Building permits, zoning and septic rules in Muskingum County, Ohio
67Index Score / 100 #14 of 88 in Ohio
Unincorporated Muskingum County, Ohio does not require a county building permit or inspection for a one-, two-, or three-family home, though a certified residential building department in a municipality or township may have jurisdiction123. The county has no countywide zoning, so zoning comes from the township or municipality where the parcel sits45. Septic permits for every address in the county, city or not, come from the Zanesville-Muskingum County Health Department6.
At a glance
Building permit
No county permit or county inspection for one-, two-, or three-family homes; a certified local residential department may serve the parcel123
Zoning
No countywide zoning; township or municipal zoning may still apply45
Septic permits
Zanesville-Muskingum County Health Department reviews sites and designs, inspects installations, and issues operating permits6
Owner-builder
Yes: with no county building permit required, there is no permit to be exempt from7
Commercial building plan approvals and inspections under the Ohio Building Code for Muskingum County (plus a 5-county region); the department states it has no authority over 1-, 2-, or 3-family dwellings and no authority over zoning
Floodplain development permits and inspections for all structural and non-structural activity, including driveways, in FEMA special flood hazard areas of Muskingum County
Subdivision regulation for any split of property under 20 acres in unincorporated Muskingum County; the county has no zoning department of its own since zoning is set at the township or municipal level
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Do you need a building permit in Muskingum County, Ohio?
Unincorporated Muskingum County does not require a county building permit or county inspection for a one-, two-, or three-family home12. Ohio has a statewide residential code, but it is enforced only where a certified residential building department has jurisdiction13. If no certified municipal, township or county department covers the parcel, the owner need not submit plans, request inspections or obtain a certificate of occupancy under that code3. Where one does cover it, the owner receives a list of required inspections with plan approval and must notify the department when work is ready14. A farm building is different again: a zoning certificate from the county or township zoning inspector declaring it used in agriculture takes it out of the state building-code sections15. Mapped FEMA flood zones keep a separate county floodplain permit for structural and non-structural work, including driveways816.
Who issues building, floodplain and septic permits in Muskingum County?
The Mid-East Ohio Building Department handles commercial plan approvals and inspections only; it states it has no authority over one-, two-, or three-family homes or over zoning171819. For a house, ask the municipality or township whether a certified residential department serves the parcel, because that decides whether plan approval, inspections and a certificate of occupancy apply3. The county Floodplain Department, at 22 North 5th Street, Zanesville, Ohio 43701, phone 740-455-7905, handles development in mapped flood hazard areas20. The Zanesville-Muskingum County Health Department, at 205 North Seventh St., Zanesville, Ohio 43701, phone (740) 454-9741, handles septic site reviews, designs, installation inspections and operating permits, plus well permits2122. The Planning Commission reviews lot splits in unincorporated territory2324.
Does Muskingum County have zoning?
Muskingum County has no countywide zoning to designate where subdivisions may be built4. Parcels are not unrestricted, though: zoning covers the City of Zanesville, the Village of Frazeysburg, the Village of New Concord and Wayne Township in whole, the eastern half of Falls Township, and the area around the Airport Exit in Perry Township25. Inside Zanesville and New Concord, the municipality sets its own zoning2627; the county's rules in this guide apply to unincorporated land. In the zoned part of Falls Township, a dwelling's ground-floor footprint must be at least 700 square feet in the Agriculture and Residential districts, excluding porches and garages28. In subdivisions the Planning Commission regulates, buildings must sit at least 30 feet from the right-of-way edge with a side-lot offset of at least 10 feet, and township zoning may add stricter limits10. We could not confirm complete setback, height or lot-coverage schedules for each zoned jurisdiction; ask the township or municipality for the parcel's district.
How do septic permits work in Muskingum County?
The Zanesville-Muskingum County Health Department administers septic and related off-grid sanitation permitting: it reviews proposed parcels and designs, inspects installations, investigates nuisances and issues operating permits2221. Start with a site and soil evaluation and system design, then submit those materials with the application, address verification and fees29. The permit costs $640 for a standard system, $574 for small-flow or $298 for an alteration, plus a $100 site-review fee29. A registered installer or the homeowner may install the system, but the work remains subject to health-department permitting, inspection and approval22. The installer must request inspection before covering the system30. Only 4.1% of county soils lack severe limitations for a conventional drain field, so establish septic feasibility before committing to a homesite12. An eligible public-sewer project can trigger a connection order, and a private well requires a separate health-department permit before installation or alteration3111.
