Bolthole Index

Marshall County, Indiana

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Bourbon, Indiana

Building a home in the Town of Bourbon, Indiana requires a building permit issued by the Marshall County Building Department, not by the town1. Bourbon sets its own zoning through its plan commission and town board2. Septic permits for lots without sewer come from the Marshall County Health Department3.

At a glance

Building permit
Required inside town limits; issued by the Marshall County Building Department under the county building code14
Zoning
Bourbon's own zoning ordinance, run by the town plan commission and town board2
Septic
Marshall County Health Department permit, needed before an improvement location permit for a home without sewer5
Sewer and water
Public sewer and water required in the single family residential district; other districts differ6
RV living
Limited to 15 days outside an approved RV park7
Manufactured homes
Allowed in residential districts if the home meets the ordinance's listed specifications8

Who to call

Planning & zoning

Town of Bourbon Zoning/Building Department

Zoning questions for residential and commercial structures inside Bourbon, plus town forms and ordinances

574-342-4755

104 E Park Ave, Bourbon, IN 46504

Building permits

Marshall County Building Department

Building permits, construction inspections and certificates of occupancy, including inside the town of Bourbon

(574) 935-8531

Marshall County Building 112 W Jefferson St Room 302 Plymouth, IN 46563

Online permits →

Septic permits

Marshall County Health Department

Residential onsite sewage (septic) and private-well permits

(574) 935-8565

990 Illinois St, Plymouth, IN 46563

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

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Does Bourbon, Indiana have zoning, and what does it mean for RVs, manufactured homes and lot rules?

Yes. The Town of Bourbon in Marshall County has its own zoning ordinance, administered by the Bourbon plan commission and town board2. The ordinance publishes single family, two-family, local business, general business, light industrial, heavy industrial, suburban and PUD districts9. Rules differ by district, so look up the parcel's district before you plan anything.

RV living is tightly limited: an RV may not be occupied for longer than 15 days anywhere in Bourbon except an approved RV park7. Manufactured homes are permitted in residential districts when they meet the ordinance's listed specifications8. An accessory building such as a garage or shed cannot be used for residential purposes10. In the suburban district the height limit is 35 feet or 2 1/2 stories11.

We could not confirm Bourbon's rules for tiny homes, accessory dwellings, minimum dwelling size or setbacks. Ask the Town of Bourbon Zoning/Building Department12.

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

Yes, where a building permit applies, construction inside Bourbon follows the Marshall County building code, and the building official is the county's, not the town's1. The Marshall County Building Department states that it serves as the building permit and inspection agency for Bourbon4. A garage or shed can be built only after the principal use is established and a building permit has been obtained for the principal building10.

The county's own rules say construction is prohibited without a valid building permit from the Building Commissioner, and that all construction is subject to periodic inspections1314. Occupancy of a new building is unlawful without a certificate of occupancy from the Building Commissioner15. A homeowner may apply for the permit personally but remains subject to the permit requirement16. We could not confirm a Bourbon-specific fee schedule or inspection schedule; ask the county building department.

How do septic permits work inside Bourbon?

Septic permits stay with the county. A lot inside Bourbon that is not on public sewer needs a septic permit from the Marshall County Health Department before the improvement location permit can be issued517. The single family residential district requires public sewer and water instead6, while the suburban and light industrial districts allow private well and septic systems18.

The Marshall County Health Department charges $60 for a new-construction septic permit and $30 for a replacement, both non-refundable19. New construction needs a soil profile analysis, and the department has 30 days to review the plan and another 30 days after any changes20. The permit is good for two years21.

Across Marshall County, about 9% of soils rate as not limited for a conventional drain field, so expect a site evaluation and possibly an engineered system22. Indiana does not allow drywells or cesspools for on-site sewage treatment23. The Marshall County Health Department also issues new residential well permits countywide24; we could not confirm whether any extra rule applies inside Bourbon.

Building a home in Bourbon: the steps, in order

  1. Call the Town of Bourbon Zoning/Building Department to confirm the parcel's zoning district and whether public sewer and water are required there126.
  2. If the lot is not sewered, apply in person to the Marshall County Health Department for a septic permit, with a soil profile analysis and building plans1917.
  3. Apply for the improvement location permit and the building permit; the county building official issues the building permit14.
  4. Ask whether a driveway permit applies; it comes from the county or state highway department, where applicable25.
  5. Build with the required inspections, then get a certificate of occupancy before anyone moves in15.

What stays with Marshall County, and what to check before you buy in Bourbon

Everything outside Bourbon's limits follows Marshall County's rules instead of the town's; see the Marshall County page for unincorporated land. Inside town limits, the county still handles building permits, septic and wells13.

