Bolthole Index

Knox County, Ohio

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in the Village of Danville, Ohio

The Village of Danville, Ohio, in Knox County, has its own zoning code, and the Village Zoning Officer administers it inside village limits1. Septic and water approval comes from the Knox County Health Board, with prior approval of the village, before a building permit or certificate of occupancy can issue2. We could not confirm who issues building permits inside the village, so ask the village office before you buy.

At a glance

Zoning
Village zoning code, enforced by the Village Zoning Officer1
Certificate of occupancy
Zoning certificate of occupancy required before using or occupying a new or changed building3
Septic and water
Knox County Health Board approval, with prior village approval, before a building permit or certificate issues2
Minimum home size
One-story homes need at least 900 square feet of living area4
Lot coverage
30 percent in most districts, 40 percent in R-4 and LI-15
RV as a dwelling
Prohibited in the MHPD-1 district; other districts not confirmed6
Manufactured homes
Permitted where single-family dwellings are permitted, if they meet Ohio standards7
Zoning decision time
Zoning Officer approves or disapproves within 30 days of an application8

Who to call

Zoning

Village of Danville (Village Office, Zoning Officer)

Zoning code, zoning permits and zoning certificates of occupancy inside Danville village limits

740-599-6888

danclerk@danvilleohio.org

512 South Market St. PO Box W Danville, Ohio 43014

Septic permits

Knox County Health Department (Knox Public Health), Environmental Health Division

Site evaluations, septic system permits and well permits; the Health Board must approve sewage and water facilities for a use inside the village

740-392-2200

11660 Upper Gilchrist Road, Mount Vernon, OH 43050

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 24, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

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Does Danville, Ohio have zoning, and what does it mean for homes and RVs?

Yes. The Village of Danville, in Knox County, has its own zoning code, and the Village Zoning Officer administers and enforces it for land inside village limits1. The village is divided into zoning districts shown on the official zoning map, so the first step on any lot is to find out which district it sits in9.

A single-family home in any Danville district must have at least 900 square feet of living area on one story4. A two-story home needs 720 square feet on the first floor and at least 1,080 square feet in total4. Lot coverage is capped at 30 percent in most districts and 40 percent in R-4 and LI-15. Lots in the R-2 district, and accessory dwelling units, must be served by public water and sewer10.

Recreational vehicles may not be used as a dwelling in the MHPD-1 Manufactured Home Park District6. Danville's rules for RVs in other districts were not confirmed, so ask the Zoning Officer before planning to live in one. Permanently sited manufactured homes that meet Ohio's standards are permitted in any Danville district where a single-family dwelling is permitted7. We could not confirm how the code treats tiny homes, so ask the village office if you plan one.

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

Danville requires a zoning certificate of occupancy before anyone uses or occupies a building that is newly created, changed, converted or enlarged, and the Zoning Officer issues it once the use conforms to the zoning code3. A temporary zoning certificate can run for up to six months while work is under way3.

We could not confirm which office issues building permits or inspects construction inside the village, or whether Danville has adopted a building code of its own. Ohio law requires plans to be approved by the municipal, township or county building department that has jurisdiction before work begins11. The same law says an owner is not required to make that submission when no certified department for residential buildings has jurisdiction11. Which case applies to a Danville lot is a question for the village office at 740-599-688812.

How do septic permits work inside Danville?

Inside Danville, no building permit or zoning certificate of occupancy is issued without evidence that the Knox County Health Board has approved the proposed sewage disposal and water facilities, with prior approval of the village2. Septic and well permits for a new home come from the Knox County Health Department's Environmental Health Division13.

Public sewer changes the picture. Lots in the R-2 district and accessory dwelling units must connect to public water and sewer10. Elsewhere, ask the village whether a sewer line reaches the lot before you pay for a soil evaluation.

USDA soil ratings show none of Knox County's soils as "not limited" for a conventional drain field14. That is a strict rating, and it means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system rather than that septic is impossible.

Building a home in Danville: the steps, in order

  1. Find the lot's zoning district on the village's official zoning map and read the code's standards for that district9.
  2. Confirm public water and sewer access, which is required in R-2 and for accessory dwelling units10.
  3. Contact the Knox County Health Department about septic and well approval, because the Health Board must approve sewage and water facilities before a building permit or certificate of occupancy can issue2.
  4. If the lot fronts a county road, get a driveway or access management permit; one is a prerequisite for assigning a house number15.
  5. Apply to the Zoning Officer, who must approve or disapprove a zoning application within 30 days of receiving it8. The application lapses if work has not begun within one year or is not substantially completed within two years8.
  6. Ask the village office who issues building permits and inspections, since we could not confirm that12.
  7. Before moving in, get the zoning certificate of occupancy3.