Can you live in an RV or tiny home on your land in Muskingum County?
We could not confirm a countywide rule for living in an RV or tiny home on ordinary private land; rules depend on the parcel's township or municipality5. Zanesville residential districts allow one RV per dwelling unit but bar living or sleeping in it for more than seven consecutive nights32. New Concord lists a campground as permitted in its S-1 Open Space and Conservation district and an RV park as a conditional use decided by its Planning Commission, which does not authorize camping on an individual residential lot3334. Ohio's campground rules cover licensed campgrounds, and its temporary-campground license covers gatherings of five or more units for no more than 21 days a year; neither answers living on your own land3536. For manufactured homes, Zanesville approves a qualifying HUD-code home on a residential lot administratively37, while New Concord lists a manufactured home park as a conditional use38. State law lets a subdivision zone a permanently sited HUD-code home only like any single-family home39. We could not confirm a tiny-home standard; ask the local zoning authority how the unit is classified.
Building a home in Muskingum County: the steps, in order
Identify the municipality or township and get its zoning answer; Muskingum County has no countywide zoning, but local rules may apply45.
If you are splitting a lot in unincorporated territory, contact the Planning Commission; a split of 5 to 20 acres along an existing public street can use the no-plat large-lot procedure when no street is opened or extended2340.
Ask whether a certified residential building department serves the parcel; the county does not require its own permit or inspection for one-, two-, or three-family homes, while a certified local department adds plan review, inspections and an occupancy certificate1143.
Complete the soil evaluation and septic design, then apply through ZMCHD2229.
Apply separately for a private-water-system permit if needed11.
Check the flood map; submit the county floodplain application before covered construction or driveway work begins4116.
What to check before you buy land in Muskingum County
Start with septic feasibility: only 4.1% of Muskingum County soils lack severe limitations for a conventional drain field12. Confirm whether public sewer is available too, because an eligible health-hazard sewer project can trigger a connection order31. Locate the parcel precisely before relying on a zoning answer; the county has no countywide zoning, but municipalities and townships may regulate the parcel45. Check whether a certified residential building department has jurisdiction, because that controls state residential plan review, inspections and the certificate of occupancy3. Check the FEMA map before planning a house, grading or driveway, because covered development in a special flood hazard area needs approval before work starts4116. For recently divided rural land, verify Planning Commission approval and road frontage24. The county is 60.6% wooded and 51.2% of its land is at a slope of 15% or less, but parcel-level clearing, drainage and access still need field review4243.
Watch-outs
Do not mistake the lack of a county residential permit or inspection for an exemption from every approval; local zoning, septic, floodplain and any certified residential department serving the parcel remain separate checks1143.
RV and tiny-home rules are not uniform countywide: Zanesville limits RV occupancy in residential districts to seven consecutive nights, while rules elsewhere must be confirmed with the local zoning authority325.
Setbacks of 30 feet and 10 feet apply to lots in county-regulated subdivisions only; they are not a universal rule for every parcel44.
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.
Muskingum County highlighted among the Ohio counties · colored by Index score
How Muskingum County scores
Seclusion36100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency66100% ev.
Admin Boringness86100% ev.
Durability77100% ev.
Property Autonomy35100% ev.
Carry Cost76100% ev.
Evidence strength: 100%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →
$214kTypical home
0.9%Property tax
$5,530Land / acre
41.6"Annual rain
2.1% of yrsSevere drought
3.6 / yr (+3.5)Mid-century 100°F days
12.2 daysMid-century dry spell
1.68" (+7.8%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.88×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$1,255Home insurance / yr
0.6% / yrInsurance growth
1.37%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
69,841People within 30 min
4,998,758People within 2 hr
83,622Radius comparison (15 mi)
129.9People / sq mi
2.3%Federal land
51.2%Land at 15% slope or less
4.1%Soils rated "not limited" for septic (strict USDA rating)
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Cities and towns in Muskingum County
Inside a city, town or township here, that government usually sets zoning and may issue its own building permits; the county’s rules above cover land outside them.