Before you buy, confirm three things: the parcel's zoning district; whether it sits in a mapped flood hazard area, a question we could not confirm for Bourbon, so ask the zoning/building department12; and whether a state highway driveway permit applies, since Indiana requires permission from the governmental unit that has jurisdiction over the road26.

Marshall County's effective property tax rate is 0.7%27, and the median property tax bill is $1,260 per year28.

Watch-outs

  • The zoning ordinance's cover page and title page show different effective dates, so ask the town which version is current2.
  • The ordinance refers in places to a Bourbon health department, so confirm with the Marshall County Health Department that it issues septic permits for your lot3.
  • We could not confirm Bourbon's permit fees, setbacks, minimum dwelling size, tiny-home rules or short-term rental rules; ask the Town of Bourbon Zoning/Building Department12.

Sources

  1. Bourbon, Indiana Zoning Ordinance (title page effective August 11, 2015) (Town of Bourbon), quoted and re-checked
  2. Bourbon, Indiana Zoning Ordinance (title page effective August 11, 2015) (Town of Bourbon), quoted and re-checked
  3. Bourbon, Indiana Zoning Ordinance (title page effective August 11, 2015) (Town of Bourbon), quoted and re-checked
  4. Marshall County Building Department (co.marshall.in.us)
  5. Bourbon, Indiana Zoning Ordinance (title page effective August 11, 2015) (Town of Bourbon), quoted and re-checked
  6. Bourbon, Indiana Zoning Ordinance (title page effective August 11, 2015) (Town of Bourbon), quoted and re-checked
  7. Bourbon, Indiana Zoning Ordinance (title page effective August 11, 2015) (Town of Bourbon), quoted and re-checked
  8. Bourbon, Indiana Zoning Ordinance (title page effective August 11, 2015) (Town of Bourbon), quoted and re-checked
  9. Bourbon, Indiana Zoning Ordinance (title page effective August 11, 2015) (Town of Bourbon), quoted and re-checked
  10. Bourbon, Indiana Zoning Ordinance (title page effective August 11, 2015) (Town of Bourbon), quoted and re-checked
  11. Bourbon, Indiana Zoning Ordinance (title page effective August 11, 2015) (Town of Bourbon), quoted and re-checked
  12. Town of Bourbon Zoning/Building Department (bourbon-in.gov)
  13. § 150.20 Building Permit Required, quoted and re-checked
  14. § 150.40 General Authority to Make Inspections and Investigations, quoted and re-checked
  15. § 150.23 Certificate of Occupancy, quoted and re-checked
  16. § 111.06 Applicant for Building Permits by Homeowner, quoted and re-checked
  17. Marshall County Health Department (in.gov)
  18. Bourbon, Indiana Zoning Ordinance (title page effective August 11, 2015) (Town of Bourbon), quoted and re-checked
  19. Marshall County Health Department: Onsite Sewage Systems - Septic System, quoted and re-checked
  20. Marshall County Health Department: Onsite Sewage Systems - Septic System, quoted and re-checked
  21. Marshall County Health Department: Onsite Sewage Systems - Septic System, 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. 410 IAC 6-8.3 Residential On-Site Sewage Systems (Indiana statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  24. Marshall County Health Department: Well Permitting, quoted and re-checked
  25. Bourbon, Indiana Zoning Ordinance (title page effective August 11, 2015) (Town of Bourbon), quoted and re-checked
  26. INDOT Driveway Permit Guide 2024 (Indiana statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  27. Effective property tax rate: 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 Town of Bourbon

Town of Bourbon’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Accessory buildings (garages, sheds, etc.) on lots inside Bourbon town.

    • Accessory building may be built only after the principal use is established and a building permit has been obtained for the principal building.
    • No accessory building may be used for residential purposes.
    “accessory buildings may only be constructed subsequent to the principal use being established and a building permit obtained for the principal building”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside Bourbon town's zoning jurisdiction, administered by the Bourbon plan commission and Bourbon town board (the ordinance text also applies in the unincorporated area it describes; that reach was not verified).

    • Cover page reads 'Effective November 5, 2007' while the title page reads 'effective, August 11, 2015'; the 2015 date is recorded as effective_at because the title page states it as the effective date. Town should confirm which version is current.
    • Ordinance applies with Marshall County references in its headers and definitions; county building code and county health department rules are cross-referenced for permits and septic.
    “bourbon indiana zoning ordinance effective, august 11, 2015 bourbon town board”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Zoning districts and their intent, uses and development standards inside Bourbon town

    • Districts are published in article 3 of the zoning ordinance (single family, two-family, local business, general business, light industrial, heavy industrial, suburban, PUD).
    “standard zoning district intent, uses, & standards”
  • Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Suburban ('S') agricultural and single-family district inside Bourbon town

    • Height limit quoted from the suburban district block; the single family district's height limit was not secured verbatim and is unverified.

