Bolthole Index

Licking County, Ohio

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

The Village of Alexandria, Ohio (Licking County) publishes its own zoning code and zoning map1, and its Forms & Permits page lists a building permit and a zoning permit application2. Septic permits for homes without public sewer come from the Licking County Health Department, not the village3. We could not confirm which work needs a village building permit, so call the village office before you plan a project.

At a glance

Zoning
Village of Alexandria has its own zoning code and zoning map14
Building permit
Village lists a building permit form; which work needs one is unconfirmed2
Septic permit
Required from the Licking County Health Department before installation3
Septic authority
Licking County Health Department5
Well permit
Health department permit required before installing or altering a private water system6
RV, tiny home, lot size, setbacks
Set by the village zoning code; we could not confirm the details4

Who to call

Building permits

Village of Alexandria Office

Village forms and permits, including the building permit, zoning permit, fence permit, right-of-way permit, water service application and sewer tap application

(740) 924-2539

administrator@alexandriaoh.gov

4 W. Main St. Alexandria, OH 43001

Planning & zoning

Village of Alexandria Planning, Zoning & Construction

Zoning code, zoning map, comprehensive plan and right-of-way permits inside the village

(740) 924-2539

4 W. Main St. Alexandria, OH 43001

Septic permits

Licking County Health Department (Sewage Treatment Program)

Septic (household sewage treatment) permits and inspections, and well permits, for Licking County addresses including the village

(740) 349-6535

675 Price Road, Newark, OH 43055

Building permits

Licking County Building Code Department

Building permits and construction-document review across most of Licking County; call to ask whether it covers a project in the village

740.349.6671

675 Price Road, Newark, OH 43055

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 Alexandria 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.

Does Alexandria, Ohio have zoning, and what does it mean for RVs, tiny homes, lot size and setbacks?

Yes. The Village of Alexandria publishes a zoning code and a zoning map, and its Planning, Zoning & Construction page points to district information and the permitted and conditional uses for each property14.

The district standards are in the village's zoning code PDF, which we could not read as text. For that reason we could not confirm the rules for living in an RV, tiny homes, accessory dwellings, minimum lot size, setbacks or building height inside the village. Ask the village office which zoning district your parcel is in, then read the permitted and conditional uses for that district before you buy7.

Zoning in the village is separate from township zoning. Licking County's own page leaves zoning to each township and municipality, so a neighbor outside village limits may follow different rules8.

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

The Village of Alexandria's Forms & Permits page lists a building permit, a zoning permit, a fence permit and a right-of-way permit2. The village says some projects need its review before work begins7.

We could not confirm which residential work needs a building permit inside the village, who reviews the construction plans, or whether the village has adopted its own building code. Ohio law sends plans to the municipal, township or county building department that has jurisdiction, and the Licking County Building Code Department covers the majority of the county910. Projects in incorporated places may face different or added requirements11.

Call the village office first and ask which department reviews plans for your project. The county's department asks for a zoning certificate before it will approve a permit12.

How do septic permits work inside Alexandria, Ohio?

The village does not issue septic permits. Inside Alexandria, an on-lot septic system needs an installation permit and an operating permit from the Licking County Health Department before installation313.

The installer must call for an inspection before backfilling, and the health department does a follow-up inspection 12 months after a new system is finished14. Soil absorption systems get a recurring inspection every 5 years14.

Not every lot can take a septic system. Flood plains, saturated soils and steep slopes can make design impossible or impractical15. Across Licking County only about 3.6% of soils rate as not limited for a conventional drain field, so expect a site evaluation and possibly an engineered system16. The health department advises evaluating a lot early, before you buy13.

If the village's public sewer reaches your lot, the connection is a village matter. The village offers a sewer tap application2.

What about wells and splitting a lot in Alexandria, Ohio?

A private well, cistern or drinking-water pond needs a permit from the health department before it is installed or altered, under Ohio Administrative Code 3701-286.

For lot splits and subdivisions, the health department reviews developments that lack public water and sewer and directs applicants to Licking County Planning17. The village's own rules for splitting a lot are not something we could confirm, so ask the village office.

Building a home in Alexandria, Ohio: the steps, in order

  1. Call the Village of Alexandria office and ask for your parcel's zoning district and the uses it allows27.
  2. Ask the village which office reviews building plans for your project, the village or the Licking County Building Code Department12.
  3. If the lot is not on public sewer, ask the Licking County Health Department for a site evaluation before you buy13.
  4. Apply for the village zoning permit and building permit from the Forms & Permits page2.
  5. Get the septic installation and operating permits, and any well permit, from the health department36.
  6. Schedule the septic inspection before backfilling14.
  7. Ohio's residential code requires an approval from the residential building official before a new dwelling is occupied18.

What stays with Licking County, and what to check before you buy in Alexandria

Septic and well permits for addresses in the village come from the Licking County Health Department, and county-wide subdivision rules run through Licking County Planning517. Land outside village limits follows different rules; see the Licking County page for unincorporated land.

Before you buy, confirm the zoning district, whether public sewer and water reach the lot, and whether a septic system can be sited at all. County-level figures give context: the effective property tax rate in Licking County is about 1.3%19, and the median property tax bill is about $3,150 a year20.

Watch-outs

  • We could not confirm which work needs a building permit inside Alexandria, who reviews construction plans, or what fees apply; ask the Village of Alexandria office before you plan a project2.
  • We could not read the village zoning code, so RV living, tiny homes, minimum dwelling size, lot size and setbacks are unconfirmed; ask the zoning office for the rules in your parcel's district7.
  • An on-lot septic system may not be possible on every lot, and the health department recommends a site evaluation before you buy15.
  • Work in village streets, sidewalks, easements or rights-of-way may need a permit before construction starts7.