Not yet researched: Adams Township · Village of Adamsville · Blue Rock Township · Brush Creek Township · Cass Township · Clay Township · Village of Dresden · Falls Township · Village of Frazeysburg · Village of Fultonham · Harrison Township · Highland Township · Hopewell Township · Jackson Township · Jefferson Township · Licking Township · Madison Township · Meigs Township · Monroe Township · Muskingum Township · Newton Township · Village of Norwich · Perry Township · Village of Philo · Rich Hill Township · Salem Township · Salt Creek Township · Village of South Zanesville · Springfield Township · Union Township · Washington Township · Wayne Township · Zanesville
Answers from the rulebook for Muskingum County
What the ordinances and state agencies actually say — one answer per question, each quoted from the official source and independently re-checked.
Muskingum County rules
Building permitNot required
One-, two-, and three-family dwellings/homes in Muskingum County, as to the Mid-East Ohio Building Department operated through the county.
The Mid-East Ohio Building Department is a state-certified commercial building department and does not administer residential building authority.
Separate floodplain permits are required for development activity in designated FEMA Special Flood Hazard Areas.
Other permits may be required, including health-department, township-zoning, county-subdivision, Ohio EPA, and Corps of Engineers permits.
“This department does NOT have authority over one, two, or three family dwellings/homes.”
Owner-builder exemption · follows from the permit answerNot needed
Unincorporated Muskingum County: no county building permit is required, so there is no permit to be exempt from and you may build your own home. State licensing for electrical, plumbing and HVAC work may still apply.
The Mid-East Ohio Building Department is a state-certified commercial building department and does not administer residential building authority.
Separate floodplain permits are required for development activity in designated FEMA Special Flood Hazard Areas.
“This department does NOT have authority over one, two, or three family dwellings/homes.”
Building code adoptedPartial
Commercial building-code administration and plan approvals in Muskingum County through the Mid-East Ohio Building Department.
The department is state certified as a commercial building department.
The department issues plan approvals and inspections for building activity regulated by the Ohio Building Code in Muskingum County.
The department has no authority over one-, two-, or three-family dwellings/homes.
The listed standards include the 2024 Ohio Building Code, 2024 Ohio Plumbing Code, 2024 Ohio Mechanical Code, 2017 Ohio Fire Code, 2021 International Existing Building Code, 2023 NEC, 2022 NFPA 13/13R/13D, 2023 NFPA 72, 2021 International Fuel Gas Code, 2021 International Energy Conservation Code, ICC A117.1-2009 for alterations and changes to existing buildings, and ICC A117.1-17 for new construction.
Ohio Building Code: 2024 (Based in 2021 ICC Code) · Ohio Plumbing Code: 2024 (Based in 2021 ICC Code) · Ohio Mechanical Code: 2024 (Based in 2021 ICC Code) · Ohio Fire Code: 2017 · International Existing Building Code: 2021 · NEC (NFPA 70): 2023
“The Mid-East Ohio Building Department is a state certified commercial building department. [...] This department does NOT have authority over one, two, or three family dwellings/homes.”
3 more reviewed findings on this topic
Partial — Building-code administration by the Mid-East Ohio Building Department in Muskingum County, primarily for commercial building activity regulated by the Ohio Building Code.
“The Mid-East Ohio Building Department is a state certified commercial building department. The department issues plan approvals (permits) and inspects all building activity regulated by the Ohio Building Code in Muskingum County as well as a region which includes five additional counties: Belmont, Coshocton, Guernsey, Morgan, and Perry County. [...] This department does NOT have authority over one, two, or three family dwellings/homes.”
Partial — Commercial building-code administration in Muskingum County through the Mid-East Ohio Building Department; one-, two-, and three-family dwellings are excluded from that department's authority.
“The Mid-East Ohio Building Department is a state certified commercial building department. [...] This department does NOT have authority over one, two, or three family dwellings/homes.”
Partial — Building-code administration identified on the official Muskingum County building-department page
“The Mid-East Ohio Building Department is a state certified commercial building department. The department issues plan approvals (permits) and inspects all building activity regulated by the Ohio Building Code in Muskingum County as well as a region which includes five additional counties: Belmont, Coshocton, Guernsey, Morgan, and Perry County. There are five municipalities in Belmont County that are excluded. Please see the Jurisdiction List for those areas.”
InspectionsNot required
One-, two-, and three-family dwellings/homes in Muskingum County, as to inspections by the Mid-East Ohio Building Department.
