Bolthole Index

Morgan County, Indiana

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Martinsville, Indiana

Martinsville, Indiana requires building permits and inspections for covered construction inside city limits, with applications handled by city Building Services.123 Martinsville sets its own zoning; a building needing septic must obtain a Morgan County Health Department septic permit before applying for the city building permit.45 Residential use of an RV or camper for more than 14 days in a calendar year is prohibited unless the zoning district specifically permits it.6

At a glance

Building permits
City building permits and inspections required for covered work12
Zoning
Martinsville zoning districts govern uses inside city limits47
Septic permits
Morgan County Health Department; obtain septic permit before city building-permit application85
RV living
More than 14 days per calendar year prohibited unless specifically permitted in the district6
Building access
Public-street frontage or private access easement at least 30 feet wide; older easement exception applies9

Who to call

Building permits

Martinsville Building Services

City building applications, zoning and subdivision questions, floodplain maps, right-of-way work and stormwater coordination

765-349-4923

building@martinsville.in.gov

59 S Jefferson Street Martinsville IN 46151

Online permits →

Septic permits

Morgan County Health Department, Environmental Health (Septic Division)

Septic permitting and inspections for Martinsville properties needing onsite sewage disposal

765-342-6621

180 S Main St Suite 252 Martinsville, IN 46151

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 11, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

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Who issues building permits and handles zoning in Martinsville?

Martinsville Building Services is the city contact for building applications and zoning or subdivision questions, at 765-349-4923 and 59 S Jefferson Street Martinsville IN 46151.10 Use the city application linked from Building Services for projects within the corporate limits.10 The city page also provides a zoning map, inspection list, Board of Zoning Appeals application materials and Plan Commission application procedures.10

Morgan County Health Department remains the septic authority for Martinsville buildings needing septic, so a city building application does not replace county septic approval.85 For land outside Martinsville city limits, use the Morgan County guide rather than applying the city requirements to an unincorporated parcel.3

Does Martinsville have zoning, and can you live in an RV or tiny home?

Martinsville has city zoning districts, and an intended use may be permitted by right or require a special exception depending on the district.47 Martinsville prohibits using a travel trailer, camper, tent, garage or similar structure as a dwelling for more than 14 days in any calendar year unless that use is specifically permitted in the district.6 Ask Building Services about the actual parcel and district before relying on an RV as housing during construction.610

We could not confirm a complete city rule for tiny-home occupancy or accessory dwellings; ask Martinsville Building Services to classify the proposed dwelling and identify the applicable district requirements.10 Request the parcel-specific lot-size, setback and coverage requirements from the same office before settling on a house footprint.710

How do septic permits work inside Martinsville?

A Martinsville building needing a septic system must obtain its Morgan County Health Department septic permit before the city building-permit application.5 Morgan County requires a soil test by a state-approved soil scientist, application materials including system and site drawings, a site inspection, fee payment and a signed permit.11 Septic installers must be registered with the county health office before obtaining a permit or installing systems.12

Morgan County residential septic fees are $200 for a trench system and $250 for a sand-lined system.13 The septic permit is valid for 2 years and is nontransferable; notify the health department for inspection before backfilling.14 For a manufactured home in Martinsville, proof of sewer availability or county-approved onsite wastewater disposal must be submitted before the city grants the building permit.15

Building a home in Martinsville: what are the steps, in order?

  1. Start with Martinsville Building Services to identify the zoning district and whether the proposed use needs a special exception.710
  2. If the home needs septic, arrange the county-required soil test and application materials, then obtain the Morgan County Health Department septic permit before applying for the city building permit.115
  3. Submit the city building application through the link on the Martinsville Building Services page.3
  4. Coordinate required building inspections with the city and use the city inspection list to plan the work.210
  5. Have the septic installer notify Morgan County Health Department for inspection before backfilling the system.14

For a new address, Martinsville directs applicants to the Morgan County Plan Commission at 765-342-1060.10

What should you check before buying land in Martinsville?

