Bolthole Index

Decatur County, Indiana

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Greensburg, Indiana

Greensburg, Indiana requires a building permit for construction inside city limits, issued by the city Building Commissioner1. The city also runs its own zoning under its Unified Development Ordinance2. Septic permits are not a city matter: Decatur County's Health Department permits residential on-site sewage systems3.

At a glance

Building permit
Required inside Greensburg; issued by the city Building Commissioner1
Zoning
City zoning districts under the Unified Development Ordinance2
Septic
Decatur County Health Department (Environmental Health)4
RV living
Temporary only, up to 29 days, in districts that list it (including R-1 and R-2)5
Minimum home size
900 sq ft in R-1; 800 sq ft in R-267
Certificate of occupancy
Required before occupying a building8

Who to call

Building permits

City of Greensburg Building, Planning and Zoning

Building permits, plan review and zoning questions inside Greensburg city limits

812-662-8495

314 W Washington St. Greensburg, IN 47240

Septic permits

Decatur County Health Department, Environmental Health

Residential on-site sewage system permits and inspections in Decatur County

(812) 663-8301

environmental@decaturcounty.in.gov

315 S Ireland St, Greensburg, IN 47240

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 Greensburg means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Does Greensburg, Indiana have zoning, and what does it mean for RVs, lot size and setbacks?

Yes. Greensburg administers its own zoning districts inside city limits under its Unified Development Ordinance2. The base districts run from C-1 conservation through R-1 to R-4 residential, business, and industrial districts, plus a historic overlay9.

Rules differ by district. In R-1, a single-family lot needs at least 7,500 sq ft and 70 feet of frontage10; in R-2 the minimums are 5,000 sq ft and 55 feet11; in C-1 conservation a lot needs at least 1 acre and 150 feet of frontage12. Side-yard setbacks for a primary structure are 10 feet in R-113, 6 feet in R-214 and 25 feet in C-115. Primary structures top out at 35 feet in R-116.

Minimum living area is 900 sq ft in R-16 and 800 sq ft in R-27. Outside a designated RV park or campground, an RV may be a temporary residence for no more than 29 days, and only in districts that allow it, including R-1 and R-25. Manufactured home parks are a use in R-4 with a development plan17. We could not confirm a tiny-home rule; ask the city Building, Planning and Zoning office18.

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

Yes. Construction inside Greensburg is prohibited without a valid building permit from the city's Building Commissioner1. The city adopts the Indiana building codes by reference, including the Indiana Residential Code, and the Building Commissioner enforces them19. The city's Building, Planning and Zoning office issues improvement location permits for new residential construction and remodeling18.

The application goes to the Building Commissioner with plans, specifications and a fee set by city ordinance20. A permit can be withheld or revoked if the structure does not conform to zoning1. Inspections apply to all construction whether or not a permit was required21, and no one may occupy a building without a certificate of occupancy from the Building Commissioner8.

How do septic permits work in Greensburg?

Septic is not handled by the city's building office. Decatur County's Health Department permits and inspects residential on-site sewage systems4, and county environmentalists inspect sites before construction and during installation22. The county lists a new septic permit at $600 and a repair, replacement or expansion at $300, subject to change3. Contact the23 office.

We could not confirm which Greensburg addresses are on city sewer and which need a septic system, so ask the city office and the health department before relying on either. Indiana does not allow drywells or cesspools as on-site sewage treatment24.

Building a home in Greensburg: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm the lot's zoning district and its lot-size, setback and minimum-size rules with the city Building, Planning and Zoning office18.
  2. Settle water and sewer: ask the county health department about septic if the lot is not on city sewer4.
  3. Apply to the Building Commissioner for a building permit with plans and specifications20.
  4. Build to the Indiana codes the city has adopted, and expect inspections1921.
  5. Get a certificate of occupancy before anyone moves in8.