The Mid-East Ohio Building Department inspects building activity regulated by the Ohio Building Code but expressly states that it has no authority over one-, two-, or three-family dwellings/homes.
The county floodplain department separately inspects floodplain development activity in FEMA Special Flood Hazard Areas.
“This department does NOT have authority over one, two, or three family dwellings/homes.”
County-wide zoningAbsent
County-level zoning authority in Muskingum County.
The county comprehensive plan states that the county has no zoning to designate where subdivisions may or may not be built.
This claim does not negate township or municipal zoning, subdivision regulations, floodplain requirements, or health requirements.
“The county has no zoning to designate where subdivisions are allowed to be built and where they are not allowed to be built;”
Local zoningVaries (with conditions)
Zoning within Muskingum County, aggregated across municipalities and township territories, including unincorporated areas
Zoning is not uniform countywide; the official county summary identifies whole-jurisdiction zoning in the City of Zanesville, Village of Frazeysburg, Village of New Concord, and Wayne Township.
Falls Township is identified as zoned in its eastern half, and Perry Township is identified as zoned in the vicinity directly surrounding the Airport Exit.
A township may be subject to county-administered zoning only if it votes in the countywide rural zoning code; a township that does not do so may create and implement its own zoning regulations.
Municipal annexation areas are subject to the city's zoning regulations.
“The history of zoning in Muskingum County varies by locaƟon. To date, zoning only covers the following jurisdicƟons in whole: City of Zanesville, Village of Frazeysburg, Village of New Concord and Wayne Township. Falls Township has zoned the eastern half, and Perry Township has zoned the vicinity directly surrounding the Airport Exit.”
One more reviewed finding on this topic
Varies (with conditions) — Local zoning across Muskingum County, aggregated from incorporated municipalities and township jurisdictions; the county itself does not administer each local zoning ordinance.
“The history of zoning in Muskingum County varies by location. To date, zoning only covers the following jurisdictions in whole: City of Zanesville, Village of Frazeysburg, Village of New Concord and Wayne Township. Falls Township has zoned the eastern half, and Perry Township has zoned the vicinity directly surrounding the Airport Exit.”
Minimum lot sizeSpecified
No-Plat Approval Procedure for Large Lot Divisions under Section 303 of the Muskingum County subdivision regulations
The division must be along an existing public street.
The division may not involve opening, widening, or extending any street or road.
The lot must be established under the Section 303 procedure and comply with the other application and approval requirements.
This is distinct from Section 302 minor lot splits and from major subdivision procedures.
minimum lot area: >= 5 acres (Section 303 large-lot divisions may not exceed 20 acres) · maximum lot area: <= 20 acres (Section 303 large-lot divisions must be at least 5 acres)
“The No Plat Approval Procedure for Large Lot Divisions (NPA-LL) may be used to request a proposed division of a parcel of land along an existing public street, not involving the opening, widening or extension of any street or road, and involving the establishment of any lot ranging in size from not less than five (5) acres to not more than twenty (20) acres.”
SetbacksSpecified
Lots in subdivisions regulated by the Muskingum County Planning Commission in unincorporated Muskingum County
Lots must comply with the county or township zoning resolution and applicable health regulations for the district and intended use.
The planning commission, upon recommendation from the health department, may increase the size of any or all lots or deny subdivision approval.
Corner lots must be large enough to allow buildings while observing the minimum front-yard setback from both streets.
Residential lots must front on a dedicated public street or a private street meeting public street standards.
Applicable township zoning resolutions and other lawfully adopted rules may impose additional or more restrictive requirements.
building setback from right-of-way edge: >= 30 feet · side lot line offset: >= 10 feet
“D. The building setback for all lots shall be a minimum of thirty (30) feet from the edge of the right of way. E. The offset for side lot lines shall be a minimum of ten (10) feet.”
One more reviewed finding on this topic
Specified — Lots in subdivisions regulated by the Muskingum County Planning Commission in the unincorporated area, including subdivisions of property less than twenty acres.
“D. The building setback for all lots shall be a minimum of thirty (30) feet from the edge of the right of way. E. The offset for side lot lines shall be a minimum of ten (10) feet.”
Who permits septicLocal
Sewage treatment systems located in the Zanesville-Muskingum County Health Department jurisdiction in Muskingum County.