Every new primary building in Martinsville must sit on a lot fronting a public street or a private access easement at least 30 feet wide, with an exception for easements created before the zoning chapter took effect.9 Confirm recorded access before treating a vacant parcel as a home site.9

Martinsville Building Services provides floodplain maps and handles stormwater, erosion control and right-of-way work; involve the office before earthmoving.10 Indiana DNR has jurisdiction over most development activities in floodways, while local floodplain requirements may still apply outside the floodway.16

Morgan County has only 5.1% of soils rated not limited for conventional septic drain fields; that countywide rating supports getting a parcel evaluation and does not mean septic is impossible.17 We could not confirm a private-well permit rule for Martinsville; ask Morgan County Health Department before relying on a well.18

Watch-outs

  • Martinsville’s RV dwelling restriction is an annual limit, not a confirmed construction-camp exception: more than 14 days requires a district that specifically permits the use.6
  • Obtain Morgan County septic approval before applying for a Martinsville building permit when the building needs septic.5
  • We could not confirm city agricultural permit exemptions, tiny-home occupancy or accessory-dwelling rules; ask Martinsville Building Services about the proposed use before buying.10

Sources

  1. Building Services (Martinsville), quoted and re-checked
  2. library.municode.com (Martinsville), quoted and re-checked
  3. Building Services | Martinsville, IN (Martinsville), quoted and re-checked
  4. Code of Ordinances, Sec. 94-33. Property development standards (Martinsville), quoted and re-checked
  5. Building Services | Martinsville, IN (Martinsville), quoted and re-checked
  6. Code of Ordinances, Sec. 94-31. Residential uses and requirements (Martinsville), quoted and re-checked
  7. Code of Ordinances, Sec. 94-30. Table 1, primary authorized uses by zoning district (Martinsville), quoted and re-checked
  8. Building Services | Martinsville, IN (Martinsville), quoted and re-checked
  9. Code of Ordinances, Sec. 94-33. Property development standards (Martinsville), quoted and re-checked
  10. Martinsville Building Services (martinsville.in.gov)
  11. Morgan County: Procedures to Obtain a Septic Permit, quoted and re-checked
  12. Morgan County: Septic Division, quoted and re-checked
  13. Morgan County: Fees & Payment Options, quoted and re-checked
  14. Morgan County Code, § 53.19 Onsite sewage system permit (Martinsville), quoted and re-checked
  15. Sec. 94-36(B)(6). Manufactured homes (Martinsville), quoted and re-checked
  16. Water: Community Assistance & Information, quoted and re-checked
  17. 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
  18. Morgan County Health Department, Environmental Health (Septic Division) (morgancounty.in.gov)

Written October 11, 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 Martinsville

Martinsville’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Building, reconstruction, structural alteration, and other covered improvements inside Martinsville city limits.

    • The city's Building Services page directs projects within the corporate limits to the city permit application.
    • Specific permit exemptions and permit types may vary by project.
    “who shall build, reconstruct or structurally alter any building or land improvement without the required permits and inspections”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Covered building and land improvements inside Martinsville city limits.

    • The code ties violations to required permits and inspections.
    • The city Building Services page provides an inspection list and identifies a city Building Inspector.
    “who shall build, reconstruct or structurally alter any building or land improvement without the required permits and inspections”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside Martinsville city limits.

    • Uses and structures must be permitted and specified for the zoning district where located.
    “No building or land shall be used and no building shall be erected, reconstructed or structurally altered which is arranged, intended or designed to be used for any purpose other than a use which is permitted and specified in a district in which such building or land is located.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Zoning districts inside Martinsville city limits.

    • An S in Table 1 means the use is allowed only with a special exception under Sec. 94-70.
    “This table is subject to definitions of Section 94-5 of this chapter, which outlines zoning districts. (An "S" where shown in these tables indicates that the proposed use is only allowed with the granting of a "special exception" per Section 94-70 of this chapter.)”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Dwellings in Martinsville residential zoning districts, including R1, R2, R3, and RR.

    • The specific numeric district values are in the referenced district schedule and were not displayed in the available Sec. 94-33 text.
    “The ground floor area requirements for dwellings, as set forth in the districts shall apply. Dwellings shall not be changed except in conformity with these regulations.”
  • Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Lots in Martinsville residential zoning districts, including R1, R2, R3, and RR.