What stays with Knox County, and what should you check before you buy in Danville?

Inside Danville, zoning belongs to the village, while septic and well permits run through the Knox County Health Department2. Knox County's own building steps, township zoning and septic checklist cover unincorporated land, not village lots16. For land outside the village limits, see the Knox County page.

Zoning fees are set by Village Council resolution, and no action is taken on an application until fees are paid in full17. Ask the village office for the current schedule. For floodplain questions, the county runs a flood hazard area development permit program18. We could not confirm whether a floodplain rule applies inside Danville, so ask the village office.

County-level figures: Knox County's effective property tax rate is 1.1%19, and farmland averages about $7,956 per acre20.

Watch-outs

  • We could not confirm who issues building permits or inspects construction inside Danville, so ask the village office at 740-599-6888 before you design or buy12.
  • Do not assume the Knox County permit steps apply to a Danville lot; those steps cover unincorporated land and Danville sets its own zoning rules inside the village1.
  • The Danville zoning code prohibits RVs as dwellings in the MHPD-1 district, and we could not confirm the rule in other districts6.
  • Village zoning fees are set by Council resolution and must be paid before an application moves forward17.

Sources

  1. Zoning Codified Ordinances – Village of Danville (Village of Danville), quoted and re-checked
  2. Village of Danville Zoning Code (Village of Danville), quoted and re-checked
  3. Village of Danville Zoning Code (Village of Danville), quoted and re-checked
  4. Village of Danville Zoning Code (Village of Danville), quoted and re-checked
  5. Village of Danville Zoning Code (Village of Danville), quoted and re-checked
  6. Village of Danville Zoning Code (Village of Danville), quoted and re-checked
  7. Village of Danville Zoning Code (Village of Danville), quoted and re-checked
  8. Village of Danville Zoning Code (Village of Danville), quoted and re-checked
  9. Village of Danville Zoning Code (Village of Danville), quoted and re-checked
  10. Village of Danville Zoning Code (Village of Danville), quoted and re-checked
  11. Section 3791.04 | Submission of plan - approvals - prohibition - fine (Ohio statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  12. Village of Danville (Village Office, Zoning Officer) (danvilleohio.org)
  13. Knox County Health Department (Knox Public Health), Environmental Health Division (co.knox.oh.us)
  14. 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
  15. Tax Map and GIS – What We Do – Knox County, Ohio (Village of Danville), quoted and re-checked
  16. STEPS REQUIRED TO BUILD A HOME, quoted and re-checked
  17. Village of Danville Zoning Code (Village of Danville), quoted and re-checked
  18. Knox County Flood Hazard Area Development Permit Application, quoted and re-checked
  19. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  20. Farmland value per acre (USDA census): Bolthole Index county data

Written October 24, 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 Village of Danville

Village of Danville’s own rules

  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Use or occupancy of a building or premises created, erected, changed, converted, altered, or enlarged inside Danville village limits.

    • The Zoning Officer must issue a zoning certificate of occupancy stating that the proposed use conforms to the zoning code.
    • A temporary zoning certificate may be issued for up to six months during alterations or pending completion.

    temporary certificate maximum period: <= 6 months (During alterations or partial occupancy pending completion.)

    “No person shall use or occupy or permit the use or occupancy of any building or premises, or both, or part thereof hereafter created, erected, changed, converted, or wholly or partly altered or enlarged in its use or structure, until a zoning certificate of occupancy is issued thereof by the Zoning Officer stating that the proposed use of the building or land conforms to the requirements of this zoning code.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside Danville village limits.

    • The Village Zoning Officer administers and enforces the zoning code.
    “Below is the Zoning Code for the Village of Danville.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Zoning districts inside Danville village limits.

    • The PUD District purpose is established separately in Chapter 1117.
    • District boundaries are shown on the official zoning map and may require BZA interpretation.
    “For the purpose of regulating and restricting the location of buildings, structures, and land uses, the Village is divided into zoning districts as shown on the official zoning map.”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    Single-family dwellings in any Danville zoning district.