The health department reviews parcels and designs, inspects installations, investigates nuisance conditions, and provides operational permits.
Ohio rules authorize boards of health to administer sewage-treatment permitting and inspection.
“This program reviews potential new parcels to ensure enough area is available to install a sewage treatment system, reviews designs for new sewage treatment systems, inspects installation of sewage treatment systems, investigates nuisance conditions, and provides operational permits for the continued use of sewage treatment systems.”
Septic permitRequired
New, replacement, or altered sewage treatment systems in Muskingum County.
A site and soil evaluation, system design, application, site-review fee, permit fee, and address verification are required by the local health department process.
The Muskingum County page lists a $640 sewage treatment system permit, $574 small-flow permit, $298 alteration permit, $460 small-flow alteration permit, and $25 abandonment permit.
The permit is valid for one year from approval.
The state rule requires a registered installer for installation or alteration, subject to the stated permit and design requirements.
site review fee: 100 USD · sewage treatment system permit fee: 640 USD · small flow sewage treatment system permit fee: 574 USD · alteration permit fee: 298 USD · small flow alteration permit fee: 460 USD · abandonment permit fee: 25 USD · permit validity: one year from date of approval
“No person shall install a new or replacement STS or alter an existing STS without an installation or alteration permit issued by the board of health.”
Septic inspectionRequired
Completed sewage treatment system installations and alterations, plus post-installation operation in Muskingum County.
The registered installer must call the health department before covering the system and provide an as-built record.
The Board of Health must inspect and approve completed installation or alteration work.
A sanitarian inspects the system no later than twelve months after installation.
The state rule allows additional inspections during installation and provides for maintenance documentation in lieu of inspection where applicable.
“The Board of Health must inspect a completed installation or alteration. The registered installer must call the health department for an inspection before covering the system.”
Off-grid sanitationLimited
Sewage treatment systems and related off-grid sanitation permitting and inspections administered by the Zanesville-Muskingum County Health Department within Muskingum County.
The health department reviews potential new parcels and designs, inspects installations, investigates nuisance conditions, and provides operational permits for continued use.
The health department's listed application process requires a site and soil evaluation, system design, application, site-review fee, permit fees, and address verification. The page lists a $100 site-review fee, a $640 sewage treatment system permit, a $574 small-flow permit, alteration and abandonment fees, and Gray Water Recycling Systems with the notation 'see fee schedule.'
The page states that a sewage treatment system must be installed by a registered sewage installer or the homeowner, but the installation remains subject to the health department's permitting, inspection, and approval process.
After submission and site review, the system is permitted for installation if requirements are met; the page states that the permit is valid for one year from the date of approval. The board of health must inspect completed installations or alterations before covering, and the operation permit is mailed after satisfactory approval.
site review fee: 100 USD · sewage treatment system permit fee: 640 USD · small-flow sewage treatment system permit fee: 574 USD · installation permit validity: 1 year (From the date of approval.)
“The Board of Health must inspect a completed installation or alteration. The registered installer must call the health department for an inspection before covering the system.”
Well permitRequired
Private water systems, including private wells, installed or altered in Muskingum County.
The health department must issue the permit before installation or alteration.
A permit application requires the property address, site plan showing the dwelling, sewage system, property lines, and proposed water source, contractor name, applicant signature, and fee.
New systems are inspected and tested for safe drinking water.
The page also covers cisterns, ponds, springs, and hauled-water tanks, not only wells.
new private water system permit fee: 438 USD · private water system alteration fee: 281 USD
“A permit must be issued by the health department prior to installing or altering a private water system. New systems are inspected and then tested for safe drinking water.”
Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)
Subdivision of land in the unincorporated area of Muskingum County.
The regulations are minimum requirements for subdivision control in the unincorporated county.
The regulations apply to all subdivisions located within the unincorporated area.
A city may exercise extraterritorial jurisdiction up to three miles in circumstances described in Section 105.2.
Where township or county zoning is adopted, proposed subdivisions must also meet that zoning resolution under Section 106.4.
No subdivision plat may be approved for recording until the regulations are met and certification is endorsed by the appropriate reviewing authority.
“These Regulations shall be applicable to all subdivisions of land located within the unincorporated area of Muskingum County.”
Driveway accessLimited
Driveway development located in a designated FEMA flood zone in Muskingum County.
