Bolthole Index

Johnson County, Indiana

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Greenwood, Indiana

Greenwood, Indiana zones land inside its corporate limits under the city's Unified Development Ordinance1. Living in an RV on a Greenwood lot is limited to a 15-day guest stay each calendar year2. Septic permits for homes not on sewer are issued by the local health officer, which in Greenwood's county means the Johnson County Health Department3. We could not confirm the city's general building permit rules.

At a glance

Zoning
Yes, under the city's Unified Development Ordinance, inside city limits only1
Building permit
Not confirmed for new homes; an accessory dwelling unit needs one45
Septic permit
Written permit from the local health officer if not on sewer; Johnson County Health Department63
RV living
Guest stay of up to 15 days a year, RV up to 32 feet2
Minimum lot (RL)
12,000 sq ft7
Minimum home size (RL, RM)
1,100 sq ft89
Accessory dwelling
One per lot, owner must live on the property4

Who to call

Septic permits

Johnson County Health Department, Environmental Health (Onsite Septic)

Onsite septic permits, installation, repair and abandonment approvals for Johnson County

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

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Does Greenwood, Indiana have zoning?

Yes. Greenwood establishes zoning districts for the corporate limits of the city, and land inside them is shown on the official zone map1. The districts include residential large lot (RL), medium lot (RM), attached single-family (RA), mobile homes (RMH), agricultural (AG) and planned unit developments (PUD)10.

The ordinance does not cover unincorporated Johnson County land1. For land outside city limits, use the Johnson County page.

What are the lot size, setback and home size rules in Greenwood?

Rules differ by district. In the RL district, the minimum lot is 12,000 square feet with a 75-foot width7. Setbacks there are 30 feet front, 10 feet on each side and 25 feet rear11. Impervious coverage is capped at 40 percent12 and height at 35 feet13.

In the RM district, the minimum lot is 7,700 square feet14, with a 20-foot front setback15 and 50 percent impervious coverage16.

The RL and RM tables both list a 1,100 square foot minimum residential unit size89. The AG district requires 5 acres17, with a 40-foot front setback and 60-foot side setbacks18.

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

We could not confirm Greenwood's general building permit rule for new single-family homes. The one city permit requirement we verified is for accessory dwelling units, which need a permit for construction or addition4.

Indiana leaves this to local jurisdictions: whether a building permit or plan review is required depends on the local ordinance or process5. Inside Greenwood, ask the City of Greenwood's Building Commissioner before you start. Do not send yourself to the Johnson County permit counter, which serves unincorporated land only19.

Indiana's statewide building and residential codes apply to construction20.

How do septic permits work in Greenwood?

A home connected to sanitary sewer does not need a septic system. A dwelling that will not be connected needs a written construction permit signed by the health officer6. Locally, the Johnson County Health Department runs the onsite septic program3, and the state rule is administered by local boards of health21.

The health department must issue or deny the permit in writing within 30 days of the application and plan submittal6. Soils matter: only about 1 percent of Johnson County soils are rated not limited for a conventional drain field, so expect a site evaluation and possibly an engineered system22.

We could not confirm whether a Greenwood lot must connect to public sewer when it is available; ask the City of Greenwood.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Greenwood?

Mostly no. Greenwood allows parking or storing a travel trailer or RV only where it is not used for living or sleeping, with exceptions2. A bona fide guest may park an RV in the rear yard or driveway of a single-family home for up to 15 days in any one calendar year, for sleeping only, and the vehicle may not exceed 32 feet2. RV use is also allowed in a licensed mobile home park or campground2.

An accessory dwelling unit is the permitted alternative: one per lot, with the owner living in either unit, and a permit required4. We could not confirm any tiny-home rule for Greenwood.

Building a home in Greenwood: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm the zoning district on the city's official zone map and check lot size, setbacks and the 1,100 square foot minimum for your district108.
  2. Ask the City of Greenwood's Building Commissioner what building permit and inspections apply; we could not confirm them5.
  3. If the lot is not on sewer, get a septic construction permit from the Johnson County Health Department before building6.
  4. If the lot is in the special flood hazard area, plan for the city's floodplain development rules, which require proof of sewer or an approved septic system23.
  5. Splitting a lot goes through the city's minor or major subdivision procedures24.

What stays with Johnson County, and what to check before you buy in Greenwood

Septic permits and the health officer stay with the county, city lot or not21. Wells may need a local health department permit; Indiana does not say which departments require one, so ask the county25. Floodway construction on streams draining more than 1 square mile needs prior DNR Division of Water approval26.

Johnson County's typical home value is about $317,67727 and its median property tax bill is $1,875 a year28. Greenwood's neighbors and unincorporated rules are on the Johnson County page.

