Bolthole Index

Marshall County, Indiana

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

The Town of Culver, Indiana, in Marshall County, has its own zoning ordinance1 and requires an improvement location permit from the town's building commissioner before any structure is built, moved or added to2. Septic systems are approved by the Marshall County Health Department, not the town3. Town hall at (574) 842-3140 is the first call4.

At a glance

Zoning
Yes, town zoning ordinance with S-1, L-1, R-1, R-2, A-1, MH and other districts15
Building permit
Improvement location permit from the town's building commissioner, then inspection and certificate of occupancy26
Septic
Marshall County Health Department approves on-site systems3
Minimum dwelling size
951 sq ft of occupied space in S-1, R-1 and A-1789
Accessory dwelling
Special use in R-1 and A-1, needs board of zoning appeals approval10
RV living
Not confirmed; ask the building commissioner4
Wells
Marshall County well permit required for new residential wells11

Who to call

Building permits

Town of Culver Building Commissioner

Building, planning and zoning matters for the town and its zoning jurisdiction; improvement location permits are applied for online

(574) 842-3140

200 E Washington St. Culver, IN 46511

Online permits →

Planning & zoning

Culver Plan Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals

Plan commission decisions on new buildings and renovations; rezoning and subdivision applications

(574) 842-3140

200 E Washington St. Culver, IN 46511

Online permits →

Septic permits

Marshall County Health Department

Residential on-site sewage (septic) and private-well permits, including inside Culver

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

These are affiliate links — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, Bolthole Index earns from qualifying purchases.

Does Culver, Indiana have zoning, and what does it mean for your lot?

Yes. The Town of Culver adopted its own zoning ordinance, and it covers all land inside the corporate limits1. The ordinance sorts the town into districts: S-1 suburban, L-1 lake, R-1 and R-2 residential, C-1 and C-2 commercial, I-1 and I-2 industrial, P-1 park, MH manufactured housing, A-1 agricultural, and PUD5. Look up your parcel's district on the interactive zoning map the plan commission links to12.

Lot size depends on district and on utilities. In S-1, a single-family lot without public water and sewer needs 1 acre, and 21,780 square feet with them13. In R-1, the main single-family district, the minimum is 7,500 square feet with municipal water and sewer14. A-1 agricultural land needs 5 acres per residential unit, and only one dwelling is allowed per parcel15.

Other limits: R-1 and S-1 lots may be covered by no more than 50 percent impervious surface, and R-1 structures top out at 35 feet161718. Dwellings in S-1, R-1 and A-1 must have at least 951 square feet7.

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

Yes. Inside the Town of Culver, no structure may be erected, moved or added to without an improvement location permit issued by the building commissioner2. Applications go in online through the Schneider Corp. permit portal, and the town no longer accepts paper applications4. The permit must also be consistent with the Marshall County building code, where it applies2.

After the work, the permit holder calls the building commissioner to schedule an inspection19. Nobody may occupy a new or significantly remodeled structure until the permit, the inspections and a certificate of occupancy are all in hand6. Fees are paid to the building commissioner when the application is submitted20.

The Town of Culver Building Commissioner handles building, planning and zoning questions for the town4.

How do septic permits work inside Culver?

Septic permits inside Culver come from the Marshall County Health Department. The zoning ordinance says all septic systems are subject to the county health department's approval, while public sewer connections are approved by the town3. A lot without public sewer must show approval for one on-site system and an alternate location on the same property21.

The county permit needs a completed application, a proposed septic design and the fee22. The published fee is $60 for new construction and $30 for replacement23. Marshall County also requires a permit for new residential wells11. Contact the Marshall County Health Department at (574) 935-856524.

In Marshall County, about 9 percent of soils rate as not limited for a conventional drain field, so expect a site evaluation and possibly an engineered system25.

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

We could not confirm a rule on long-term RV living or temporary camping on a private lot inside Culver. The zoning ordinance lists campgrounds and RV parks as uses in some districts, but we found no provision on living in an RV on your own lot. Ask the Town of Culver Building Commissioner before you park one4.

Indiana's campground rule covers campsites that are leased or rented, not a home on your own land26.

Accessory dwelling units, meaning an extra unit with a kitchen, bathroom and sleeping area, are a special use in R-1 and A-1 and need board of zoning appeals approval10. Manufactured housing parks are confined to the MH district, which needs at least 3 acres and municipal water and sewer27.

How do you build a home in Culver, step by step?

  1. Find your parcel's zoning district on the interactive zoning map12.
  2. Check lot size, setbacks and the 951-square-foot minimum for your district7.
  3. If the lot has no public sewer, get septic approval from the Marshall County Health Department21.
  4. If the driveway meets a county or state road, get a driveway permit from that highway department28.
  5. Apply online for the improvement location permit4.
  6. Schedule inspections with the building commissioner, then obtain a certificate of occupancy before moving in6.