Driveways are identified as non-structural development activity.
All structural and non-structural development activity in a designated FEMA Flood Zone requires a floodplain permit.
The permit application must be submitted before development activity begins.
Other permits may also be required, including Health Department, Township Zoning, County Subdivision, Ohio EPA 401, and federal Corps of Engineers permits.
“Non-structural development activity is all other activity in a designated FEMA Flood Zone which includes but is not limited to: Excavation, driveways, agriculture levies, bridge replacement, maintenance, lake/ponds, landscaping, riprap (bank stabilization), land clearing.”
Building in a floodplainRequired
Structural and non-structural development activity wholly within, partially within, or in contact with identified FEMA special flood hazard areas in Muskingum County.
A floodplain development permit is required before construction or other development activity begins.
The Floodplain Administrator may issue or refuse the permit based on compliance with the regulations.
Applications are required for all development activities in the specified flood hazard areas, subject to listed exemptions.
Maintenance work and small nonstructural development activities valued at less than $5,000 are exempt except filling and grading.
Specified manufactured-home-park, major utility, hazardous-waste, and federal-agency activities are also exempt under the resolution.
The applicant must obtain applicable federal, state, and local permits.
Approved permits are conditional upon commencement within one year and expire one year after issuance unless substantially begun and pursued to completion.
small nonstructural exemption threshold: < 5000 USD (filling and grading are not exempt)
“It shall be unlawful for any person to begin construction or other development activity including but not limited to filling; grading; construction; alteration, remodeling, or expanding any structure; or alteration of any watercourse wholly within, partially within or in contact with any identified special flood hazard area, as established in Section 1.6, until a floodplain development permit is obtained from the Floodplain Administrator.”
Permit feesPublished (with conditions)
Published permit fees for Muskingum County floodplain development and Mid-East Ohio Building Department commercial plan approvals.
Floodplain fees are $100 for structural activity and $50 for non-structural activity.
Mid-East Ohio Building Department fees vary by application type and may include processing, inspection, certificate, special-examination, and Board of Building Standards fees.
Fees for special situations are determined by the Building Official.
The Mid-East Ohio Building Department does not have authority over one-, two-, or three-family dwellings/homes.
“The permit fee for floodplain development activity is $100 for structural activity and $50 for non-structural activity.”
Permit processPublished (with conditions)
Floodplain development permit applications for activity wholly within, partially within, or in contact with an identified special flood hazard area in Muskingum County.
An application is required before actual commencement of construction.
Applications must include site plans, ground and lowest-floor elevations, and other information requested by the Floodplain Administrator.
Technical analyses and certifications are required when applicable, including floodproofing, watercourse, hydrologic, hydraulic, and base-flood-elevation information.
The applicant is responsible for obtaining required federal, state, and local permits, including applicable Corps of Engineers and Ohio EPA permits.
The Floodplain Administrator approves or disapproves a complete application within 30 days.
Approved permits are conditional upon commencement within one year and expire one year after issuance unless the activity has been substantially begun and pursued to completion.
Periodic inspections are conducted during construction, and post-construction certifications may be required.
Permit applications are not required for listed exemptions, including maintenance work and small nonstructural activity valued at less than $5,000, except filling and grading, plus specified state, federal, utility, and hazardous-waste activities.
application decision period: 30 days (after receipt of a complete application) · permit commencement period: 1 year (permit expires one year after issuance unless activity has been substantially begun and pursued to completion) · small nonstructural exemption threshold: < 5000 USD (does not apply to filling and grading)
“Within thirty (30) days after the receipt of a complete application, the Floodplain Administrator shall either approve or disapprove the application.”
Ohio rules that apply here
Certificate of occupancyLimited
Residential buildings in Ohio, including applicable residential buildings in Muskingum County, where a certified municipal, township, or county residential building department has jurisdiction.
A certificate of occupancy required by the Ohio Residential Code is required only where a certified municipal, township, or county building department has jurisdiction for residential buildings.
If no certified municipal, township, or county residential building department has jurisdiction, the owner is not required to submit construction documents, seek approvals, request inspections, or obtain certificates of occupancy required by the Ohio Residential Code.
The Muskingum County page identifies the Mid-East Ohio Building Department as commercial-certified and states that it has no authority over one-, two-, or three-family dwellings; this does not establish whether another certified residential department has jurisdiction for every parcel or municipality in the county.
