Bolthole Index

Boone County, Indiana

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in the Town of Jamestown, Indiana

The Town of Jamestown, Indiana (Boone County) zoning is set by the town's own Unified Development Ordinance, and construction inside town limits needs the town's approvals and permits first12. Building permit applications go to the Jamestown municipal building3. Septic permits come from the Boone County Health Department, not the town4.

At a glance

Zoning
Town of Jamestown's own Unified Development Ordinance and zoning map1
Building permit
Required for development or construction inside town limits2
Permit fees
Listed in the town's permit application packets5
Septic
Boone County Health Department permits and inspects onsite systems6
Minimum home size (AG and R1)
1,200 sq ft one-story; 900 sq ft multi-story78
Sewer and water
Municipal water and sewer required in the AG and R1 standards table9

Who to call

Building permits

Town of Jamestown, Building Permits and Inspections (Clerk-Treasurer's office)

Building permit applications, zoning approvals, the Unified Development Ordinance and zoning map for land inside Jamestown

(765) 676-6331

deputyclerk@townofjamestown.in.gov

421 E Main St, Jamestown, IN 46147

Septic permits

Boone County Health Department - Environmental Health Division

Onsite sewage system permits and inspections in Boone County

765-483-4458

Boone County Office Building, 116 W. Washington St., Suite B202, Lebanon, IN 46052

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 23, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

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Does Jamestown, Indiana have zoning?

Yes. The Town of Jamestown zones land inside its limits through its own Unified Development Ordinance and zoning map, so the Boone County Area Plan Commission's rules for unincorporated land do not set zoning in town1. Districts include Agriculture (AG), Low Density Single-Family Residential (R1), Multi-family, Downtown Mixed-Use, General Commercial, Highway Commercial, Light and Heavy Industrial, and Community Facilities10.

In the AG and R1 districts, a single-family home needs at least 1,200 square feet of ground floor if it is one story, or 900 square feet if it has more than one story78. Minimum lot area for a single-family lot is 21,780 square feet in AG11 and 15,000 square feet in R112. Maximum structure height is 35 feet in both1314.

Setbacks differ by district. In AG, the front yard is 20 feet, the side yard 10 feet and the rear yard 15 feet for the main structure15. In R1, the front yard is 30 feet, with the same 10-foot side and 15-foot rear setbacks16. Single-family lot coverage tops out at 35% in both districts1718.

Do you need a building permit in Jamestown, and who issues it?

Yes. The Town of Jamestown tells builders to obtain the proper approvals and permits before any development or construction work inside town limits2. Applications go to the Jamestown municipal building, where the town's building permits and inspections contact is listed3. The town also publishes separate application packets for residential and for industrial/commercial work, plus Board of Zoning Appeals and Plan Commission packets, and the packets hold the fee schedule5.

The town's Unified Development Ordinance also calls for an improvement location permit for accessory structures2. We could not confirm which building code the town enforces, what inspections are required, or whether a certificate of occupancy applies; ask the Clerk-Treasurer's office before you plan a schedule. Statewide, Indiana's adopted building and fire-safety codes apply to construction19.

How do septic permits work in Jamestown?

Septic is not a town permit. The Boone County Health Department's Environmental Health Division regulates, permits and inspects onsite sewage systems in Boone County420. Applications go to that office with a soil report4.

The town's ordinance lists municipal water and sewer in the utility standards for the AG and R1 districts, so a lot on town sewer may not need a septic system at all9. We did not find a distance rule for connecting a new home to public sewer, so ask the town before assuming either way. Indiana requires a sewer connection when an existing residential septic system has failed and a sanitary sewer is available21. A private well in Boone County needs a permit as well22.

Can you live in an RV or manufactured home on your land in Jamestown?

RVs: we could not confirm a rule for long-term RV living or camping on private land in Jamestown. The town's ordinance lists an RV park as a use in the AG district, but that is a commercial use, not permission to live in an RV on your own lot. Ask the Clerk-Treasurer's office before parking an RV to live in.

Manufactured homes: the town allows only limited temporary occupancy of a manufactured home. The home must stay on its wheels, sit on the same property as an existing residence or one with a valid improvement location permit, share that residence's address, water and sewage, and house only relatives, people employed in the care of the property, or the owner who intends to build a permanent home23. The ground floor must be at least 500 square feet23. If the existing home uses septic, approval depends on the county board of health23. We found no tiny-home provision in the town's rules.

Building a home in Jamestown: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm the parcel is inside Jamestown town limits and find its zoning district on the town's zoning map3.
  2. Check the district's lot size, setbacks, height and minimum home size1216.
  3. Ask the town whether sewer is available; if not, apply to the Boone County Health Department with a soil report4.
  4. Submit the town's residential building permit application, which carries the fee schedule5.
  5. Ask the town about inspections and a certificate of occupancy before you start; we could not confirm these.
  6. If you divide land, expect subdivision approval from the town24.

What stays with Boone County, and what to check before you buy

Septic permits and inspections, and private well permits, stay with Boone County422. Land outside Jamestown's limits falls under different rules; see the Boone County page for unincorporated land. A parcel split between Boone and Hendricks counties is covered by the town's rules only for the part inside town limits1.