    • Lots of record or individually held before passage of Chapter 94 may be smaller than the prescribed area.
    “Except as hereafter provided, no building or structure shall be erected or located on a lot unless such lot conforms with the lot area regulations of the district in which it is located; except that, lots of record or individually held prior to the passage of this chapter may be smaller in area than the figure prescribed.”
  • SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Buildings in Martinsville residential zoning districts, including R1, R2, R3, and RR.

    • Where 50% or more of lots in a one-block area are occupied, average setbacks may determine the setback.
    • Specified architectural features and open platforms, porches, or landings may project into required yards under Sec. 94-33(H).
    “Where 50% or more of the lots in a one block area are occupied by buildings, the average setbacks of such buildings (including front, side and rear setbacks) determines the dimensions of the setbacks in the lot; provided that, if there are no other buildings within 330 feet of the proposed building in either direction, then the standard setback lines for the district shall apply.”
  • Lot coverageDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Residential and B1 lots inside Martinsville city limits.

    • Accessory-building area is restricted to the maximum lot coverage in Table 2a-1.
    • Only one accessory building per lot is allowed in residential and B1 districts, subject to stated exceptions for non-permanent structures.
    “Accessory buildings area shall be restricted to the maximum lot coverage per Table 2a-1. Only one accessory building per lot is allowed in residential and B1 zoning districts.”
  • Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Buildings in Martinsville zoning districts.

    • Accessory buildings in residential and B1 districts may not exceed 12 feet above ground at the lowest eave.

    accessory-building-height: <= 12 feet (Residential and B1 zoning districts; measured above ground at the lowest eave.)

    “All buildings hereafter designed or erected and existing buildings that may be reconstructed, altered, moved or enlarged shall comply with the height regulations and exceptions of the district in which it is located.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — Mobile homes and accessory buildings in mobile-home parks inside Martinsville city limits.
      “No building or structure may be established, altered or erected so as to have a height greater than 30 feet. No accessory building shall exceed 16 feet in height or 1,200 square feet in ground floor area.”
  • Living in an RVTemporary only (with conditions)

    Use of a travel trailer or camper as a dwelling or residence inside Martinsville city limits.

    • More than 14 days in a calendar year is prohibited unless the use is specifically permitted in the district.

    maximum-duration-without-district-specific-permission: <= 14 days per calendar year (Use as a dwelling or residence.)

    “Use of any structure, travel trailer, camper, tent, garage or similar structures as a dwelling or residence, or is intended to be used as such, for a period of more than 14 days in any calendar year is prohibited unless it is in a district where such use is specifically permitted.”
  • Camping on your landLimited

    Use of a tent as a dwelling or residence inside Martinsville city limits.

    • More than 14 days in a calendar year is prohibited unless the use is specifically permitted in the district.

    maximum-duration-without-district-specific-permission: <= 14 days per calendar year (Use as a dwelling or residence.)

    “Use of any structure, travel trailer, camper, tent, garage or similar structures as a dwelling or residence, or is intended to be used as such, for a period of more than 14 days in any calendar year is prohibited unless it is in a district where such use is specifically permitted.”
  • Tiny homesLimited

    A tiny home or similar structure used as a dwelling inside Martinsville city limits.

    • A structure used as a dwelling for more than 14 days annually must be specifically permitted in the district.

    maximum-duration-without-district-specific-permission: <= 14 days per calendar year (Use as a dwelling or residence.)

    “Use of any structure, travel trailer, camper, tent, garage or similar structures as a dwelling or residence, or is intended to be used as such, for a period of more than 14 days in any calendar year is prohibited unless it is in a district where such use is specifically permitted.”
  • Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

    A building inside Martinsville city limits that requires a septic system; septic permitting is administered by the Morgan County Health Department.

    • A septic permit must be obtained before applying for the city's building permit.
    “If you have a building that requires a septic system, you will need to contact the Morgan County Health Department at 765-342-6621 and obtain a septic permit prior to applying for a building permit”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Buildings inside Martinsville city limits that require a septic system.

    • Obtain the Morgan County Health Department septic permit before applying for a Martinsville building permit.
    “If you have a building that requires a septic system, you will need to contact the Morgan County Health Department at 765-342-6621 and obtain a septic permit prior to applying for a building permit”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    On-site sewage systems serving buildings inside Martinsville city limits.

