Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Bowling Green Township, Ohio

Bowling Green Township’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Bowling Green Township, Licking County.

  • Township zoning is administered at the township level.

  “In Licking County, zoning is administered at the township level.”

Rules another office applies inside Bowling Green Township

Bowling Green Township 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)

  Household and small-flow sewage systems inside Bowling Green Township, which is within Licking County.

  • Site feasibility varies with seasonal water table or bedrock, slope, soil texture, and permeability.
  • Flood plains, saturated soils, and excessive slopes can make a system impossible or impractical.

  “A sewage system installation permit and operating permit must be obtained from the Health Department prior to installation.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Installation of a household or small-flow sewage system inside Bowling Green Township.

  • Both an installation permit and operating permit must be obtained before installation.

  “A sewage system installation permit and operating permit must be obtained from the Health Department prior to installation.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  New, altered, or replacement sewage systems inside Bowling Green Township.

  • Installer must schedule an inspection before backfilling.
  • LCHD performs a follow-up inspection on new installations 12 months after completion.
  • Operation-and-maintenance inspection is annually for off-lot discharging and drip-irrigation systems and every five years for soil-absorption systems.

  follow-up inspection: 12 months after completion · operation and maintenance inspection: per 1 year (Off-lot discharging 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

  On-lot sewage treatment systems inside Bowling Green Township.

  • System design is site-specific.
  • Not all lots can be served by an on-lot sewage treatment system.
  • Flood plains, saturated soils, and excessive slopes can make design impossible or impractical.
  • Required Health Department permits apply 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

  Private water systems, including wells, inside Bowling Green Township.

  • Applies before installing or altering a private water system.
  • The cited page states these systems are regulated by Ohio Administrative Code 3701-28.

  “A permit must be issued by the health department prior to installing or altering a private water system.”

• Subdividing landLimited

  Subdivisions and new lots in Bowling Green Township that are not served by public water and sewer.

  • The Health Department evaluates new lots for feasibility of a household sewage treatment system.
  • A separate more in-depth evaluation is required for the specific home.
  • The department reviews subdivisions in county areas not served by public water and sewer.

  “Additionally, the department reviews all subdivisions in the county developed in areas not served by public water and sewer.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Building-permit applicants inside Bowling Green Township subject to Licking County Building Code Department jurisdiction.

  • The page identifies a fee schedule in its applications-and-forms materials but does not state fee amounts in the accessible page text.

  “These attachments include an Application for Permit, Fee Schedule, various checklists and procedures for obtaining permits and plan approvals, and supplemental handouts that you may find useful.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building-permit applicants inside Bowling Green Township subject to Licking County Building Code Department jurisdiction.

  • A completed application, zoning certificate, and two complete sets of plans and specifications are required for submission.
  • For areas without zoning enforcement, Health Department approval is required instead of a zoning certificate.

  “To submit for a building permit, please provide a completed Application, a copy of the Zoning Certificate (or Health Department Approval for areas without zoning) and two complete sets construction plans and specifications for the project.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Bowling Green Township or Licking County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built dwellings inside Bowling Green Township.
• Building code adopted — Construction inside Bowling Green Township.
• Inspections — Building construction inside Bowling Green Township.
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of buildings inside Bowling Green Township.
• Lot coverage — Land inside Bowling Green Township.

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.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Bowling Green Township means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

• Water Crystal Quest Filter any source — well, rain, or creek — to drinking-clean.
• Power Bluetti Solar generators and home battery backup for living off the grid.
• Septic Soil percolation test kit Run your own perc test before paying an engineer — the first thing a septic office asks about.
• Water Well water test kit Bacteria, nitrates, hardness — know what the well on a parcel is really pumping.

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