Bolthole Index

Parke County, Indiana

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Parke County, Indiana

74Index Score / 100
#10 of 92 in Indiana

Unincorporated Parke County, Indiana requires a building improvement permit from Planning and Zoning for structural building improvements.1 County zoning applies outside incorporated towns and in towns that elect to use it; Rockville has its own building permits and zoning.234 Residential septic permits, including in Rockville, come from the Parke County Health Department; the county construction-permit process starts with a septic release number.567

At a glance

Building permit
Required for structural building improvements in unincorporated areas1
Zoning
Yes on unincorporated land; districts and use maps are published28
Septic permit
Health Department approval required for septic installation and repairs910
RV living
Private-land residential occupancy is not confirmed; ask Planning and Zoning11
Tiny home
Specific occupancy rule unconfirmed; single-family ground-floor minimum is 600 sq. ft.12
Owner-builder
No exemption confirmed; ask Planning and Zoning before applying13
Water well permit
Required in county planning jurisdiction, including agricultural wells; fee is $5014
Flood-prone land
Special approvals and local restrictions apply15

Who to call

Building permits

Parke County Planning and Zoning Office

Building improvement permits, zoning, well permits and permit applications for Parke County

(765) 569-3394

planning@parkecounty.in.gov

116 W. High St., Room 105, Rockville, IN 47872

Online permits →

Septic permits

Parke County Health Department

Residential septic-system permits, inspections and regulation through the Environmental Health Division

765-569-4071

sanitarian@parkecounty.in.gov

116 W. High St., Room 12, Rockville, IN 47872

Roads & driveways

Parke County Highway Department

County paved and unpaved roadways; ask this office about access from a county road

765-569-5321

306 N. Lincoln Road, Rockville, IN 47872

Also useful

Parke County 911 Office

Assigning addresses in Parke County

765-569-3646

110 E High Street, Rockville, Indiana 47872

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 12, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Parke County 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.

Do you need a building permit in Parke County, Indiana?

Unincorporated Parke County requires a building improvement permit for structural building improvements; published fees are $50 for residential construction and $100 for a commercial structure.116 The application requires a site plan, legal description, applicable signatures and fees; habitable buildings also need a floor plan, and new residences need proof of an E911 address.17 Indiana’s adopted code framework includes the 2014 Indiana Building Code and the 2020 Indiana Residential Code, depending on the structure and code category.18 Parke County’s ordinance exempts agricultural uses and connected residences from zoning provisions and separately exempts agricultural accessory items from improvement-location permits; agricultural wells and septic systems still require improvement-location permits.192014 Ask Planning and Zoning how those exemptions apply to a farm residence or barn before treating the project as exempt from building approval.21 We could not confirm a general owner-builder exemption; ask Planning and Zoning what applies when the owner acts as contractor.1321

Who issues building permits in Parke County, and how do you reach them?

The Parke County Planning and Zoning Office handles county building improvement permits and zoning for unincorporated land.12 The office is at 116 W. High St., Room 105, Rockville, IN 47872; call (765) 569-3394 or email planning@parkecounty.in.gov, or use its online application and credit-card payment link.21 Parke County states that building permits can be issued the same day when all requested information is supplied, with applicants handled first come, first served; the process starts with a Health Department septic release number.7 We could not confirm the county building-inspection schedule; ask Planning and Zoning which inspections must occur before work is covered.21 Inside Rockville, the town requires its own building permit before construction, alteration or repair costing more than $1,000; residential septic permits remain with the Parke County Health Department.36

Does Parke County have zoning?

Parke County's zoning ordinance governs unincorporated territory and any incorporated areas that elect to use it2. Published classifications and use maps include agricultural, residential, commercial, industrial, flood-prone or flood-hazard, and special categories22. On unincorporated land zoned AP or AFR, construction requires at least 0.5 acre and the parcel must also be suitable for septic23. A building generally needs at least 8 feet from a side property line unless a special exception applies; front-line setbacks also apply, secondary structures generally belong behind the primary structure's front line, and subdivision covenants may be stricter24. Single-family and two-family dwellings need a minimum ground floor of 600 square feet, and the ordinance sets a separate 250-square-foot minimum for multifamily efficiency units.1225 Ask Planning and Zoning about RVs, tiny homes and accessory dwellings in the parcel's district21. Inside Rockville, the town sets its own zoning; the Parke County Health Department still handles residential septic permits.46

How do septic permits work in Parke County?