“101.5 Jurisdiction without a certified residential building department. If no municipal, township, or county building department is certified by the Board of Building Standards for residential buildings in accordance with section 3781.10(E) of the Revised Code has jurisdiction, the owner is not required to make submission of construction documents, seek approvals, request inspections, or obtain certificates of occupancy required in this Chapter.”
Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)
Township zoning regulation of height for agricultural buildings or structures on lots greater than one acre but not greater than five acres in qualifying platted subdivisions or qualifying areas of fifteen or more contiguous lots.
The local regulation must arise under a township zoning resolution or amendment.
The subdivision or area must meet the statutory qualification in section 519.21(B).
The statute does not provide a statewide numeric height limit.
Township zoning may not regulate agriculture, agricultural buildings or structures, or dairying and animal and poultry husbandry on lots greater than five acres under division (B).
lot size lower threshold: > 1 acre · lot size upper threshold: <= 5 acres
“Buildings or structures incident to the use of land for agricultural purposes [...] height;”
Manufactured homesAllowed
Permanently sited manufactured homes constructed to applicable federal standards in any Ohio district or zone where single-family homes are permitted.
The home must be constructed in accordance with federal HUD construction and safety standards.
The political subdivision may impose zoning requirements uniformly imposed on single-family residences, except prohibited minimum-roof-pitch requirements and requirements inconsistent with federal standards.
A political subdivision may prohibit travel trailers, park trailers, mobile homes, and manufactured homes that do not qualify as permanently sited manufactured homes from residential districts or zones.
Private deed restrictions may prohibit manufactured homes or travel trailers.
“Every manufactured home that is constructed in accordance with the federal standards specified in division (A) of this section and is a permanently sited manufactured home [...] shall be a permitted use in any district or zone in which a political subdivision permits single-family homes”
One more reviewed finding on this topic
Limited — Occupancy of manufactured homes installed in Ohio and regulated under Chapter 4781 of the Revised Code and implementing rules.
“Except as provided in paragraph (C) of this rule, no manufactured home shall be occupied until the inspector has issued the inspection seal.”
Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)
Disposal of sewage where an existing publicly owned or regional sanitary sewer is accessible and available.
The sewer connection may not conflict with an areawide waste-treatment plan, approved regional sewage-service and treatment plan, or connection ban.
The receiving disposal system must have or be expected to have capacity to collect and treat the sewage.
For an existing structure, any part of the structure generating waste must be within 300 feet of the nearest sanitary-sewer right-of-way boundary.
For a proposed structure outside a larger common plan, any lot property line must be within 300 feet.
For two or more proposed structures, the threshold is 200 feet multiplied by the number of proposed structures, up to 5,000 feet.
The director may grant an exemption when technical, financial, environmental, legal, or physical barriers prevent connection and the alternative will not adversely affect human health or the environment.
When a sewer later becomes accessible and available, a non-public or non-regional disposal system must generally be abandoned and connection made within three years unless the director authorizes another timeframe.
existing structure sewer-distance threshold: <= 300 feet (Measured to the nearest boundary of the sanitary-sewer right-of-way.) · proposed structure sewer-distance threshold: <= 300 feet (Measured from any property line of the lot.) · multiple proposed structures threshold: 200 feet multiplied by the number of proposed structures (Maximum distance is 5,000 feet.) · connection deadline after accessibility becomes available: 3 years (Unless an alternative timeframe is authorized by the director.)
“Connection into existing publicly owned or regional sanitary sewers is required for the disposal of sewage when said sewers are accessible and available.”
One more reviewed finding on this topic
Sewer (with conditions) — Premises in an Ohio county sewer district where a new public sewer project exists and the sewer is available and accessible; applicable to Muskingum County when the statutory conditions are met.
“If the board of health of the health district within which a new public sewer construction project is proposed or located passes a resolution stating that the reason for the project is to reduce or eliminate an existing health problem or a hazard of water pollution, the board of county commissioners of the county, by resolution, may order the owner of any premises located in a sewer district in the county [...] to connect the premises to the sewer”
Agricultural exemptionConditional
Buildings or structures incident to agricultural use of the land, and a specific building or structure declared by a county or township zoning inspector to be used in agriculture.
The exemption in section 3781.06 applies to buildings or structures incident to agricultural use of the land.