    • The owner or agent must request the County Health Department inspection at least two working days before any part of the OSS is covered.

    inspection-notice: >= 2 working days (Before any portion of the OSS is covered.)

    “The owner or agent shall request an inspection by the County Health Department at least two working days before any portion of the OSS is covered.”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Manufactured homes inside Martinsville city limits.

    • An on-site wastewater disposal system must be approved by the county board of health.
    • Proof of likely approval must be submitted before the city grants the building permit.
    “The home shall be connected to sanitary sewers or to an on-site wastewater disposal system approved by the county's board of health.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupConditional

    Manufactured homes inside Martinsville city limits.

    • The home must connect to sanitary sewer or an on-site wastewater disposal system approved by the county board of health.
    • Proof of approved on-site wastewater disposal or available sanitary sewers must be submitted to the city superintendent before a building permit is granted.
    “The home shall be connected to sanitary sewers or to an on-site wastewater disposal system approved by the county's board of health. Proof that an on-site wastewater disposal system will be approved or sanitary sewers are available shall be submitted to the city superintendent prior to the granting of a building permit.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Conditional — Manufactured homes proposed inside Martinsville city limits.
      “The home shall be connected to sanitary sewers or to an on-site wastewater disposal system approved by the county's board of health. Proof that an on-site wastewater disposal system will be approved or sanitary sewers are available shall be submitted to the city superintendent prior to the granting of a building permit.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision proposals and other new development inside Martinsville city limits.

    • Proposals must be consistent with minimizing flood damage.
    • Public utilities and facilities must be located and constructed to minimize flood damage.
    • For SFHA areas lacking base-flood-elevation data, hydrologic and hydraulic analysis applies to proposals greater than the lesser of 50 lots or five acres.

    analysis-threshold: greater than the lesser of 50 lots or five acres (SFHA areas where base flood elevation data are unavailable.)

    “All subdivision proposals and all other proposed new development shall be consistent with the need to minimize flood damage.”
  • Driveway accessLimited

    Primary buildings inside Martinsville city limits.

    • An individual lot must front a public street or a private access easement at least 30 feet wide, unless the easement was created before Chapter 94's effective date.

    private-access-easement-width: >= 30 feet (Unless the easement was created prior to the effective date of Chapter 94.)

    “Every primary building hereafter erected shall be located on an individual lot which fronts on a public street, or private access easement not less than 30 feet in width, unless the easement was created prior to the effective date of this chapter.”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Building sewer permits inside Martinsville city limits.

    • The cited fees are specifically for building sewer permits required by Sec. 82-133.

    residential-or-commercial-building-sewer-permit-fee: 5 USD · industrial-building-sewer-permit-fee: 15 USD

    “The fees required by Section 82-133 of this Code are $5.00 for a residential or commercial building sewer permit and $15.00 for an industrial building sewer permit.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Projects inside Martinsville city limits.

    • For a building requiring septic, obtain a Morgan County Health Department septic permit before applying for the city building permit.
    “For projects within the corporate limits of Martinsville, Indiana, Apply for a Permit.”

Rules another office applies inside Martinsville

Martinsville 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

    Residential construction inside Martinsville city limits through Indiana's statewide residential code.

    • 675 IAC 14-4.4 is currently in effect.
    • The rule is the 2020 Indiana Residential Code incorporating the 2018 IRC for one- and two-family dwellings.
    • Effective date stated by the source: 12/26/2019.

    effective date: 2019-12-26

    “675 IAC 14-4.4 | 2020 Indiana Residential Code | 2018 International Residential Code for One- and Two-Family Dwellings, First Printing | Currently in Effect Effective: 12/26/2019”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential work inside Martinsville city limits.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of buildings inside Martinsville city limits.
  • Accessory dwellings — Accessory dwelling units inside Martinsville city limits.
  • Well permit — Private wells inside Martinsville city limits.
  • Agricultural exemption — Agricultural construction or land use inside Martinsville city limits.
1 more unanswered
  • 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 Martinsville publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Morgan County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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