What stays with Marshall County, and what should you check before buying in Culver?

Septic and well permits stay with the Marshall County Health Department311. Land outside town limits follows the county's rules, not the town's; see the Marshall County page for those.

The town's zoning ordinance also reaches the town's extraterritorial jurisdiction, so a parcel just outside town limits may still answer to Culver's plan commission1.

Property costs are countywide: Marshall County's effective property tax rate is 0.7 percent, with a median bill of $1,260 a year2930. Farmland there averages $7,190 per acre31. Indiana requires a permit before work in a floodway from the DNR Division of Water32.

Watch-outs

  • We could not confirm a rule on long-term RV living inside Culver; ask the Town of Culver Building Commissioner at (574) 842-3140 before buying with an RV plan4.
  • The A-1 district shows both 5 acres per residential unit and a 1 acre minimum lot area, so confirm which applies to your parcel with the building commissioner15.
  • A Marshall County health department septic approval is separate from the town's improvement location permit, and a lot with a septic design still needs both3.

Sources

  1. Town of Culver, Indiana Revised Zoning Ordinance (cover: Effective, 2026; Last Revised 10.28.19) (Town of Culver), quoted and re-checked
  2. Town of Culver, Indiana Revised Zoning Ordinance (cover: Effective, 2026; Last Revised 10.28.19) (Town of Culver), quoted and re-checked
  3. Town of Culver, Indiana Revised Zoning Ordinance (cover: Effective, 2026; Last Revised 10.28.19) (Town of Culver), quoted and re-checked
  4. Town of Culver Building Commissioner (in.gov)
  5. Town of Culver, Indiana Revised Zoning Ordinance (cover: Effective, 2026; Last Revised 10.28.19) (Town of Culver), quoted and re-checked
  6. Town of Culver, Indiana Revised Zoning Ordinance (cover: Effective, 2026; Last Revised 10.28.19) (Town of Culver), quoted and re-checked
  7. Town of Culver, Indiana Revised Zoning Ordinance (cover: Effective, 2026; Last Revised 10.28.19) (Town of Culver), quoted and re-checked
  8. Town of Culver, Indiana Revised Zoning Ordinance (cover: Effective, 2026; Last Revised 10.28.19) (Town of Culver), quoted and re-checked
  9. Town of Culver, Indiana Revised Zoning Ordinance (cover: Effective, 2026; Last Revised 10.28.19) (Town of Culver), quoted and re-checked
  10. Town of Culver, Indiana Revised Zoning Ordinance (cover: Effective, 2026; Last Revised 10.28.19) (Town of Culver), quoted and re-checked
  11. Marshall County Health Department: Well Permitting, quoted and re-checked
  12. Culver Plan Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals (in.gov)
  13. Town of Culver, Indiana Revised Zoning Ordinance (cover: Effective, 2026; Last Revised 10.28.19) (Town of Culver), quoted and re-checked
  14. Town of Culver, Indiana Revised Zoning Ordinance (cover: Effective, 2026; Last Revised 10.28.19) (Town of Culver), quoted and re-checked
  15. Town of Culver, Indiana Revised Zoning Ordinance (cover: Effective, 2026; Last Revised 10.28.19) (Town of Culver), quoted and re-checked
  16. Town of Culver, Indiana Revised Zoning Ordinance (cover: Effective, 2026; Last Revised 10.28.19) (Town of Culver), quoted and re-checked
  17. Town of Culver, Indiana Revised Zoning Ordinance (cover: Effective, 2026; Last Revised 10.28.19) (Town of Culver), quoted and re-checked
  18. Town of Culver, Indiana Revised Zoning Ordinance (cover: Effective, 2026; Last Revised 10.28.19) (Town of Culver), quoted and re-checked
  19. Town of Culver, Indiana Revised Zoning Ordinance (cover: Effective, 2026; Last Revised 10.28.19) (Town of Culver), quoted and re-checked
  20. Town of Culver, Indiana Revised Zoning Ordinance (cover: Effective, 2026; Last Revised 10.28.19) (Town of Culver), quoted and re-checked
  21. Town of Culver, Indiana Revised Zoning Ordinance (cover: Effective, 2026; Last Revised 10.28.19) (Town of Culver), quoted and re-checked
  22. Marshall County Health Department: Onsite Sewage Systems - Septic System, quoted and re-checked
  23. Marshall County Health Department: Onsite Sewage Systems - Septic System, quoted and re-checked
  24. Marshall County Health Department (in.gov)
  25. 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
  26. Environmental Public Health: 410 IAC 6-71 Campgrounds (Indiana statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  27. Town of Culver, Indiana Revised Zoning Ordinance (cover: Effective, 2026; Last Revised 10.28.19) (Town of Culver), quoted and re-checked
  28. Town of Culver, Indiana Revised Zoning Ordinance (cover: Effective, 2026; Last Revised 10.28.19) (Town of Culver), quoted and re-checked
  29. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  30. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  31. Farmland value per acre (USDA census): Bolthole Index county data
  32. Water: Community Assistance & Information (Indiana statewide rule), quoted and re-checked