The Parke County Health Department issues, regulates and inspects residential septic systems, and septic repairs as well as installations require a Health Department permit.109 Commercial systems also require state design specifications and approval.26 For residential and commercial systems, obtain a registered soil scientist’s evaluation, system requirements, a design, an onsite evaluation and a complete application; include the deed and applicable easement documentation.2728 The septic permit must precede installation and the county construction permit, and must remain on the job site during work.28 Published fees are $75 for residential systems and $100 for commercial systems, with permits valid for 1 year.27 Confirm repair-permit expiration and excavation and covering notice deadlines with the Health Department before scheduling work; the department conducts the final inspection.272930 Call 765-569-4071 or email sanitarian@parkecounty.in.gov.30 Only about 9.6% of Parke County soils are rated without severe limitations for a conventional drain field, so make septic feasibility a purchase contingency.31

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on your land in Parke County?

We could not confirm a general rule for long-term RV occupancy on private land or specific tiny-home occupancy in unincorporated Parke County; ask Planning and Zoning about the proposed use, including RV occupancy during construction.21 Parke County’s residential-use table sets a 600-square-foot minimum ground floor for single-family and two-family dwellings, so a smaller tiny home proposed as a single-family dwelling falls below that standard.12 The separate 250-square-foot minimum is for multifamily efficiency units, not a standalone tiny home.25 A tiny home built as a structural building improvement in unincorporated Parke County requires county building approval and the applicable Indiana code standards.118 Ask Planning and Zoning to confirm the dwelling classification and district requirements before ordering a tiny home.21

How do you build a home in Parke County, step by step?

  1. Ask Parke County Planning and Zoning to confirm the parcel’s jurisdiction, district, residential use, lot size and setbacks.222232421
  1. Obtain the soil evaluation and system design, then the Health Department septic permit and release number before applying for county construction approval.277
  1. Request an address from the Parke County 911 Office if needed, then assemble the site plan, legal description, signatures, fees, habitable-building floor plan and proof of an E911 address for a new residence.3217
  1. Apply for the building improvement permit and, if drilling a well in county planning jurisdiction, the well permit; the published well fee is $50, including for agricultural wells.114
  1. Confirm county-road access with the Highway Department; a driveway on a state or federal highway requires a state release.3334
  1. Schedule required septic inspections with the Health Department and ask Planning and Zoning about building inspections; obtain the required certificate of occupancy before using the completed improvement.272135

What should you check before buying land in Parke County?

Confirm the parcel's zoning district, use, lot-size requirement and setbacks with Parke County Planning and Zoning before closing, then make a Health Department septic evaluation a purchase contingency because only about 9.6% of county soils are rated without severe limits for a conventional drain field8233631. About 76.6% of Parke County land has a slope of 15% or less and about 44.9% is wooded, but parcel-level terrain and clearing needs can differ from county averages3738. Check flood maps: covered floodway activity requires written approval from the Natural Resources Commission, and a mapped stream in a flood-prone or hazard area can carry a 100-foot structural setback measured from its meander line15. Verify legal road frontage and ask the Highway Department about county-road access; a driveway on a state or federal highway needs a state release3433.

Watch-outs

  • Parke County agricultural exemptions do not remove improvement-location permits for agricultural wells and septic systems; ask Planning and Zoning how the exemption applies to a farm residence or barn.192021
  • Only about 9.6% of Parke County soils are rated without severe limits for a conventional septic drain field, so establish septic feasibility before choosing a house site31.
  • An improvement covered by the Parke County ordinance cannot be occupied after construction or structural alteration until the Building Commissioner issues a certificate of occupancy35.

