Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Chardon Township, Ohio

At a glance

Zoning

Yes, adopted and enforced by the township¹

Building permit

Required for new homes; issued by the Geauga County Building Department²

Septic

Geauga Public Health permits and inspects septic systems³

Minimum lot size (R-1)

5 acres, excluding road right of way⁴

Minimum home size (R-1)

1,600 sq ft for a single-story dwelling⁵

RV living

Not confirmed; ask the township zoning inspector¹

Wells

Private wells need Geauga Public Health approval⁶

Who to call

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 14, 2026.

Does Chardon Township, Ohio have zoning, and what does it mean for lot size and setbacks?

Chardon Township has its own zoning, with a zoning commission and a board of zoning appeals¹⁷. The township's zoning covers land in unincorporated Geauga County and is separate from the City of Chardon¹.

The published districts are R-1 single-family residential and C-1 commercial⁸. In the R-1 district, a lot must be at least 5 acres excluding road right of way, with 250 feet of width at the building line and 100 feet of front lot line⁴. Required yards in R-1 are 100 feet in front, 50 feet on each side and 50 feet in the rear⁹. A single-story home in R-1 must have at least 1,600 square feet of floor area; a multi-story home needs 1,000 square feet on the first floor and 1,800 square feet in total⁵.

The township's copy of the resolution we reviewed is dated 2022, so ask the zoning inspector about later amendments¹.

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

Building permits for new homes in Geauga County, including Chardon Township, come from the Geauga County Building Department, which issues building permits and inspects new structures¹⁰². Permits are also required for remodeling that involves electrical, framing or plumbing work¹¹.

The county's checklist exempts residential accessory structures under 200 square feet from a building permit¹¹. A zoning permit from the township is a separate step and is listed alongside the building permit for a new dwelling¹².

The department enforces the Residential Code of Ohio and the National Electric Code¹³. We could not confirm anything specific to Chardon Township beyond the county's own rules, so call the Building Department at the number below to confirm your project.

How do septic permits work in Chardon Township?

Geauga Public Health issues septic permits for new and altered systems for households across Geauga County³¹⁴. Homes in the county's townships are generally served by septic systems and private wells, and both need Geauga Public Health approval⁶.

The process starts with a lot evaluation to see whether a septic system is feasible on the lot¹⁵. A soil scientist and a septic designer then prepare the soil report and plans, and the system's capacity is based on the number of bedrooms¹⁵.

Public sewer is limited within the county's townships; where it exists, plans go to the County Sanitary Engineer¹⁶. Ask Geauga Public Health whether sewer reaches your parcel.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Chardon Township?

We could not confirm whether Chardon Township allows living in an RV on private land, so ask the township zoning inspector before you buy or park one¹⁷.

A tiny home is likely to run into the R-1 floor-area minimums: a single-story dwelling needs at least 1,600 square feet⁵. Manufactured homes in R-1 must meet federal construction standards and sit on a permanent foundation with hitches, axles and wheels removed¹⁷.

Ohio's campground rule covers licensed campgrounds, not a private lot, so it does not answer the question for your land¹⁸.

Building a home in Chardon Township: the steps, in order

1. Call the Chardon Township zoning inspector (by appointment) to confirm the district, setbacks and zoning approval¹⁹⁷.
2. Request a driveway permit with an address from the County Engineer; a culvert permit may be required¹².
3. Have the lot evaluated and apply to Geauga Public Health for the septic and well permits¹⁵¹⁴.
4. Submit your building plans to the Geauga County Building Department for the building permit¹¹¹⁰.
5. Get the flood determination, plumbing permit and soil and water permit the county lists for a new dwelling²⁰.

The county says all required approvals must be in hand before construction begins²¹.

What stays with Geauga County, and what to check before you buy

The county, not the township, handles building permits, septic and wells, and the driveway and address permit²³¹². For land outside Chardon Township, see the Geauga County page.

Before you buy, ask the zoning inspector which district the parcel is in, and ask Geauga Public Health for a lot evaluation, because the share of soils the USDA rates as not limited for a conventional drain field is²²% in Geauga County, so expect a site evaluation and possibly an engineered system. A zoning certificate for agricultural buildings can change which building-code provisions apply²³.

Geauga County's effective property tax rate is 1.5%²⁴.

Watch-outs

• The zoning resolution we reviewed is dated 2022, so ask the township zoning inspector about current amendments¹.
• The City of Chardon is a separate government with its own rules; do not use its code for township land¹.
• A building permit does not replace the zoning, septic, well and driveway approvals; all required approvals must be obtained before construction begins²¹.
• We could not confirm township rules on RV occupancy, accessory dwellings or short-term rentals; ask the zoning inspector¹.

Sources

1. Zoning – Chardon Township (Chardon Township), quoted and re-checked
2. What Approvals Do I Need for a New Home?, quoted and re-checked
3. Developing Land in Geauga County: A Guide to Obtaining Permits Before You Build, quoted and re-checked
4. Chardon Township Zoning Resolution (copy dated 2022-09-16) (Chardon Township), quoted and re-checked
5. Chardon Township Zoning Resolution (copy dated 2022-09-16) (Chardon Township), quoted and re-checked
6. What Approvals Do I Need for a New Home?, quoted and re-checked
7. Chardon Township Zoning Department (chardontownship.gov)
8. Chardon Township Zoning Resolution (copy dated 2022-09-16) (Chardon Township), quoted and re-checked
9. Chardon Township Zoning Resolution (copy dated 2022-09-16) (Chardon Township), quoted and re-checked
10. Geauga County Building Department (bocc.geauga.oh.gov)
11. Requirements for Residential Building Permits, quoted and re-checked
12. Requirements for Residential Building Permits, quoted and re-checked
13. What Approvals Do I Need for a New Home?, quoted and re-checked
14. Geauga Public Health, Environmental Health (gphohio.org)
15. What Approvals Do I Need for a New Home?, quoted and re-checked
16. What Approvals Do I Need for a New Home?, quoted and re-checked
17. Chardon Township Zoning Resolution (copy dated 2022-09-16) (Chardon Township), quoted and re-checked
18. Rule 3701-26-04 | Campground requirements (Ohio statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
19. Zoning – Chardon Township (Chardon Township), quoted and re-checked
20. Requirements for Residential Building Permits, quoted and re-checked
21. What Approvals Do I Need for a New Home?, quoted and re-checked
22. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
23. Ohio Revised Code Section 3781.061: Exemption for building or structure used in agriculture, quoted and re-checked
24. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data

Written October 14, 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.