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 Culver

Town of Culver’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    New construction and alteration of structures inside Culver town

    • Permit is an improvement location permit issued by the town's building commissioner.
    • Construction may begin only after the permit is issued.
    • A building permit must also be consistent with the Marshall County building code (if applicable).
    “no structure shall be erected, moved, or added to, without an improvement location permit issued by the building commissioner.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Work approved under an improvement location permit inside Culver town

    • Inspection is scheduled by the permit holder with the building commissioner.
    • The county building inspector may also take part in the inspection.
    • Inspection required before certificate of occupancy.
    “upon the completion of the work approved through an improvement location permit, the permit holder shall contact the building commissioner and schedule an inspection to verify the installation of improvements consistent with the requirements of this ordinance. the county building inspector, any other municipal official, and any other person requested by the building commissioner may also take part in the inspection.”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    New or significantly remodeled structures inside Culver town

    • Occupancy is unlawful before an improvement location permit is obtained, all required inspections (including final) are passed, and a certificate of occupancy is issued.
    • Certificate is issued by the building commissioner when work complies with the ordinance, the subdivision control ordinance, and applicable building codes as verified by the building official.
    “it shall be unlawful and in violation of the provisions of this ordinance for any builder or property owner to allow any new or significantly remodeled structure to become occupied or utilized prior to: 1. legally obtaining an improvement location permit, 2. passing all required inspections, including the final inspection; and 3. receiving a certificate of occupancy.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    All land inside the corporate limits of Culver town, Indiana

    • The ordinance also reaches the town's extraterritorial jurisdiction under IC 36-7-4-205; this claim covers only land inside the town limits.
    • Cover states 'Effective, 2026 (Last Revised 10.28.19)'. No day is stated, so no effective date is recorded.
    • Amendment table lists 2023-012 (7/25/2023) and 2025-002 (6/1/2025); the text in the PDF reflects those.
    • The American Legal Publishing code (codelibrary.amlegal.com) returned HTTP 403 and was not read, so it is not confirmed that the PDF is the version in force.
    “this ordinance shall apply to all the corporate limits of the town of culver and its extraterritorial jurisdiction consistent with the provisions of ic 36-7-4-205.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Zoning districts inside Culver town limits: S-1 suburban, L-1 lake, R-1 residential, R-2 residential, C-1 and C-2 commercial, I-1 and I-2 industrial, P-1 park, MH manufactured housing, A-1 agricultural, and PUD

    • Official zoning map is referenced in Article 2 but was not opened.
    • Only the S-1, L-1, R-1, R-2, A-1, MH and P-1 standards were read in the text extracted from the PDF.
    “s-1, suburban district l-1, lake district r-1 residential district r-2 residential district c-1, commercial district c-2 commercial district i-1, industrial district i-2 industrial district p-1, park district mh, park district a-1, agricultural district”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    Dwellings in the A-1 agricultural district inside Culver town

    • Measured as occupied space.

    minimum dwelling size: >= 951 sq ft (occupied space)

    “minimum dwelling size: • 951 square feet of occupied space”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    Residential use on a lot in the A-1 agricultural district inside Culver town

    • The extracted text gives both '5 acres' per residential unit and '1 acres' minimum lot area; the codified version was not checked to resolve this.
    • A farm is defined as a single parcel of 5 acres or more under one ownership.
    • Only one dwelling unit is allowed per parcel in this district.

    minimum lot area per residential unit: >= 5 acre · minimum lot area: >= 1 acre

    “minimum lot area per residential unit: • 5 acres minimum lot area: • 1 acres”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
  • SetbacksSpecified

    Dwellings and structures in the A-1 agricultural district inside Culver town

    • Front setback is 50 ft from a local road; state highway frontage is 85 ft or 50 ft from property line, whichever is less.
    • Side setback is 50 ft for accessory structures; grain storage 100 ft and livestock or fowl housing 100 ft from the setback lines as stated in the text.

    minimum front yard setback (local road): >= 50 feet (state highway: 85 ft or 50 ft from property line, whichever is less) · minimum rear yard setback: >= 25 feet · minimum side yard setback: >= 15 feet (50 ft for accessory structures)

    “minimum rear yard setback: • 25 feet minimum lot side yard setback: • 15 feet or 50 feet for accessory structures • 100 feet for grain storage • 100 feet for livestock/fowl housing”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    Lots in the A-1 agricultural district inside Culver town