Sources

  1. Village of Alexandria Ohio - Planning Zoning & Construction (Village of Alexandria), quoted and re-checked
  2. Village of Alexandria Office (alexandriaoh.gov)
  3. Sewage Treatment Program (Village of Alexandria), quoted and re-checked
  4. Village of Alexandria Ohio - Planning Zoning & Construction (Village of Alexandria), quoted and re-checked
  5. Sewage Treatment Program (Village of Alexandria), quoted and re-checked
  6. lickingcohealth.org (Village of Alexandria), quoted and re-checked
  7. Village of Alexandria Planning, Zoning & Construction (alexandriaoh.gov)
  8. Township & Zoning Info, quoted and re-checked
  9. Section 3791.04 | Submission of plan - approvals - prohibition - fine (Ohio statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  10. Building Code, quoted and re-checked
  11. Summary of residential work that does or does not require approval, quoted and re-checked
  12. Licking County Building Code Department (lickingcounty.gov)
  13. Licking County Health Department (Sewage Treatment Program) (lickingcohealth.org)
  14. Sewage Treatment Program (Village of Alexandria), quoted and re-checked
  15. Sewage Treatment Program (Village of Alexandria), quoted and re-checked
  16. 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
  17. lickingcohealth.org (Village of Alexandria), quoted and re-checked
  18. Ohio Residential Code, Section 111, quoted and re-checked
  19. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  20. Median property tax bill: 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 Alexandria

Village of Alexandria’s own rules

  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside Alexandria village, Ohio.

    • The Village directs users to its zoning code PDF for the operative regulations, district standards, and permitted and conditional uses.
    “Information about zoning regulations, permits, development requirements, construction standards, and right-of-way work within the Village of Alexandria. Use the links below to find information and helpful resources.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Zoning districts inside Alexandria village.

    • The Village publishes a zoning map and a zoning-code PDF; detailed district limits were not text-accessible in this research run.
    “Review zoning regulations, district information, permitted and conditional uses, and other details that may affect your property”
  • Permit processPartial

    Village permit applications for property and construction work inside Alexandria village.

    • The online library is still growing and the Village instructs residents to contact the Village Office if a needed document is not found.
    “Need to apply for a permit or complete a Village form? Use the link below to find the application or information you need. Documents open as a PDF in the Village's public Google Drive and may be viewed or downloaded from any device.”

Rules another office applies inside Village of Alexandria

Village of Alexandria 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 septicCounty (with conditions)

    On-lot sewage treatment systems serving land inside Alexandria village, which is in Licking County.

    • The system must be one that is not served by public sewer and must meet Health Department requirements.
    “The Licking County Health Department works to prevent disease transmission and protect the quality of surface and ground water by performing inspections, enforcing sewage regulations, and providing education to homeowners.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Installation of an on-lot sewage treatment system inside Alexandria village.

    • An installation permit and operating permit must be obtained before installation.
    • The permit requirement concerns sewage systems administered by the Licking County Health Department.
    “A sewage system installation permit and operating permit must be obtained from the Health Department prior to installation.”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    On-lot sewage treatment systems inside Alexandria village.

    • The installer must schedule inspection before backfilling.
    • LCHD performs a follow-up inspection 12 months after completion.
    • New, altered, and replacement systems require annual operation-and-maintenance inspection for off-lot discharging and drip-irrigation systems, or five-year inspection for soil-absorption systems.

    follow-up inspection: 12 months after completion · operation and maintenance inspection: per 1 year (off-lot discharging systems and drip irrigation systems) · operation and maintenance inspection: per 5 years (soil absorption systems)

    “The installer must call to schedule an inspection prior to backfilling the system. LCHD performs a follow-up inspection on all new system installations 12 months after the system is completed to evaluate system performance and provide homeowner education.”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Use of an on-lot sewage treatment system inside Alexandria village where public sewer is not used.

    • System design depends on site-specific soil characteristics.
    • Flood plains, saturated soils, and excessive slopes can make on-lot system design impossible or impractical.
    • Installation and operating permits are required before installation.
    “Not all lots can be developed and served by an on-lot sewage treatment system. Limiting factors like flood plains, saturated soils, excessive slopes can make system design impossible or impractical.”
  • Well permitRequired

    Installation or alteration of a private water system, including a well, inside Alexandria village.

    • The private water system is regulated by Ohio Administrative Code 3701-28.
    • The health department must issue the permit before installation or alteration.
    “Private water systems, including wells, cisterns, hauled water storage tanks, and ponds used for drinking water are regulated by the Ohio Private Water Systems Regulations (Ohio Administrative Code 3701-28). A permit must be issued by the health department prior to installing or altering a private water system.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision review inside Alexandria village when development is not served by public water and sewer.

    • Health Department review applies to subdivisions in Licking County developed in areas not served by public water and sewer.
    • For lot splits and subdivisions, the Health Department directs applicants to Licking County Planning.
    “Additionally, the department reviews all subdivisions in the county developed in areas not served by public water and sewer. For more information review the forms below, or call (740) 349-6535.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Building permit — Residential building construction inside Alexandria village.
  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder treatment for construction inside Alexandria village.
  • Building code adopted — Building-code adoption for construction inside Alexandria village.
  • Inspections — Building inspections inside Alexandria village.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy inside Alexandria village.
15 more unanswered
  • Minimum dwelling size
  • Minimum lot size
  • Setbacks
  • Lot coverage
  • Building height
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • 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 Alexandria publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Licking County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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