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

Land outside Greensburg city limits follows Decatur County's rules instead; see the Decatur County page. Septic stays with the county health department for every address4. A driveway onto a state highway needs INDOT permission25. Floodplain development inside a floodway needs a state DNR permit26.

Decatur County's farmland value is about $9,415 per acre27, and its effective property tax rate is 0.6%28. Few county soils rate well for a conventional septic drain field, so expect a site evaluation29.

Watch-outs

  • We could not confirm Greensburg's building permit fee schedule, owner-builder rules or driveway and floodplain rules for city lots; ask the Building, Planning and Zoning office18.
  • The zoning rules above come from the city's UDO as amended through May 2024, and later amendments may apply2.
  • Rules for temporary camping, tent living and wells inside city limits were not confirmed; ask the city office and the county health department23.

Sources

  1. Greensburg Code of Ordinances, Chapter 150: Building Standards, §§ 150.22-150.37 (American Legal Publishing) (Greensburg), quoted and re-checked
  2. City of Greensburg 2023 Unified Development Ordinance (version amended through May 14, 2024) (Greensburg), quoted and re-checked
  3. Decatur County: Environmental Health, quoted and re-checked
  4. Decatur County: Environmental Health, quoted and re-checked
  5. City of Greensburg 2023 Unified Development Ordinance (version amended through May 14, 2024) (Greensburg), quoted and re-checked
  6. City of Greensburg 2023 Unified Development Ordinance (version amended through May 14, 2024) (Greensburg), quoted and re-checked
  7. City of Greensburg 2023 Unified Development Ordinance (version amended through May 14, 2024) (Greensburg), quoted and re-checked
  8. Greensburg Code of Ordinances, Chapter 150: Building Standards, §§ 150.22-150.37 (American Legal Publishing) (Greensburg), quoted and re-checked
  9. City of Greensburg 2023 Unified Development Ordinance (version amended through May 14, 2024) (Greensburg), quoted and re-checked
  10. City of Greensburg 2023 Unified Development Ordinance (version amended through May 14, 2024) (Greensburg), quoted and re-checked
  11. City of Greensburg 2023 Unified Development Ordinance (version amended through May 14, 2024) (Greensburg), quoted and re-checked
  12. City of Greensburg 2023 Unified Development Ordinance (version amended through May 14, 2024) (Greensburg), quoted and re-checked
  13. City of Greensburg 2023 Unified Development Ordinance (version amended through May 14, 2024) (Greensburg), quoted and re-checked
  14. City of Greensburg 2023 Unified Development Ordinance (version amended through May 14, 2024) (Greensburg), quoted and re-checked
  15. City of Greensburg 2023 Unified Development Ordinance (version amended through May 14, 2024) (Greensburg), quoted and re-checked
  16. City of Greensburg 2023 Unified Development Ordinance (version amended through May 14, 2024) (Greensburg), quoted and re-checked
  17. City of Greensburg 2023 Unified Development Ordinance (version amended through May 14, 2024) (Greensburg), quoted and re-checked
  18. City of Greensburg Building, Planning and Zoning (cityofgreensburg.com)
  19. Greensburg Code of Ordinances, Chapter 150: Building Standards, §§ 150.22-150.37 (American Legal Publishing) (Greensburg), quoted and re-checked
  20. Greensburg Code of Ordinances, Chapter 150: Building Standards, §§ 150.22-150.37 (American Legal Publishing) (Greensburg), quoted and re-checked
  21. Greensburg Code of Ordinances, Chapter 150: Building Standards, §§ 150.22-150.37 (American Legal Publishing) (Greensburg), quoted and re-checked
  22. Decatur County: Environmental Health, quoted and re-checked
  23. Decatur County Health Department, Environmental Health (in.gov)
  24. 410 IAC 6-8.3 Residential On-Site Sewage Systems (Indiana statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  25. INDOT Driveway Permit Guide 2024 (Indiana statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  26. Water: Community Assistance & Information (Indiana statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  27. Farmland value per acre (USDA census): Bolthole Index county data
  28. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  29. 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

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 Greensburg

Greensburg’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Construction inside Greensburg city limits, issued by the city Building Commissioner.