    • The standard varies by building story configuration.
    • Finished ceiling area below 6.5 feet is excluded from the stated total for one-and-one-half-story buildings.
    • Institutional residential uses are excluded from these floor-area requirements.

    one-story minimum living area: >= 900 square feet (With or without a basement as specified in § 1115.5(d)(2)(A)(i).) · two-story minimum total living area: >= 1080 square feet (Also requires at least 720 square feet of first-floor living area.)

    “Two-story buildings: The minimum for a single-family dwelling shall be 720 square feet of first floor living area, and a total of not less than 1,080 square feet of living area on both floors.”
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    Zoned lots inside Danville village limits.

    • R-4 and LI-1 have a 40-percent maximum; all other zoning districts have a 30-percent maximum.
    • Decks and permeable materials designed to allow stormwater passage do not count toward maximum lot coverage.

    maximum lot coverage: <= 30 percent (R-4 and LI-1 Districts have a 40-percent maximum.) · R-4 and LI-1 maximum lot coverage: <= 40 percent

    “The maximum lot coverage shall be 30 percent in all zoning districts except the R-4 District and the LI-I District, in which case, the maximum lot cover shall be 40 percent.”
  • Living in an RVLimited

    Use of recreational vehicles as dwellings in the MHPD-1 Manufactured Home Park District inside Danville village limits.

    • This direct prohibition is limited to the MHPD-1 District; other district treatment was not established by the cited passage.
    “Recreational vehicles are prohibited from being used as a dwelling in the MHPD-1 District.”
  • Manufactured homesAllowed (with conditions)

    Permanently sited manufactured homes in Danville zoning districts where single-family dwellings are permitted.

    • The manufactured home must comply with ORC 3781.06 and all Village standards applicable to single-family dwellings.
    “Permanently sited manufactured homes that comply with Section 3781.06 of the Ohio Revised Code shall be permitted in any district where a single-family dwelling is permitted provided that it complies with the requirements of ORC 3781.06 and all other standards of this code applicable to single-family dwellings.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupWater and sewer (with conditions)

    R-2 lots and accessory dwelling units inside Danville village limits.

    • R-2 lots constructed in the district must be served by public water and sewer.
    • An accessory dwelling unit must connect to public water and sewer.
    “Lots constructed in the R-2 district shall be served by public water/sewer service.”
  • Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

    Zoning permits, zoning certificates of occupancy, appeals, and other zoning-administration matters inside Danville village limits.

    • Village Council establishes and may alter the fee schedule.
    • No action is taken on an application or appeal until applicable fees, charges, and expenses are paid in full.
    “Village Council shall, by resolution, establish a schedule of fees, charges and expenses, and a collection procedure for zoning permits, zoning certificates of occupancy, appeals, and all other matters pertaining to the administration and enforcement of this zoning code.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Zoning-permit applications inside Danville village limits.

    • The application must be signed by the owner or applicant.
    • The application expires if work has not begun within one year or has not been substantially completed within two years.
    • The Zoning Officer must approve or disapprove within 30 days after receipt.

    zoning officer decision period: <= 30 days (After receipt of the application.) · permit commencement deadline: <= 1 year (Permit expires if work has not begun.) · substantial completion deadline: <= 2 years (Permit expires if work has not been substantially completed.)

    “Within 30 days after the receipt of an application, the Zoning Officer shall either approve or disapprove the application in conformance with the provisions of this zoning code.”

Rules another office applies inside Village of Danville

Village of Danville 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 septicLocal (with conditions)

    Proposed sanitary sewage disposal and water facilities supporting a use inside Danville village limits.

    • Village approval is also required before a building permit or zoning certificate of occupancy may issue.
    “No building permit or zoning certificate of occupancy shall be issued without evidence that the Knox County Health Board has approved the proposed sanitary sewage disposal and water facilities for the use for which the zoning certificate of occupancy has been requested with prior approval of the Village of Danville.”
  • Driveway accessLimited

    Assignment of a house number for a home inside Danville village limits.

    • An approved access-management permit or driveway permit and property ownership are prerequisites for house-number assignment.
    • For homes on county roads, the County Engineer is the stated contact; state-road and township-road contacts differ.
    “Please note you must have an approved access management permit or driveway permit and the property must be in your name before a house number can be assigned.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Village of Danville or Knox County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder construction inside Danville village limits.
  • Building code adopted — Building-code adoption for construction inside Danville village limits.
  • Inspections — Building inspections inside Danville village limits.
  • Minimum lot size — Residential lots inside Danville village limits.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Danville village limits.
8 more unanswered
  • Tiny homes
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Subdividing land
  • Building in a floodplain
  • 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 Village of Danville publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Knox County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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