Boone County's effective property tax rate is 0.8%, with a median bill of $2,725 a year2526. A driveway onto an Indiana state highway needs a state permit27, and development in a mapped floodway is tightly limited28. We have not confirmed how the town handles floodplain or driveway permits inside its limits.

Watch-outs

  • Inspection requirements, the adopted building code and any certificate of occupancy inside Jamestown are unconfirmed; ask the Clerk-Treasurer's office at (765) 676-63313.
  • Septic and well rules come from Boone County, not the town, even for addresses inside Jamestown422.
  • Do not rely on Boone County Area Plan Commission pages for a parcel inside Jamestown; the Area Plan serves unincorporated Boone County and the Town of Advance29.

Sources

  1. Town of Jamestown - Building Permits and Zoning (Town of Jamestown), quoted and re-checked
  2. Town of Jamestown - Building Permits and Zoning (Town of Jamestown), quoted and re-checked
  3. Town of Jamestown, Building Permits and Inspections (Clerk-Treasurer's office) (in.gov)
  4. Boone County Health Department - Environmental Health Division (boonecounty.in.gov)
  5. Town of Jamestown - Building Permits and Zoning (Town of Jamestown), quoted and re-checked
  6. Waste Water - Boone County, Indiana, quoted and re-checked
  7. Jamestown Unified Development Ordinance (February 6, 2024, to present) (Town of Jamestown), quoted and re-checked
  8. Jamestown Unified Development Ordinance (February 6, 2024, to present) (Town of Jamestown), quoted and re-checked
  9. Jamestown Unified Development Ordinance (February 6, 2024, to present) (Town of Jamestown), quoted and re-checked
  10. Jamestown Unified Development Ordinance (February 6, 2024, to present) (Town of Jamestown), quoted and re-checked
  11. Jamestown Unified Development Ordinance (February 6, 2024, to present) (Town of Jamestown), quoted and re-checked
  12. Jamestown Unified Development Ordinance (February 6, 2024, to present) (Town of Jamestown), quoted and re-checked
  13. Jamestown Unified Development Ordinance (February 6, 2024, to present) (Town of Jamestown), quoted and re-checked
  14. Jamestown Unified Development Ordinance (February 6, 2024, to present) (Town of Jamestown), quoted and re-checked
  15. Jamestown Unified Development Ordinance (February 6, 2024, to present) (Town of Jamestown), quoted and re-checked
  16. Jamestown Unified Development Ordinance (February 6, 2024, to present) (Town of Jamestown), quoted and re-checked
  17. Jamestown Unified Development Ordinance (February 6, 2024, to present) (Town of Jamestown), quoted and re-checked
  18. Jamestown Unified Development Ordinance (February 6, 2024, to present) (Town of Jamestown), quoted and re-checked
  19. DHS Code Enforcement FAQs (Indiana statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  20. Waste Water - Boone County, Indiana, quoted and re-checked
  21. 410 IAC 6-8.3 Residential Onsite Sewage Systems (Indiana statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  22. Water Wells - Boone County, Indiana, quoted and re-checked
  23. Jamestown Unified Development Ordinance (February 6, 2024, to present) (Town of Jamestown), quoted and re-checked
  24. Jamestown Unified Development Ordinance (February 6, 2024, to present) (Town of Jamestown), quoted and re-checked
  25. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  26. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  27. INDOT Driveway Permit Guide 2024 (Indiana statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  28. Water: Community Assistance & Information (Indiana statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  29. Area Plan Commission - Boone County, Indiana (2026 county census)

Written October 23, 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 Town of Jamestown

Town of Jamestown’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Development or construction work inside Jamestown town limits

    • Permit applications go to the Jamestown municipal building (Clerk-Treasurer and deputy clerk).
    • The UDO also requires an improvement location permit (ILP) for accessory structures; the ILP threshold list was only partly read.
    “prior to performing any development or construction work here in jamestown, it is important that you obtain the proper approvals and permits.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside Jamestown town limits: the town's own Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) and zoning map govern land use

    • The UDO is titled Jamestown Unified Development Ordinance, effective February 6, 2024, to present (per the UDO cover).
    • Parcels split between Boone and Hendricks counties: this claim covers only land inside Jamestown town limits.
    “below you will also find the jamestown unified development ordinance and the zoning map for the town of jamestown.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Land inside Jamestown town limits

    • Districts named in the UDO include Agriculture (AG), Low Density Single-Family Residential (R1), Multi-family (MF), Downtown Mixed-Use (DT), General Commercial (GC), Highway Commercial (HC), Light Industrial (I1), Heavy Industrial (I2), and Community Facilities (CF).
    • District boundaries are shown on the town zoning map linked from the permits page; the map itself was not opened.
    “low density single-family residential (r1) permitted uses special exception uses agricultural uses accessory uses”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Single-family dwellings in the Agriculture (AG) district inside Jamestown town limits

    • Minimum ground floor area is 1,200 sqft for one-story and 900 sqft for multi-story single-family structures, as the table lists.
    • The table also sets minimum width of primary structure at 18 feet for single-family; non-residential column is na.