Sources

  1. Parke County, Indiana: Planning Commission, quoted and re-checked
  2. Parke County Zoning Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  3. Town of Rockville: § 152.03 Building and construction, generally (Parke County), quoted and re-checked
  4. Town of Rockville: § 154.25 Establishment of districts, zone map and description of districts (Parke County), quoted and re-checked
  5. Parke County, Indiana: Health Department, quoted and re-checked
  6. Town of Rockville: Parke County, Indiana: Health Department (Parke County), quoted and re-checked
  7. Parke County Improvement Location Permit Application, quoted and re-checked
  8. Parke County Zoning Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  9. Parke County, Indiana: Health Department, quoted and re-checked
  10. Parke County, Indiana: Health Department, quoted and re-checked
  11. Parke County Zoning Ordinance (2026 county census)
  12. Parke County Zoning Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  13. (2026 county census)
  14. Parke County Zoning Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  15. Parke County Zoning Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  16. Parke County, Indiana: Planning Commission, quoted and re-checked
  17. Parke County, Indiana: Planning Commission, quoted and re-checked
  18. DHS: Rules of the Indiana Fire Prevention and Building Safety Commission, quoted and re-checked
  19. Parke County Zoning Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  20. Parke County Zoning Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  21. Parke County Planning and Zoning Office (in.gov)
  22. Parke County Zoning Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  23. Parke County Improvement Location Permit Application, quoted and re-checked
  24. Parke County Improvement Location Permit Application, quoted and re-checked
  25. Parke County, Indiana Zoning Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  26. Parke County, Indiana: Health Department, quoted and re-checked
  27. Parke County, Indiana: Health Department, quoted and re-checked
  28. Information Packet for Obtaining a Permit for an On-Site Sewage Disposal System, quoted and re-checked
  29. Information Packet for Obtaining a Permit for an On-Site Sewage Disposal System, quoted and re-checked
  30. Parke County Health Department (in.gov)
  31. 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
  32. Parke County 911 Office (in.gov)
  33. Parke County Highway Department (in.gov)
  34. Parke County Improvement Location Permit Application, quoted and re-checked
  35. Parke County Zoning Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  36. Parke County Zoning Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  37. Share of land at 15% slope or less: Bolthole Index county data
  38. Wooded share of land: Bolthole Index county data

Written October 12, 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.

Found land here? Start a Property Hunt →

Compared with neighboring counties

Like all 6 of its neighbors, Parke County requires a building permit for a home.

RuleParke CountyVermillion CountyPutnam CountyClay CountyVigo CountyMontgomery CountyFountain County
Building permitRequiredRequiredRequiredRequiredRequiredRequiredRequired
County zoningYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Septic permitsCounty Health Dept.County Health Dept.County Health Dept.County Health Dept.County Health Dept.County Health Dept.County Dept. of Health

County locator

Parke County in Indiana

74
County map
Parke County highlighted among the Indiana counties · colored by Index score

How Parke County scores

Seclusion52100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency77100% ev.
Admin Boringness4190% ev.
Durability70100% ev.
Property Autonomy71100% ev.
Carry Cost76100% ev.

Evidence strength: 98%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$229kTypical home
0.5%Property tax
$7,262Land / acre
43.1"Annual rain
2.2% of yrsSevere drought
6.9 / yr (+6.4)Mid-century 100°F days
13.4 daysMid-century dry spell
1.77" (+4.9%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.85×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$1,494Home insurance / yr
0.8% / yrInsurance growth
0.75%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
23,223People within 30 min
3,106,565People within 2 hr
38,902Radius comparison (15 mi)
37.1People / sq mi
1.6%Federal land
76.6%Land at 15% slope or less
9.6%Soils rated "not limited" for septic (strict USDA rating)
26,703 acWorkable land screen
44.9%Wooded land
59.2 tonsBiomass / forest ac
52.5°FAvg temp

Scout Parke County

Camp here before you commitBook a few nights nearby on Hipcamp →Already own land here?Earn money hosting campers — get $100 when you become a Hipcamp host →

Some links are affiliate or referral links — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you.

Property hunt

Find land. Bring the promising ones back.

Search live inventory elsewhere, then cost and vet each candidate here. No copied listings, account, or paid data feed.

View your full hunt →
ZillowLand & lotsRealtor.comLand listingsLandSearchRural & vacant land

Each button opens a current land search for Parke County. Listing sites control their own results and filters.

Analyze a property
Add setup-cost allowances

Use rough quotes or placeholders. Blank fields count as $0.

Working estimate

—land + entered setup costs
Asking $ / acre
—
Setup allowance
—
All-in $ / acre
—

A planning estimate, not a valuation or contractor quote. The USDA benchmark includes farm land and buildings; it is context, not a parcel comp.

Before an offer

Parcel due diligence

0/8 checked

Saved properties and checklist progress stay on this device. Bolthole Index does not receive them.

Cities and towns in Parke County

Inside a city or town, that city usually issues building permits and sets zoning; the county’s rules above cover unincorporated land. Septic, wells and floodplain rules usually stay with the county or state everywhere.