    • Construction may proceed only after a valid building permit is obtained (§ 150.25).
    • Permits are applied for on the Building Commissioner's form with plans and specifications, and a fee established by city ordinance (§ 150.26(b)(6)).
    • Permits are issued after a complete application if the work will conform to building laws and other ordinances (§ 150.28); construction must start within six months and be completed within one year of issuance.
    • The permit may be withheld or revoked if the structure does not conform to zoning or other land-use ordinances (§§ 150.32, 150.33).
    “construction is prohibited unless in conformity with a valid building permit obtained from the subchapter prior to commencement of construction.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    Construction inside Greensburg city limits: the Indiana building codes are adopted by the city by reference.

    • Adopts the Indiana Fire Prevention and Building Safety Commission rules under 675 IAC, including the Indiana Building Code, Indiana Residential Code, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, energy, pool and fire codes, and includes later amendments.
    • The city's own Building Commissioner administers and enforces these rules under § 150.24.
    “the rules of the indiana fire prevention and building safety commission as set out in the following articles of title 675 of the indiana administrative code are hereby incorporated by reference in this code and shall include any later amendments to those rules.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    All construction inside Greensburg city limits, by the city Building Commissioner.

    • Inspections apply whether or not a building permit was required (§ 150.30(a)).
    • The Building Commissioner may enter premises for inspection before or after completion (§ 150.30(b)).
    • The fire department also inspects for fire safety (§ 150.31).
    “all construction shall be subject to periodic inspections by the building commissioner irrespective of whether a building permit has been or is required to be obtained.”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Buildings and structures inside Greensburg city limits covered by Chapter 150.

    • Occupancy is unlawful without a full, partial, or temporary certificate of occupancy issued by the Building Commissioner (§ 150.29).
    “it shall be unlawful to occupy any such building or structure unless a full, partial, or temporary certificate of occupancy has been issued by the building commissioner.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Greensburg city limits: the city administers its own zoning districts under its Unified Development Ordinance (UDO).

    • Chapter 160 (UDO) is incorporated by reference (§ 160.01); the city points to its full UDO on its own website.
    • The UDO copy checked is the 2023 UDO PDF (amended through May 14, 2024). The code's supplement lists later ordinances (ord. 2024-15 is the latest UDO amendment listed on the code page); the current UDO text was not verified.
    • The PDF front matter mentions review by the Decatur County plan commission and approval by the county commissioners; the jurisdictional-area clause was not checked against that language.
    “the jurisdictional area is hereby classified and divided into the base zoning districts outlined below.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Zoning districts of Greensburg city limits (base districts C-1, R-1 to R-4, B-N, B-1 to B-3, IN-1, I-1, I-2 and the historic overlay)

    • Districts are published in Chapter 2 of the UDO PDF, which is the 2023 version amended through May 14, 2024; the 2022 zoning map is linked from the city codes page but was not opened.
    “the jurisdictional area is hereby classified and divided into the base zoning districts outlined below.”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    Single-family detached dwelling in the R-1 one-family residential district inside Greensburg city limits

    minimum living area: >= 900 sq ft

    “maximum height of accessory structure 25’ minimum living area 900 sq. ft.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    C-1 conservation district (the agricultural / rural-residential district in the UDO) inside Greensburg city limits

    • Minimum road frontage and lot width is 150 feet.

    minimum lot area: >= 1 acre

    “minimum road frontage and lot width 150’ minimum lot area 1 acre”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
  • SetbacksSpecified

    One-family or two-family dwelling in the R-2 district inside Greensburg city limits

    • Front yard setback depends on street type: 50 ft principal arterial, 40 ft minor arterial, 30 ft collector, 20 ft local street, or the average block setback if less.
    • Rear yard setback not captured in the text read.