    minimum ground floor area, one-story: >= 1200 sqft · minimum ground floor area, multi-story: >= 900 sqft

    “maximum height of structure 35 feet 35 feet one-story 1,200 sqft na multi-story 900 sqft na”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Single-family lots in the Agriculture (AG) district inside Jamestown town limits

    • Minimum lot width 100 feet and minimum road frontage 50 feet also apply.
    • Non-residential minimum lot area is na in the table.

    minimum lot area: >= 21780 sqft (single-family; non-residential na)

    “minimum lot width 100 feet 100 feet minimum road frontage 50 feet 50 feet 21,780 sqft na 20 feet 20 feet primary structure 10 feet 10 feet”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • District specific (with conditions) — Single-family lots in the Low Density Single-Family Residential (R1) district inside Jamestown town limits
      “minimum lot width 80 feet 80 feet minimum road frontage 50 feet 50 feet 15,000 sqft na 30 feet 20 feet primary structure 10 feet 10 feet”
  • SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Single-family lots in the Agriculture (AG) district inside Jamestown town limits

    • Front yard 20 feet (primary structure).
    • Side yard: primary structure 10 feet; accessory structure 5 feet (single-family column).
    • Rear yard: primary structure 15 feet; accessory structure 5 feet (single-family column).
    • Corner and through lots are treated under the UDO general setback rules.

    minimum front yard setback, primary structure: >= 20 feet · minimum side yard setback, primary structure: >= 10 feet · minimum side yard setback, accessory structure: >= 5 feet (single-family column) · minimum rear yard setback, primary structure: >= 15 feet · minimum rear yard setback, accessory structure: >= 5 feet

    “21,780 sqft na 20 feet 20 feet primary structure 10 feet 10 feet accessory structure 5 feet 10 feet primary structure 15 feet 15 feet accessory structure 5 feet 5 feet 35% 80%”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • District specific (with conditions) — Single-family lots in the Low Density Single-Family Residential (R1) district inside Jamestown town limits
      “15,000 sqft na 30 feet 20 feet primary structure 10 feet 10 feet accessory structure 5 feet 10 feet primary structure 15 feet 15 feet accessory structure 5 feet 5 feet 35% 80%”
  • Lot coverageDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Agriculture (AG) district inside Jamestown town limits

    • 35% maximum lot coverage for single-family; 80% for non-residential (column order read from PDF text).

    maximum lot coverage, single-family: <= 35 percent · maximum lot coverage, non-residential: <= 80 percent

    “accessory structure 5 feet 5 feet 35% 80% yes yes minimum ground floor area”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Structures in the Agriculture (AG) district inside Jamestown town limits

    • Accessory structure height and the 18-foot figure in the table (single-family structure standards) were not separately read.

    maximum height of structure: <= 35 feet

    “maximum height of structure 35 feet 35 feet one-story 1,200 sqft na multi-story 900 sqft na”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Temporary occupancy of a manufactured home inside Jamestown town limits (permanent manufactured homes are a conditional use in the AG and R1 districts; the R1 permanent-home standards were not read)

    • Structure must remain on its wheels and not be placed on a permanent foundation.
    • Structure must be on the same property as an existing residence or a permanent residence with a valid ILP intended to be built.
    • Structure must use the same address, water supply, and sewage facilities as the existing residence; if the existing residence uses a septic system, approval is subject to the county board of health.
    • Occupancy is restricted to relatives, persons employed in the care of the property owner, or the owner who intends to construct a permanent residence.
    • Setbacks of the district apply; the manufactured home must be tied down (text cut off in the opened extract).

    minimum ground floor area for temporary occupancy: >= 500 sqft

    “(6) occupancy of the structure is restricted to relatives, persons employed in the care of the property owner (employed on the premises of the property owner), or the owner of the property who intends to construct a permanent residence.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupWater and sewer (with conditions)

    Single-family residential lots in the Low Density Single-Family Residential (R1) district inside Jamestown town limits

    • The UDO table lists municipal water and sewer under utility standards; the table's yes/yes cells are read from PDF text by column position.
    • No distance or availability rule for connecting a new home to public sewer was found in the opened pages.
    • The Agriculture (AG) district table has the same utility standards line.
    “maximum lot coverage utility standards municipal water and sewer required”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivisions of land inside Jamestown town limits

    • Subdivision approval is required per the UDO district text (AG and R1 purpose statements).
    “all subdivisions require subdivision approval. all multi-family development and nonresidential development requires development plan approval.”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Building and zoning permits inside Jamestown town limits

    • Fee amounts were not opened; the permit application packets (residential and industrial/commercial) hold the schedule per the permits page.
    “permit fees and other information are included in the permit application packets.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Town of Jamestown or Boone County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder construction inside Jamestown town limits
  • Building code adopted — Building code applicable inside Jamestown town limits
  • Inspections — Construction inside Jamestown town limits
  • Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of new construction inside Jamestown town limits
  • Living in an RV — Long-term RV occupancy on private land inside Jamestown town limits
10 more unanswered
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • Building in a floodplain
  • 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 Town of Jamestown publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Boone County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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