Plain Check

This will be completed after permit is turned in. If the location is determined to be in the Flood Plain you must contact the Department of Natural Resources for additional steps & requirements before a permit can be considered for approval. Check is done at Fountain County Emergency Management 765-793-6264

            Department of Natural Resources

Division of Water

402 W Washington Street Rm W264

Indianapolis, IN 46204

(877) 463-6367

 

Septic Permit, if required

*A plot plan from the contractor installing the septic should be presented to the Health Department for the Septic Permit Process.   Any home additions will also need to contact the Health Department

Environmentalists: Erich Haley and Jenny Eads

113 W Sycamore Street, Attica, In 47918

765-762-3035

jenfwhealth@gmail.com

ehaleyhealth@gmail.com

 Plot Plan

All applications for permits shall be accompanied by a plot plan that shows the following items clearly and completely:

useful tool https://beacon.schneidercorp.com/

                   * Search property & go to map

* Check box County Property Dimensions

* Use the measuring tool at the top to measure from property line to where the improvement is going to sit.

  • the location, dimensions, and nature of the property
  • the measurement from each property line to proposed structure
  • the location and dimensions of any existing or proposed structures; (no structure shall be located on an easement, existing sanitary sewer, septic system, water utility facility or water well)
  • all adjoining thoroughfares and any existing or proposed access to these thoroughfares
  • the existing and proposed use of all structures
  • location of Septic and Well 

 

Setbacks

*Front setbacks are measured from the right-of-way of the street or road on which the lot has frontage.

** From the top of the slope

Minimum Road Frontage (feet)

*Minimum Set Back Front

Minimum Set Back Side

Minimum Set Back Rear

Agricultural

100

60

20

20

Business

30

60

10

10

Residential

40

60

5

5

Industrial

100

60

20

20

Landfill

1,000

**660

**660

**660

Blue Print

Please provide a copy of the improvement blue prints

Cost of Improvement

Please Provide the total cost of the improvement.