    minimum side yard setback, primary structure: >= 6 ft · minimum side yard setback, accessory structure: >= 10 ft

    “minimum side yard setback – primary structure 6’ minimum side yard setback – accessory structure 10’”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    Impervious surface coverage in the B-1 central business district inside Greensburg city limits (commercial; not residential)

    maximum impervious surface coverage: <= 85 percent

    “maximum impervious surface coverage 85% municipal water and sewer required yes”
  • Building heightSpecified

    Structures in the C-1 conservation district inside Greensburg city limits

    maximum height of primary structure: <= 30 ft · maximum height of accessory structure: <= 30 ft

    “structure standards maximum height of primary structure 30’ maximum height of accessory structure 30’ minimum living area na”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Living in an RVTemporary only (with conditions)

    Living in a recreational vehicle on private land inside Greensburg city limits, in the zoning districts that list RV occupancy (including R-1 and R-2)

    • Outside a designated RV park or campground, an RV may be occupied only as a temporary residence.
    • Temporary residence is limited to no more than 29 days.
    • Allowed only in the zoning districts that chapter 2 specifies; R-1 and R-2 list recreational vehicle occupancy as a permitted use with use standards (asterisk).

    maximum temporary RV residence: <= 29 days (designated RV park or campground excluded)

    “recreational vehicles outside of a designated recreational vehicle park / campground shall only be permitted as a temporary residence limited to no more than twentynine (29) days and only in those zoning districts as specified in chapter 2, zoning districts.”
  • Manufactured homesAllowed (with conditions)

    Manufactured home park in the R-4 medium-density multi-family residential district inside Greensburg city limits

    • Marked with ^ in the R-4 use table: requires a development plan under sec. 7.b.9 before the use is permitted.
    • Single manufactured homes on individual lots in R-1 through R-4 were not verified.
    “residential uses • manufactured home park^ residential uses • single-family detached dwelling”
  • Mandatory utility hookupWater and sewer (with conditions)

    Development in the B-1 central business district inside Greensburg city limits (commercial; not a new single-family home)

    • Applies to the B-1 development standards table only; does not answer the residential connection rule.
    “maximum impervious surface coverage 85% municipal water and sewer required yes”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision of land inside Greensburg city limits, under UDO chapters 5 and 6

    • The B-1 table states subdivision approval is required and points to chapters 5 and 6 for subdivision regulations; those chapters were not opened.
    “municipal water and sewer required yes subdivision approval required (see chapters 5 and 6 for subdivision regulations) yes”
  • Short-term rentalsLimited

    Short-term rentals, owner-occupied and not owner-occupied, in the R-1 and R-2 districts inside Greensburg city limits

    • Owner-occupied short-term rentals are marked with an asterisk, meaning use standards apply; those standards were not read.
    • Not-owner-occupied short-term rentals are listed as an accessory use in R-1; the table layout is garbled and the status of each column was not confirmed.
    “recreational vehicle occupancy* • short-term rental (owneroccupied)* accessory uses • short-term rental (not owneroccupied)”
  • Permit processPartial

    Building permit application process inside Greensburg city limits, handled by the city Building Commissioner

    • Application goes to the Building Commissioner on a form the commissioner prepares, with plans, specifications and the fee set by city ordinance (§ 150.26(b)).
    • Permit issues on a complete application that conforms to building laws and other ordinances (§ 150.28).
    • Septic, well and county health steps are not covered by this section.
    “(a) any person required to have a building permit shall submit a complete application to the building commissioner.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Greensburg or Decatur County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder construction of a home inside Greensburg city limits
  • Camping on your land — Temporary tent or camping on private land inside Greensburg city limits
  • Tiny homes — Tiny home occupancy inside Greensburg city limits
  • Who permits septic — Onsite septic systems for homes inside Greensburg city limits
  • Septic permit — Septic system permit for a home inside Greensburg city limits
7 more unanswered
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Permit fees

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

← All of Decatur County: county rules, score and offices