    maximum structure height: <= 35 feet (or 2 1/2 stories)

    “maximum structure height: • 35 feet or 2 1/2 stories”
  • Living in an RVLimited

    Occupancy of a recreational vehicle on private land inside Bourbon town outside an approved RV park

    • Occupancy limited to fifteen (15) days in any location other than an approved recreational vehicle park.
    • Approved RV parks are subject to plan commission review and state health approval.

    maximum occupancy period outside approved RV park: <= 15 days (not applicable inside an approved recreational vehicle park)

    “recreational vehicles shall not be occupied for longer than fifteen (15) days in any location other than an approved recreational vehicle park”
  • Camping on your landLimited

    Temporary camping on private land inside Bourbon town

    • Camping with recreational vehicles on private land limited to fifteen (15) days outside an approved RV park.
    • New RV parks and campgrounds need plan commission approval before work begins.
    “detailed plans of proposed mhcs and rvp/cs shall be submitted for approval to the plan commission before work begins”
  • Manufactured homesAllowed (with conditions)

    Manufactured homes on residential lots inside Bourbon town

    • Permitted in any residential district if the home meets listed specifications, including a minimum roof pitch of 4/12 and exterior wall requirements.
    • The single family residential district also lists manufactured home - double wide as a permitted use.
    “manufactured homes shall be permitter in any residential districts, as long as they meet the following specifications”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Private well and septic (off-grid) sanitation on lots inside Bourbon town, where the district allows it

    • Allowed in the light industrial district per the district development standards; the single family district requires public sewer and water.
    • Septic installation must comply with state and local health department rules.
    “sewer and water: • may use private well and septic systems”
  • Mandatory utility hookupWater and sewer (with conditions)

    New single-family homes in the single family residential district inside Bourbon town

    • Public sewer and water must be used in the single family district; the ordinance says so in the district's development standards.
    • Other districts differ: the suburban district and the light industrial district allow private well and septic systems.
    • Public sewer connections are subject to county approval (site plan requirement).
    • Distance-based availability rule was not located in the text reviewed.
    “sewer and water: • must use public sewer and water”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Division of land for development inside Bourbon town

    • The zoning ordinance refers to a subdivision control ordinance administered by the planning director; the subdivision ordinance text itself was not opened within budget.
    “the planning director shall be the administrator for the zoning and subdivision control ordinances”
  • Permit processPartial

    Zoning and building permit process inside Bourbon town

    • The article lists improvement location permits, certificates of occupancy, sign permits and variance/special use petitions, but only the table of contents and the compliance clause were read.
    • No construction may proceed except after lawful issuance of all permits and certificates required by the ordinance.
    “article eleven • processes, permits, and fees 010 020 030 040 050 060 070 080 petition and permit application types”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Bourbon

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

  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Construction inside Bourbon town that requires an improvement location or building permit: the Marshall County building code is the building code the town's ordinance applies (county-administered, not a Bourbon town code). Applies inside Bourbon town.

    • Authority identified from the zoning ordinance's permit and certificate references; the county FIPS (18099) is not verified on an official page.
    • The town's zoning ordinance does not adopt a separate town building code in the text reviewed.
    “a certificate stating that the occupancy and use of a structure complies with the provisions of the marshall county building code”
  • Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

    On-site septic systems on lots inside Bourbon town (county health department permits; applies inside Bourbon town).

    • The zoning ordinance refers to the Marshall County health department for septic permits.
    • The same section requires all construction to comply with state of Indiana rules as well as local health department regulations.
    • The ordinance also refers in places to a 'bourbon health department', so the operative health authority should be confirmed with the county.
    “either a septic permit from the marshall county health department certifying the approval of one (1) on-site septic system”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Where a lot relies on an on-site septic system inside Bourbon town (county health department permit; applies inside Bourbon town).

    • A septic permit from the county health department is needed before the improvement location permit for a non-sewered home can be issued (zoning ordinance waste disposal verification).
    • Permit scope includes one on-site septic system and one alternate location.
    “either a septic permit from the marshall county health department certifying the approval of one (1) on-site septic system”
  • Driveway accessLimited

    New driveway access to a lot inside Bourbon town (county or state highway department permit; applies inside Bourbon town).

    • Driveway permit comes from the county or state highway department, and only where applicable.
    • Town highway department letter is also part of certain plan submittals.
    “a driveway permit from the county or state highway department (if applicable)”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for homes inside Bourbon town
  • Inspections — Building inspections for construction inside Bourbon town
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes inside Bourbon town
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in the single family residential district inside Bourbon town
  • Setbacks — Front, side and rear yard setbacks in Bourbon town's single family residential and suburban districts
8 more unanswered
  • Tiny homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Septic inspection
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Short-term rentals
  • 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 Town of Bourbon publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Marshall County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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