Bolthole Index

Lake County, Ohio

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

The Village of North Perry, Ohio (Lake County) adopts and enforces its own zoning code, with an R-1 residential district that requires lots of at least 33,000 square feet12. The village code adopts the Ohio Building Code and a residential code chapter3, but we could not confirm which office issues residential building permits inside village limits, so ask Village Hall first. Septic permits come from the Lake County General Health District4.

At a glance

Zoning
Yes. The village has its own planning and zoning code with P-1, R-1 and commercial districts15
Building permit
Zoning permit required by the village; who issues the residential building permit is unconfirmed, ask Village Hall6
R-1 minimum lot
33,000 sq ft, 100 ft wide at the building line2
R-1 minimum home size
1,800 sq ft total, 1,000 sq ft on the first floor7
R-1 height limit
35 feet for principal buildings8
Septic
Lake County General Health District4
Manufactured homes
Allowed in residential districts if permanently sited and built after 19959

Who to call

Zoning

Village of North Perry Zoning (Village Hall)

Zoning permits, zoning applications and fees, the Board of Zoning Appeals and the Planning Commission for land inside the village

(440)259-4994

secretary@northperry.org

4449 Lockwood Rd. North Perry, OH 44081

Septic permits

Lake County General Health District, Sewage Treatment System Program

Site reviews, plan review and permits for new, replacement and altered septic systems

(440) 350-2543

5966 Heisley Road, Mentor, Ohio 44060

Well permits

Lake County General Health District, Private Water Systems Program

Permits and inspections for private wells, cisterns and other private water systems

(440) 350-2543

5966 Heisley Road, Mentor, Ohio 44060

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

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Does North Perry, Ohio have zoning, and what does it mean for lot size and homes?

Yes. The Village of North Perry publishes its own Planning and Zoning Code, and Village Hall runs a zoning department, a Board of Zoning Appeals and a Planning Commission110. The code sets up P-1 Parks and Open Space, R-1 Residential, and commercial, industrial and mixed-use districts5.

In the R-1 Residential District, a lot used for a dwelling must be at least 33,000 square feet, with 100 feet of width at the building line and 100 feet of street frontage, though cul-de-sac and curved-road lots follow different rules2. A single-family home in R-1 needs at least 1,800 square feet of living space, 1,000 square feet of it on the first floor7. Principal buildings may not exceed 35 feet8.

A 1,800 square foot minimum rules out most tiny homes in R-17. We found no village provision that specifically classifies or permits tiny homes, so ask the zoning office before buying.

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

The village requires a zoning permit and development-plan approval before you build6. The village code also adopts the Ohio Building Code and a residential code chapter3. We could not confirm which office issues residential building permits for addresses inside North Perry, so call Village Hall at (440)259-4994 before you buy10.

Ohio law sends building plans to whichever municipal, township or county building department has jurisdiction11. Lake County's Building Department states that its permit page does not replace local requirements, and its residential packet tells applicants to get the local zoning permit first12. Expect to clear village zoning before any building permit application, whoever takes it.

Owner-builders: the county's residential packet lets an owner do their own electrical, HVAC, hydronic or fire-suppression work after signing a waiver, but that does not waive the building permit itself13.

How do septic permits work in North Perry?

The Lake County General Health District runs the septic program for Lake County, and its program reviews, inspects and regulates new, replacement and altered systems414. Ohio law makes the board of health the permitting authority inside its health district15. We could not confirm a village-specific septic rule, so confirm with the health district that your address is covered.

Expect a site review first: the district lists a $400 site-review application, a $494 new or replacement installation permit and a $160 alteration permit16. Allow at least two weeks for the review17. Once the system is running, an operation permit is required, at $100 per five-year term for a septic tank to soil absorption system18.

If a public sanitary sewer is reachable, Ohio rules generally require connecting to it instead19. Ask the village secretary whether sewer service reaches your lot.

Can you live in an RV or manufactured home in North Perry?

We could not confirm any North Perry rule on living in an RV or camping on private land. Ohio's campground rules cover licensed campgrounds only and do not answer the question for your own lot20. Ask the village zoning office at (440)259-4994 before parking a camper on a lot10.