Not yet researched: Adams Township · Town of Bloomingdale · Florida Township · Greene Township · Howard Township · Jackson Township · Liberty Township · Town of Marshall · Town of Mecca · Town of Montezuma · Penn Township · Raccoon Township · Reserve Township · Town of Rosedale · Sugar Creek Township · Union Township · Wabash Township · Washington Township

Answers from the rulebook for Parke County

What the ordinances and state agencies actually say — one answer per question, each quoted from the official source and independently re-checked.

Parke County rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Structural building improvements and county improvement-location permits in Parke County.

    • The application requires requested information, a site plan, a floor plan for buildings intended for habitation, legal description, applicable signatures, fees, and proof of an E911 address for new residences.
    • A septic release number is listed as the first step for the county permit process.

    building permit fee: 50 USD (commercial structures have a $100 fee)

    “Attn: All structural building improvements need a building improvement permit.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Required — Structural building improvements administered by the Parke County Planning and Zoning Office.
      “Attn: All structural building improvements need a building improvement permit.”
    • Required — Structural building improvements in unincorporated Parke County, Indiana.
      “Attn: All structural building improvements need a building improvement permit.”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Improvements in the ordinance jurisdiction after erection, reconstruction, or structural alteration.

    • The certificate is issued by the Building Commissioner.
    • The certificate must state that the improvement and its use comply with applicable ordinance provisions.
    • Application is coincidental with the Improvement Location Permit application.
    • It is issued as an endorsement within ten days after lawful completion.
    • The permit cost equals one-half of the original Improvement Location Permit cost or the amount listed in Section XXV, whichever is larger.
    • A temporary certificate may be used during construction of a permanent dwelling and must be withdrawn when the permanent dwelling is completed.

    issuance deadline after lawful completion: 10 days · certificate permit cost: one-half of original Improvement Location Permit cost or Section XXV amount, whichever is larger

    “No improvement shall be occupied or used after being erected, reconstructed or structurally altered, in whole or in part, for any purpose whatsoever, until a Certificate of Occupancy shall have been issued by the Building Commissioner”
  • County-wide zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Parke County zoning ordinance for the unincorporated territory and incorporated areas that elect to use it.

    • The ordinance states it applies to the unincorporated territory and to incorporated areas that join its utilization.
    “AN ORDINANCE FOR THE DEVE:OOPMENT THROOGH ZONING FOR THE UNINCORPORATED TERRITORY OF PARKE COUNTY, INDIANA AND ANY INCORPORATED AREAS IN PARKE COUNTY WHICH DESIRE TO JODl .m UTTI.IZATION OF THIS ORDINANCE UNDER THE DlCLUDED FROVISICNS THEREOF AND APPLICABLE lNDIANA CODE.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Zoning regulation in the unincorporated territory of Parke County.

    • The ordinance states that its purpose is to guide development throughout the unincorporated territory of Parke County.
    • The ordinance establishes land-use classifications and use maps; incorporated-area participation is described separately and is not established here.
    “AN ORDINANCE FOR THE DEVE:OOPMENT THROOGH ZONING FOR THE UNINCORPORATED TERRITORY OF PARKE COUNTY, INDIANA”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Parke County zoning classifications and use maps.

    • The ordinance states that the use maps are part of the ordinance.
    • Classifications include agricultural, residential, commercial, industrial, flood-prone/flood-hazard, and special categories.
    “LAND CLASSIFICATit:JlS [...] Agricultural [...] Residential [...] cOmmercial [...] Industrial [...] Special”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Published (with conditions) — Parke County land-use classifications and use maps in the zoning ordinance.
      “Parke County real estate usage is hereby classified and divided into fourteen (11.,.) usage designations as follows:”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Residential buildings and dwelling units in Parke County zoning use areas identified in Figure 1, including single-family and two-family residential uses.

    • The ordinance requires compliance with the ground-floor-area regulations established for the zoning district.
    • Figure 1 identifies a minimum ground floor of 600 square feet for single-family and two-family residential uses.
    • The ordinance's mobile-home provision is a definitional zoning classification: structures under 600 square feet are not deemed mobile homes for Parke County zoning purposes, while structures of 600 or more square feet on a permanent solid masonry foundation are not deemed mobile homes but are treated as permanent residential structures.
    • Other zoning requirements, including lot area, yards, setbacks, parking, floodplain rules, permits, and applicable septic or well requirements, continue to apply.

    minimum ground floor area: >= 600 square feet · mobile-home classification threshold: >= 600 square feet (A structure of 600 or more square feet is not deemed a mobile home when its chassis is removed and it is placed on a permanent solid masonry foundation.)