    • Limit is stated as impervious surface coverage.

    maximum impervious lot coverage: <= 30 percent

    “maximum structure height: • 35 feet for dwellings maximum impervious lot coverage: • 30%”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
  • Building heightSpecified

    Dwellings in the A-1 agricultural district inside Culver town

    • Height limit stated for dwellings; the A-1 text does not give a separate figure for other structures in the extracted passage.

    maximum structure height (dwellings): <= 35 feet

    “maximum structure height: • 35 feet for dwellings maximum impervious lot coverage: • 30%”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Manufactured housing park or district land in the MH manufactured housing district inside Culver town

    • Minimum 3 acres; minimum lot 4,000 sq ft; minimum lot width 50 ft.
    • Must use municipal water and sewer systems.
    • Only the MH district is covered by this claim; manufactured homes elsewhere are a separate question.

    minimum acreage (MH district): >= 3 acre

    “minimum acreage: • 3 acres minimum lot width: • 50 feet minimum lot area • 4000 square feet minimum lot frontage: • none sewer and water: • must use municipal water and sewer systems”
  • Accessory dwellingsLimited

    Accessory dwelling unit on a residential parcel inside Culver town (R-1 and A-1 special uses)

    • Listed as a special use in R-1 and A-1, which requires board of zoning appeals approval.
    • Definition: an extra living unit with kitchen, bathroom and sleeping facilities, attached or detached.
    • An attached ADU is treated as a duplex under the building code.
    • Accessory dwelling units are also named in other district use lists, which were not fully read.
    “accessory dwelling unit (adu) - is an extra living unit on a property, complete with kitchen, bathroom and sleeping facilities. an adu may be attached to or detached from the primary home on a property. when the unit is attached, it is considered a duplex under the building codes.”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Private well and septic in the A-1 agricultural district inside Culver town where public water and sewer are not available

    • Private well and septic are allowed in A-1 and S-1 (no public water/sewer lots, 1 acre minimum).
    • L-1 requires public sewer and water if available.
    • Septic systems require approval by the Marshall County health department.
    “sewer and water: • may use private well and septic systems”
  • Mandatory utility hookupConditional

    Lots in the L-1 lake district inside Culver town

    • Connection is required only if public sewer and water are available.
    • The R-1, S-1 and A-1 districts do not contain a parallel mandate in the text read.
    “sewer and water: must use public sewer and water if available”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Proposed subdivisions of land inside Culver town

    • Plan commission review is stated for flood hazard location; the full subdivision control ordinance was not opened.
    • The certificate-of-occupancy section refers to a 'subdivision control ordinance' without naming its adopting body in the text read.
    “the plan commission shall review all proposed subdivisions to determine whether the subdivision lies in a flood hazard area as defined elsewhere by ordinance.”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    Driveway access for a new building lot inside Culver town, where a county or state road is involved

    • Applies 'if applicable': a driveway permit from the county or state highway department is required when the lot's access is on a county or state road.
    • The town's own driveway standards (Article 6, section 040) and site-plan driveway location requirement were noted but not opened.
    “a driveway permit from the county or state highway department (if applicable);”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Improvement location permit, certificate of occupancy and sign permit applications inside Culver town

    • Applications are made on forms from the building commissioner and must be signed and notarized where required.
    • Fees are paid to the building commissioner when applications are submitted.
    • Board of zoning appeals and plan commission petitions have separate process rules in Article 11.
    “all applications may be obtained from the building commissioner. fees shall be paid to the building commissioner at the time the petition and/ or permit applications are submitted.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Culver

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

  • Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

    On-site septic systems on lots inside Culver town; approval by the Marshall County health department (county scope; the town approves public sewer connections)

    • Public sewer connections are approved by the Town of Culver, not the county.
    • Septic approval is a county health department function under the zoning ordinance's site plan and application rules.
    “all septic systems shall be subject to the approval of the county health department, all public sewer connections shall be subject to the approval of culver”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Waste disposal verification for development on lots inside Culver town that are not served by public sewer (Marshall County health department)

    • Permit must certify approval of one on-site system and one alternate location on the same property.
    • Alternatively, a letter from a public sewer provider may satisfy the requirement (special use context); the building commissioner may waive the supporting information.
    “either a septic permit from the marshall county health department certifying the approval of one (1) on-site septic system and approval of one (1) alternate on-site septic system location on the same property or a sewer access (tap-on)permit from the appropriate public sewer provider (if applicable)”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption from permit requirements inside Culver town
  • Living in an RV — Long-term RV occupancy on private land inside Culver town
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Culver town
  • Septic inspection — Septic system inspection inside Culver town
  • Well permit — Private water well on a lot inside Culver town
1 more unanswered
  • Agricultural exemption

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 Culver 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