Manufactured homes are allowed in residential districts when they meet the village's conditions: permanent masonry or concrete foundation, built after 1995, at least 22 feet wide and 22 feet long, and a roof pitch of at least 3:129. Travel trailers, park trailers and mobile homes do not qualify9. Ohio also bars occupying a manufactured home until the state inspector issues the inspection seal21.

Building a home in North Perry: the steps, in order

  1. Call Village Hall at (440)259-4994 and ask which office issues residential building permits and what the zoning office needs10.
  2. Confirm your lot meets R-1 rules, and if you plan to split land, review the village's lot-line adjustment, minor subdivision and major subdivision procedures22.
  3. Apply for a village zoning permit6.
  4. If you need a well, apply to the Lake County General Health District for a private water system permit before work begins2324.
  5. If no sewer is available, complete the health district's septic site review, then the installation permit1614.
  6. Apply for the building permit with the office the village names, and schedule every required inspection11.

What stays with Lake County, and what should you check before you buy?

Septic and private-well permits come from the Lake County General Health District424. The district warns that Lake County is a poor county for groundwater, with much of it over shale bedrock, so test water before relying on a well24.

For land outside village limits, the county rules differ; see the Lake County page. Lake County's soil data rate nearly none of its soils as not limited for a conventional septic field, so expect a site evaluation and possibly an engineered system25. Lake County's effective property tax rate is 1.7%26.

Flood rules: the village code index lists a flood-control chapter, but we could not confirm its requirements, so ask Village Hall whether your lot is in a flood-prone area.

Watch-outs

  • We could not confirm which office issues residential building permits or inspections inside North Perry, so call Village Hall at (440)259-4994 before you sign a purchase contract10.
  • The village's published code is current through December 31, 2021, so ask the zoning office whether a rule has changed since, and about RV occupancy, accessory dwellings, short-term rentals and driveway permits, which we could not confirm1.
  • The R-1 minimum lot of 33,000 square feet and minimum home size of 1,800 square feet apply to R-1 only; other districts differ27.

Sources

  1. Part Eleven - Planning and Zoning Code (Village of North Perry), quoted and re-checked
  2. 1125.03 Lot Requirements (Village of North Perry), quoted and re-checked
  3. Part Thirteen - Building Code (Village of North Perry), quoted and re-checked
  4. Sewage Treatment Systems, quoted and re-checked
  5. Part Eleven - Planning and Zoning Code (Village of North Perry), quoted and re-checked
  6. Chapter 1107 Zoning Permits and Certificates Generally (Village of North Perry), quoted and re-checked
  7. 1125.06 Dwelling Unit Requirements (Village of North Perry), quoted and re-checked
  8. 1125.05 Height Regulations for Principal Buildings (Village of North Perry), quoted and re-checked
  9. 1125.07 Location of Permanently Sited Manufactured Home (Village of North Perry), quoted and re-checked
  10. Village of North Perry Zoning (Village Hall) (northperry.org)
  11. Section 3791.04 | Submission of plan - approvals - prohibition - fine (Ohio statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  12. Permit Applications, quoted and re-checked
  13. Residential Submittal Package, quoted and re-checked
  14. Lake County General Health District, Sewage Treatment System Program (lcghd.org)
  15. Section 3718.023 | Approval of installation, operation or alteration of sewage treatment systems (Ohio statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  16. Operation & Maintenance Program for Household Sewage Treatment Systems (Septic Systems), quoted and re-checked
  17. Building Inspection, quoted and re-checked
  18. Operation & Maintenance Program for Household Sewage Treatment Systems, quoted and re-checked
  19. Rule 3745-42-07 | Best available technology for connection into sanitary sewers and centralized collection and treatment (Ohio statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  20. Rule 3701-26-04 | Campground requirements (Ohio statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  21. Chapter 4781-7 | Manufactured home inspections (Ohio statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  22. Chapter 1111 Subdivision Review Procedures (Village of North Perry), quoted and re-checked
  23. Chapter 3701-28 | Private water systems (Ohio statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  24. Lake County General Health District, Private Water Systems Program (lcghd.org)
  25. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
  26. Effective property tax rate: 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 North Perry

Village of North Perry’s own rules

  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Construction governed by North Perry village's published building-code title.