    “TYPES Oli' RESIDENTIAL USE & REQUIREMENTS [...] Mini~ ground floor • [...] Single-Family Two-Family [...] 6001 6oo•”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — Multifamily residential dwellings in the Parke County residential use areas covered by Figure 1, within the ordinance's unincorporated-territory scope.
      “Mini~ ground floor • [...] Multi-Family [...] 250' for efficiency, minimum 4 units”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    Construction on land zoned AP or AFR in unincorporated Parke County.

    • The parcel must also be suitable for a septic system.

    minimum lot area: >= 0.5 acre (AP and AFR zoning; suitable for septic system)

    “If you are building on land zoned AP (agriculture productive) or AFR (Agriculture Forest Recreation) you are required to have a minimum of ½ acre on which to build, provided suitable for a septic system.”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    Construction and front-yard setbacks under the Parke County zoning ordinance.

    • Recorded subdivision front-yard lines may control when less restrictive and properly approved; otherwise the ordinance controls.
    • Through lots require a front-yard setback on each street.
    “Keep in mind, you cannot place a building closer than 8’ to side property lines without special exceptions. You must meet front line setbacks, and all secondary structures must be behind the front line of the primary structure unless special exceptions apply.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

    Residential septic systems in Parke County.

    • The program operates under 410 IAC 6-8.2.
    • The county health department is the issuing and regulatory authority described on the official page.
    “issues permits for all residential septic systems”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • County — Residential septic systems in Parke County.
      “The Wastewater program inspects, regulates, and issues permits for all residential septic systems per 410 IAC 6-8.2.”
    • County (with conditions) — Residential septic systems and wastewater permitting in Parke County.
      “The Wastewater program inspects, regulates, and issues permits for all residential septic systems per 410 IAC 6-8.2.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Residential and commercial on-site sewage disposal systems in Parke County.

    • A soil evaluation, system requirements, design, complete application, deed, and applicable easement documentation are required.
    • The permit must be issued before installation and before obtaining a county construction permit.
    • New-construction permits are valid for one year; repair permits are valid for six months.
    • The permit must remain on the job site while work is performed.
    • The permit may be revoked for noncompliance with applicable rules.

    permit fee: 75 USD (all on-site systems) · new-construction permit validity: 1 year · repair permit validity: 6 months

    “An on-site sewage disposal permit must be issued by the Health Department prior to the installation of the system and prior to obtaining a construction permit from the Parke County Planning and Zoning Office. The permit fee for all on-site systems is $75.00. Permits for new construction are good for one (1) year and permits for repairs to existing systems are good for six (6) months.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Required — Residential septic-system repairs and installations in Parke County.
      “All repairs to septic systems and installations of septic systems require a permit”
    • Required — Commercial and residential on-site sewage disposal systems in Parke County.
      “An on-site sewage disposal permit must be issued by the Health Department prior to the installation of the system and prior to obtaining a construction permit from the Parke County Planning and Zoning Office. The permit fee for all on-site systems is $75.00. Permits for new construction are good for one (1) year and permits for repairs to existing systems are good for six (6) months.”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    Residential and commercial on-site sewage systems in Parke County, Indiana.

    • A soil evaluation by a professional soil scientist registered with the Indiana Registry of Soil Scientists is required.
    • The Health Department issues system requirements, reviews the system design, performs an on-site evaluation, and may issue the permit if the system complies with 410 IAC 6-8.2.
    • An on-site sewage disposal permit must be issued before installation and before obtaining a construction permit from the Parke County Planning and Zoning Office.
    • The residential permit fee is $75.00; the commercial permit fee is $100.00; permits are good for one year.
    • The septic contractor must notify the Parke County Health Department 48 hours before excavation or installation.
    • A final inspection is conducted by the Parke County Health Department after completion of the required steps.

    residential on-site sewage permit fee: 75 USD · commercial on-site sewage permit fee: 100 USD · permit validity: 1 year · contractor notice before excavation/installation: >= 48 hours

    “The following steps are required in order to obtain a permit for both Commercial and Residential On-Site Sewage Disposal Systems in Parke County. [...] A final inspection conducted by the Parke County Health Department will be completed”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
  • Well permitRequired

    Private well permitting in Parke County.

    • The official planning page lists a well-permit application and a $50 well-permit fee.

    well permit fee: 50 USD

    “DO YOU HAVE A WELL PERMIT? YES _____ NO _____ N/A _____ NUMBER ________”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Required — Wells in the jurisdiction of the Parke County Plan Commission, including agricultural wells.
      “All wells and septic systems, even at,riculturai, will require an Improvement Location Permit.”
  • Agricultural exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

    Agricultural uses, including residences connected with agricultural uses, in the unincorporated area governed by the ordinance.