Watch-outs

  • We could not confirm Greenwood's general building permit, inspection or certificate of occupancy rules; ask the City of Greenwood Building Commissioner before buying or building5.
  • Johnson County's unincorporated building permit and zoning rules do not apply inside Greenwood city limits1.
  • RV living beyond a 15-day guest stay is not allowed on a Greenwood residential lot2.

Sources

  1. City of Greenwood Unified Development Ordinance, Chapter 10 (city-posted PDF) (Greenwood), quoted and re-checked
  2. City of Greenwood Unified Development Ordinance, Chapter 10 (city-posted PDF) (Greenwood), quoted and re-checked
  3. Johnson County Health Department - Onsite Septic (2026 county census)
  4. City of Greenwood Unified Development Ordinance, Chapter 10 (city-posted PDF) (Greenwood), quoted and re-checked
  5. in.gov (Indiana statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  6. Residential On-Site Sewage Systems, 410 IAC 6-8.3, quoted and re-checked
  7. City of Greenwood Unified Development Ordinance, Chapter 10 (city-posted PDF) (Greenwood), quoted and re-checked
  8. City of Greenwood Unified Development Ordinance, Chapter 10 (city-posted PDF) (Greenwood), quoted and re-checked
  9. City of Greenwood Unified Development Ordinance, Chapter 10 (city-posted PDF) (Greenwood), quoted and re-checked
  10. City of Greenwood Unified Development Ordinance, Chapter 10 (city-posted PDF) (Greenwood), quoted and re-checked
  11. City of Greenwood Unified Development Ordinance, Chapter 10 (city-posted PDF) (Greenwood), quoted and re-checked
  12. City of Greenwood Unified Development Ordinance, Chapter 10 (city-posted PDF) (Greenwood), quoted and re-checked
  13. City of Greenwood Unified Development Ordinance, Chapter 10 (city-posted PDF) (Greenwood), quoted and re-checked
  14. City of Greenwood Unified Development Ordinance, Chapter 10 (city-posted PDF) (Greenwood), quoted and re-checked
  15. City of Greenwood Unified Development Ordinance, Chapter 10 (city-posted PDF) (Greenwood), quoted and re-checked
  16. City of Greenwood Unified Development Ordinance, Chapter 10 (city-posted PDF) (Greenwood), quoted and re-checked
  17. City of Greenwood Unified Development Ordinance, Chapter 10 (city-posted PDF) (Greenwood), quoted and re-checked
  18. City of Greenwood Unified Development Ordinance, Chapter 10 (city-posted PDF) (Greenwood), quoted and re-checked
  19. Johnson County Building Department (2026 county census)
  20. Rules of the Indiana Fire Prevention and Building Safety Commission (Indiana statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  21. Residential On-Site Sewage Systems, administrative authority, quoted and re-checked
  22. 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
  23. City of Greenwood Unified Development Ordinance, Chapter 10 (city-posted PDF) (Greenwood), quoted and re-checked
  24. City of Greenwood Unified Development Ordinance, Chapter 10 (city-posted PDF) (Greenwood), quoted and re-checked
  25. Recommended Standards For Private Water Wells (Indiana statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  26. Water: Permit Application Type, quoted and re-checked
  27. Typical home value (Zillow): Bolthole Index county data
  28. Median property tax bill: 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 Greenwood

Greenwood’s own rules

  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside Greenwood city's corporate limits, governed by the city's Unified Development Ordinance (Chapter 10 of the city code)

    • Zoning applies to the corporate limits of the city; unincorporated Johnson County land is not covered by this ordinance.
    • Use-level and dimensional rules are set in the district sections and the generally applicable standards (Division III) of the ordinance.
    “the following districts and zones are hereby established for the corporate limits of the city and land within said areas shall be designated on the official zone map by the following symbols”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Zoning districts inside Greenwood city, including RL, RM, RA, RMC, RMH, CS, CM, CL, IM, IL, OS, AG, OT, OTR, IC, AC, AO, FD and PUD

    • The chapter order lists the residential, commercial, industrial, and other districts and zones; the zoning map is adopted by the ordinance.
    • Planned unit developments are a separate zone (PUD) under sec. 10-01-07.
    “residential zones large lot (rl) medium lot (rm) attached single-family (ra) multi-unit complex (rmc) mobile homes (rmh)”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    Residential large lot (RL) zone inside Greenwood city, single-family dwellings

    • The RL table lists residential unit size of 1,100 sq ft in the minimum column with no maximum; the table is the only place this value appears in the text opened.

    minimum residential unit size: >= 1100 sq ft

    “residential unit size (sq. ft.) 1,100 n/a accessory building location rear yard, 10 feet from any lot line”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    Residential large lot (RL) zone inside Greenwood city, the main single-family district