    • The code index also lists residential, electrical, and plumbing code chapters; the published code is current through December 31, 2021.
    “TITLE ONE - Codes Adopted Chap. 1301. Ohio Building Code. Chap. 1303. 1999 Ohio Residential Code for 1, 2 and 3 Family Dwellings.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside North Perry village limits.

    • The published code is current through December 31, 2021.
    “PART ELEVEN - PLANNING AND ZONING CODE PART ELEVEN - PLANNING AND ZONING CODE”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Zoning districts inside North Perry village limits.

    • The published zoning-code index identifies P-1 Parks and Open Space, R-1 Residential, and Commercial, Industrial and Mixed-Use districts.
    “Chap. 1123. P-1 Parks and Open Space District. Chap. 1125. R-1 Residential District. Chap. 1127. Commercial, Industrial and Mixed-Use Districts.”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    Single-family dwellings in the R-1 Residential District inside North Perry village.

    • Living space is measured from exterior walls and excludes basement, attic, open porches, breezeway, attached garage, and carport. Each single-family dwelling must have at least one story wholly above finished grade.

    minimum total living area: >= 1800 square feet (R-1) · minimum first-floor area: >= 1000 square feet (R-1)

    “R-1 (1) Minimum total square footage 1,800 sq ft (2) Minimum square footage on first floor 1,000 sq ft”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    Lots used for dwelling units in the R-1 Residential District inside North Perry village.

    • The rule applies to lots created in a Residential District and is excepted where otherwise regulated in the code. Cul-de-sac or curved-road frontage rules differ.

    minimum lot area: >= 33000 square feet (except as otherwise regulated in this Code) · minimum lot width at building line: >= 100 feet (cul-de-sac or curved-road rules apply) · minimum street frontage: >= 100 feet (cul-de-sac or curved-road rules apply)

    “The area of a lot that may be used for the purposes of a dwelling unit shall not be less than 33,000 square feet, except as otherwise regulated in this Code.”
  • Building heightSpecified

    Principal buildings in the R-1 Residential District inside North Perry village.

    • Integral chimneys and radio or television antennas may reach 50 feet.

    principal-building height: <= 35 feet (integral chimneys and radio or television antennas have a separate 50-foot limit)

    “The height of principal buildings shall not exceed 35 feet.”
  • Manufactured homesAllowed (with conditions)

    Permanently sited manufactured homes inside North Perry village residential districts.

    • The home must comply with all single-family zoning requirements, be on a permanent masonry or concrete foundation and connected to appropriate facilities, meet stated size and exterior standards, be manufactured after January 1, 1995, and not be in a manufactured-home park. Travel trailers, park trailers, and mobile homes do not qualify.

    minimum width: >= 22 feet · minimum length: >= 22 feet · minimum roof pitch: 3:12

    “Permanently sited manufactured homes shall be permitted where they meet the following provisions:”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Lot splits and major subdivisions inside North Perry village limits.

    • The published chapter includes separate procedures for lot-line adjustments, minor subdivisions or lot splits, major subdivisions, planning commission review, final plats, approvals by others, recording, and construction improvements.
    “1111.03 Lot line adjustment. 1111.04 Minor subdivision/lot split review. 1111.05 Major subdivision review procedures.”
  • Permit processPartial

    Zoning-permit and development-plan applications inside North Perry village limits.

    • This finding addresses the published zoning process only; it does not establish a building-permit process.
    “CHAPTER 1107 Zoning Permits and Certificates Generally 1107.01 Intent. 1107.02 General provisions for application filing. 1107.03 Zoning permit required. 1107.04 Approval of zoning permit. 1107.05 Zoning permit issuance.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Building permit — Residential construction inside North Perry village limits.
  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residences inside North Perry village limits.
  • Inspections — Residential construction inside North Perry village limits.
  • Certificate of occupancy — New or altered residential structures inside North Perry village limits.
  • Lot coverage — Residential lots inside North Perry village limits.
15 more unanswered
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Short-term rentals
  • Permit fees

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 North Perry publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Lake County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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