    • The exemption applies to agricultural uses and connected residences.
    • It does not establish exemption from septic, health, building, or state requirements.
    “none ot the provisions and regulations o:t this ordinance shall ap~ to agricultural uses, including residences in connection 1;herewi th.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Available (with conditions) — Agricultural accessory items under the Parke County improvement-location-permit rule.
      “Every building or property improvement hereafter erected or constructed, other than agricultural accessory items, will obtain an Improvement Location Permit”
  • Driveway accessLimited

    Driveway access serving development in Parke County.

    • A state release is required when the driveway is on a state or federal highway.
    “LOCATION OF DRIVEWAY (REQUIRES STATE RELEASE IF ON STATE OR FEDERAL HIGHWAY)”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Structures, obstructions, deposits, excavations, and uses in floodways and flood-prone or hazard areas governed by the Parke County zoning ordinance.

    • Flood-prone areas are identified by maps issued by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources and FEMA.
    • Erecting, making, using, or maintaining a structure, obstruction, deposit, or excavation in a floodway requires a written application for approval from the Natural Resources Commission.
    • Within the stream-restriction areas, no structure other than a fence may be erected within 100 feet of the meander line of a mapped stream.
    • Agricultural uses and forestry are listed as permitted uses within the stated restricted areas except on application for an Improvement Location Permit.
    • The Indiana Drainage Code applies where applicable.

    stream setback: < 100 feet (measured from the meander line of a mapped stream in a flood-prone or hazard area)

    “It is unlawful to erect, make, use, or maintain any structure obstruction, deposit, or excavation in or on any floodway without filing a written application for approval from the Natural Resources Commission”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Published Parke County planning, building, commercial-structure, well, and related permit fees.

    • Fees vary by project type; the building application lists separate fees for dwellings, mobile homes, public/commercial buildings, industrial buildings, garages, residential accessories, and farm buildings.

    residential building permit fee: 50 USD · commercial structure permit fee: 100 USD · well permit fee: 50 USD · onsite sewage system permit fee: 75 USD

    “Building permit fee: $50.00 Permit fee for a commercial structure: $100.00. Well permits: $50.00”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Published — Published Parke County planning and zoning permit fees.
      “Building permit fee: $50.00 [...] Permit fee for a commercial structure: $100.00. [...] Well permits: $50.00”
  • Permit processPartial

    Parke County improvement-location permit application process.

    • Applications are issued the same day only if all requested information is supplied.
    • Applicants are handled first come, first serve.
    • The application requires a septic release number from the Parke County Health Department.
    “Permits are issued on the same day applied for if you have all requested information. All persons applying are taken on a first come, first serve basis. [...] SEPTIC RELEASE NUMBER: Obtained from the Parke County Health Department”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Partial — Parke County building-improvement permit process.
      “Permits are issued on the same day applied for if you have all requested information.”

Indiana rules that apply here

  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Statewide Indiana construction subject to the Indiana Fire Prevention and Building Safety Commission's adopted building codes, including the Indiana Building Code and Indiana Residential Code.

    • The adopted codes consist of model codes amended for Indiana.
    • The 2014 Indiana Building Code under 675 IAC 13-2.6 is currently in effect and became effective December 1, 2014.
    • The 2020 Indiana Residential Code under 675 IAC 14-4.4 is currently in effect and became effective December 26, 2019.
    • Specific applicability depends on the structure and code category.

    Indiana Building Code effective date: 2014-12-01 · Indiana Residential Code effective date: 2019-12-26

    “The Fire Prevention and Building Safety Commission creates Indiana codes by adopting model codes and amending them to apply in Indiana.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Adopted (with conditions) — Indiana Building Code and Indiana Residential Code applicable statewide, including Parke County.
      “675 IAC 14-4.4 | 2020 Indiana Residential Code”
    • Adopted — Indiana's state-adopted building and fire-safety codes, including compliance requirements applicable through local units of government.
      “Each unit shall require compliance with the code of building laws and fire safety laws that is adopted in the rules of the fire prevention [...]”
  • InspectionsLimited

    Construction inspections in Indiana, including Class I structures in jurisdictions without an approved building department and construction subject to a Construction Design Release.