    • Lot width minimum 75 ft.
    • Units per table: this is the minimum lot area per the RL standards table.

    minimum lot size: >= 12000 sq ft

    “rl standards minimum maximum lot size (sq. ft.) 12,000 n/a lot width (ft.) 75 n/a front yard setback (ft.) 30 n/a”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
  • SetbacksSpecified

    Residential large lot (RL) zone inside Greenwood city

    • Side yard setback is 10 ft for each side yard.
    • Accessory buildings: rear yard, 10 feet from any lot line; in a side yard only if 15 feet is kept between the front building line/setback and the accessory building (per the RL table).

    front yard setback: >= 30 ft · side yard setback: >= 10 ft (for each side yard) · rear yard setback: >= 25 ft

    “front yard setback (ft.) 30 n/a side yard setback (ft.) 10 for each side yard n/a rear yard setback (ft.) 25 n/a”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    Residential large lot (RL) zone inside Greenwood city

    • Measured as impervious lot coverage, maximum percentage of total lot area.

    impervious lot coverage: <= 40 percent of lot area

    “impervious lot coverage (maximum percentage of total lot area) n/a 40”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Building heightSpecified

    Agricultural (AG) district inside Greenwood city

    • Maximum building height 40 ft per the AG table.
    • Accessory structure height is 40 ft; silos do not have a height limitation.

    maximum building height: <= 40 ft (silos excluded from accessory height limit)

    “building height (ft.) n/a 40 accessory building location behind forward building edge accessory building height (ft.) 40; silos do not have a height limitation”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
  • Living in an RVLimited

    Travel trailers and RVs kept, parked or occupied on private land inside Greenwood city

    • Parking or storage of a travel trailer or RV is allowed only where it is not used for living or sleeping, unless an exception applies.
    • Bona fide guest exception: a guest may park a travel trailer or RV in the rear yard or driveway of a single-family dwelling for up to 15 days in any one calendar year, used only for sleeping during that period; the vehicle may not exceed 32 feet in length.
    • Parked or stored vehicles in a residential zone must meet the front, side, or rear setback requirements of that zone.
    • RV use is also permitted in a licensed mobile home park or campground as described in the ordinance.

    guest parking period: <= 15 days per calendar year (bona fide guest of a householder, used only for sleeping) · guest vehicle length: <= 32 ft (bona fide guest exception)

    “it shall be permissible for a bona fide guest of a house holder to park a travel trailer or rv in the rear yard or driveway of any single-family dwelling house for a period of time not to exceed fifteen (15) days in any one calendar year”
  • Accessory dwellingsLimited

    Accessory dwelling units on lots with a single-family primary dwelling inside Greenwood city

    • Only one accessory dwelling unit is allowed on a lot.
    • The property owner must permanently reside in either the principal unit or the accessory unit.
    • Maximum size of a detached ADU: 30% of the primary home’s total floor area of 800 square feet, whichever is greater; maximum height follows the district rule.
    • A permit is required for the construction or addition of an ADU.
    • A sidewalk must run from the street to the primary entrance of a detached ADU; utilities serving the ADU must be underground.
    • No additional parking is required if the one-family dwelling parking requirement is met.

    accessory dwelling units per lot: <= 1 units

    “only one accessory dwelling unit is allowed on a lot;”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision of land inside Greenwood city

    • Minor and major subdivision procedures are set in the ordinance.
    • Sanitary sewers, streets, sidewalks, stormwater, and fire protection are addressed in the subdivision standards (Division VI).
    “sec. 10-06-22. minor subdivision procedures. sec. 10-06-23. major subdivision procedures.”
  • Building in a floodplainLimited

    Development inside the special flood hazard area or flood hazard overlay (FD) in Greenwood city

    • Development is defined to include any man-made change to improved or unimproved real estate, including construction, placing a manufactured home, and installing utilities.
    • Applications must show that connection to a public sewer or an approved on-site septic system is available and approved by the regulatory agency for structures with restrooms or kitchens.
    • New and replacement sanitary sewage systems must minimize infiltration of floodwaters.
    “verification that connection to either a public sewer system or to an approved on-site septic system is available and approved by the respective regulatory agency for proposed structures to be equipped with a restroom, kitchen or other facilities requiring disposal of wastewater.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Building permit — Building permits for new single-family construction inside Greenwood city
  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for a homeowner building their own home inside Greenwood city
  • Building code adopted — Building code adopted for construction inside Greenwood city
  • Inspections — Building inspections for construction inside Greenwood city
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy for new homes inside Greenwood city
11 more unanswered
  • Tiny homes
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • Short-term rentals
  • Permit fees
  • Permit process

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

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