    • In jurisdictions without an approved building department, IDHS Code Enforcement inspects Class I structures for construction compliance.
    • When a Construction Design Release is applied for through the Building Plan Review Section, IDHS Code Enforcement conducts construction-process and final inspections.
    • Agricultural buildings and one- and two-family residential structures fall under the local government entity; if no local government entity exists, the county government may provide inspections, and IDHS states that if there is no local government entity the residential issue becomes a private civil matter.
    “In jurisdictions where there is not an approved building department, Code Enforcement inspects Class I structures for construction compliance. When a Construction Design Release is applied for through the Building Plan Review Section, Code Enforcement will conduct inspections during the construction process and provide a final inspection. Agricultural buildings and residential structures (one- and two-family dwellings) fall under the jurisdiction of the local government entity.”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Residential sanitation in Indiana where a dwelling is not connected, or cannot be connected, to a sanitary sewerage system.

    • The dwelling must be provided with a compliant residential on-site sewage system including a septic tank and a soil absorption system that has not failed.
    • A temporary sewage holding tank is subject to written Indiana Department of Health approval, with specified exceptions for failed systems, soil conditions after a construction permit, and certain district, utility, or municipal sewage plans.
    • A holding tank operated as a primary residential disposal method for a sewer connection plan is limited to not more than one year unless the period is extended upon documentation of satisfactory operation.
    • Drywells and cesspools are not allowed for construction or use as on-site sewage treatment in Indiana.

    holding-tank sewer-connection period: <= 1 year (may be extended upon documentation of satisfactory operation)

    “septic tank and a soil absorption system”
  • Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

    Residential dwellings and residential outbuildings governed by Indiana's residential on-site sewage systems rule when the existing residential on-site sewage system has failed.

    • A local health officer may require the direct sanitary-sewer connection; the rule does not make the connection automatic.
    • The sanitary sewer must be available within three hundred (300) feet of the affected property line.
    • The sanitary sewer must be available for connection at a construction cost and connection fee estimated not to exceed one hundred fifty percent (150%) of the estimated cost of installing an on-site sewage system serving the residence or residential outbuilding.
    • The rule is administered by local boards of health through their health officer and authorized representatives.
    • The cited rule identifies filing and readoption dates, but does not state an effective date in the cited passage.

    maximum sewer distance: <= 300 feet (Available from the affected property line.) · maximum connection cost and connection fee: <= 150 percent of estimated on-site sewage system installation cost (Applies when the residential on-site sewage system has failed.)

    “(b) In the event of a residential on-site sewage system failure the local health officer may require the residence and/or the residential outbuilding to make a direct connection to a sanitary sewer, if the sanitary sewer is available within three hundred (300) feet of the affected property line and is available for connection at a construction cost and connection fee estimated not to exceed one hundred fifty percent (150%) of the cost estimated for installing an on-site sewage system to serve the residence or residential outbuilding.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision of lots or lands outside the corporate boundaries of a municipality in Indiana.

    • A correct plat must be recorded with the county recorder before selling lots.
    • The plat must show public places, public ways, and the length, width, and size of each lot.
    • A registered land surveyor must certify the correctness of the plat.
    • The subdivision plat must be submitted for approval by the board of county commissioners.
    • The county recorder may record the plat only if a certificate showing approval of the county commissioners is attached.
    • Once a subdivision-control ordinance is adopted and filed, the plan commission has exclusive control over approval of plats and replats covered by that ordinance.
    • The cited state summary distinguishes subdivisions outside municipalities; incorporated municipalities may have separate statutory or local procedures.
    “Subdivisions Outside Cities and Towns: A person who lays out a subdivision of lots or lands outside the corporate boundaries of any municipality shall record a correct plat of the subdivision in the office of the recorder of the county before selling any lots in the subdivision. The plat must show public places, public ways, and the length, width, and size of each lot.”
  • Campground & park staysLimited

    Occupancy of manufactured homes as principal residences in Indiana mobile home communities and related state health-regulated settings.

    • The state statute recognizes mobile homes and manufactured homes as suitable and necessary dwelling units in Indiana.
    • A mobile home community is generally land with at least five mobile homes or manufactured homes occupied as principal residences, subject to the statutory definition and included parcel configurations.
    • County and municipal authorities retain jurisdiction regarding zoning and building codes and ordinances pertaining to mobile home communities.
    • A mobile home community may not be operated without a license from the state department.
    • Occupied homes in a mobile home community must be connected to the community sewerage system at all times.
    • Each residential shelter in a mobile home community must have toilet, sink, and bath or shower facilities and be connected to water supply and sewer service before occupancy.
    • Mobile home community sites must meet and receive approval under local zoning requirements before construction begins.

    mobile homes or manufactured homes for statutory mobile home community definition: >= 5 homes (The statute also includes certain parcels with fewer units when specified shared-road, water, or sewer/septic conditions apply.) · mobile home community license duration: 4 years (The license expires at midnight on December 31.) · public water system distance threshold: > 2000 feet (A mobile home community is not required to use a public water system if the system is more than 2,000 feet away.)

    “Every shelter occupied as a residence in a mobile home community, whether mobile or permanent, shall be: 1. equipped with toilet, sink, and bath or shower facilities; and 2. Connected to the water supply and sewer service; before occupancy.”
    4 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Limited — Temporary campgrounds in Indiana, including Parke County.
      “Sec. 16. "Temporary campground" means a campground operated not more than ten (10) consecutive days per event and not more than thirty (30) days a calendar year. Temporary campgrounds are under the jurisdiction of local health officers.”
    • Limited — Recreational vehicle occupancy at a regulated Indiana campground campsite, rather than residential occupancy on an individually deeded lot or other land outside the rule's campground definition.
      “No more than one (1) recreational vehicle or one (1) vacation mobile home”
    • Limited — Temporary campgrounds operated in Indiana.
      “not more than ten (10) consecutive days per event”
    • Limited — Occupancy of manufactured homes in Indiana, especially occupancy in mobile home communities subject to state health and sanitation standards and local zoning and building-code authority.
      “Mobile home community sites shall: 1. meet all requirements of the local zoning commission; and 2. be approved by the commission; before construction begins. (c) Every shelter occupied as a residence in a mobile home community, whether mobile or permanent, shall be: 1. equipped with toilet, sink, and bath or shower facilities; and 2. Connected to the water supply and sewer service; before occupancy.”
  • county building authorityGeneral

    Indiana counties' authority to adopt and enforce administrative building-code provisions, including building-permit or plan-review requirements, for residential construction in their jurisdiction, including Class 2 one- and two-dwelling-unit structures.

    • A county's substantive building and fire-safety provisions outside mere incorporation of Fire Prevention and Building Safety Commission rules are described by IDHS as unenforceable and may not be adopted; modification of Commission standards may occur only through Commission rulemaking.
    • The State's county-or-municipality model ordinance excludes industrialized building systems and mobile structures certified under IC 22-15-4.
    • The model ordinance states that it is not applicable to regulated amusement devices, regulated boilers, regulated pressure vessels, or regulated lifting devices.
    • The model ordinance conditions permit issuance on a complete application, any applicable fee, conformity with applicable building and fire-safety laws, and no violation of other applicable ordinances or laws.
    “HEA 1575 did not eliminate the authority of local jurisdictions to adopt and enforce administrative provisions in building and fire safety ordinances”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission — ask the county directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption from Parke County building or improvement-location permits.
  • Lot coverage — Lot-coverage limits in Parke County.
  • Building height — Building-height limits in unincorporated Parke County.
  • Living in an RV — Long-term or residential occupancy of recreational vehicles on private land in Parke County.
  • Tiny homes — Occupancy of a tiny home or similarly small dwelling in Parke County, including unincorporated areas.
3 more unanswered
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • 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.

Living off-grid in Parke County, Indiana

Is Parke County a good place to live off-grid or homestead?

Parke County scores 74/100 on the Bolthole Index, a strong county profile. Its strengths: workable self-sufficiency basics: 43.1″/yr rainfall and 44.9% wooded land and manageable long-term carry cost. Watch-outs: more administrative friction around building and land use.

Do you need a building permit in Parke County, Indiana?

Parke County generally requires a residential building permit, and it enforces county zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by Parke County Health Department (under Indiana Department of Health). These answers are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked. Rules change and cities within the county differ — always confirm with the county before you buy or build.

How much does land cost in Parke County, Indiana?

Land in Parke County runs about $7,262 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Parke County?

Parke County gets about 43.1" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 2.2% of years.

How remote is Parke County?

A representative private-land location has about 23,223 people within a 30-minute drive and 3,106,565 within two hours. The road-network catchments count population across county lines and clusters of smaller cities; straight-line radius values remain available as a comparison.

How Parke compares in Indiana

Compare side-by-side →See all 92 Indiana counties ranked →