The buildings or structures must not be used in the business of retail trade.
A building or structure is not considered used in the business of retail trade if fifty per cent or more of gross income from sales of products in the building or structure comes from products produced or raised in a normal crop year on farms owned or operated by the seller.
Under section 3781.061, a county zoning inspector under section 303.16 or township zoning inspector under section 519.16 must issue a zoning certificate declaring the specific building or structure is to be used in agriculture for the additional exemption described there.
The cited section 3781.06 is effective January 1, 2025; section 3781.061 is effective October 17, 2019.
retail-sales agricultural-product threshold: >= 50 percent of gross income (Products must be produced or raised in a normal crop year on farms owned or operated by the seller.)
“issues a zoning certificate that declares a specific building or structure is to be used in agriculture, such building is not subject to sections”
3 more reviewed findings on this topic
Conditional — A specific building or structure used in agriculture in Ohio, including Muskingum County.
“Whenever a county zoning inspector under section 303.16 of the Revised Code, or a township zoning inspector under section 519.16 of the Revised Code, issues a zoning certificate that declares a specific building or structure is to be used in agriculture, such building is not subject to sections 3781.06 to 3781.20, 3781.40, or 3791.04 of the Revised Code.”
Available (with conditions) — Qualifying parcel divisions processed under rules adopted pursuant to Ohio Revised Code section 711.133.
“Rules adopted under this section shall exempt from the approval requirements of this section parcels of land to be used only for agricultural”
Available (with conditions) — Buildings or structures incident to agricultural use of the land in Ohio.
“incident to the use for agricultural purposes [...] provided those buildings or structures are not used in the business of retail trade.”
Campground & park staysLimited
Manufactured-home or mobile-home occupancy within campgrounds in Muskingum County under Ohio Administrative Code Rule 3701-26-04.
A newly constructed campground may contain no more than two manufactured homes or mobile homes.
Those homes must be for the exclusive use of the licensee and are not included in the total number of licensed sites.
A manufactured or mobile home in an existing campground may remain on its current site as of May 1, 2007 only while the site remains compliant with Chapter 3701-26.
If the existing manufactured or mobile home is removed, another manufactured or mobile home cannot replace it.
The rule's campground licensing, plan, sanitation, water, sewage, and site requirements also apply.
manufactured/mobile homes in newly constructed campground: <= 2 homes maximum (Homes must be for the exclusive use of the licensee and are excluded from the licensed-site count.) · existing-campground continuation date: 2007-05-01 (The home may remain only while the site is maintained in compliance with Chapter 3701-26.)
“No more than two manufactured homes or mobile homes are permitted”
5 more reviewed findings on this topic
Allowed (with conditions) — Placement and occupancy of recreational vehicles at licensed campgrounds in Muskingum County under statewide Ohio campground requirements.
“Recreational vehicles [...] shall be parked only on sites”
Limited — Temporary campgrounds in Ohio, including qualifying operations in Muskingum County.
“"Temporary campground" means any tract of land used for a period not to exceed a total of twenty-one days per calendar year for the purpose of parking five or more recreational vehicles, dependent recreational vehicles or portable camping units or any combination thereof, for one or more periods of time that do not exceed seven consecutive days or parts thereof.”
Limited — Occupancy and placement of recreational vehicles in Ohio-licensed campgrounds and temporary campgrounds.
“Recreational vehicles or portable camping units shall be parked only on sites that have been verified as complying with plans approved by the director, or in the case of a temporary campground, by the licensor;”
Prohibited — Camping in Ohio state forests outside areas, sites, or campgrounds designated by the chief of the division of forestry or an authorized agent.
“No person shall camp in a state forest except in areas, sites or campgrounds designated by the chief of the division of forestry or authorized agent.”
Limited — Roadside camping at designated Ohio state forests along public roads maintained by the division of forestry.
“Roadside camping is permitted at designated state forests, along public roads maintained by the division of forestry, during certain legally established hunting seasons as authorized by the chief of the division of forestry.”
county zoning authorityGeneral
County commissioners may adopt zoning resolutions regulating building, structures, land uses, and districts or zones in unincorporated territory statewide.
The authority is exercised by resolution and must be in accordance with a comprehensive plan.
The authority applies to unincorporated territory of the county.
The statute begins with the exception phrase “Except as otherwise provided in this section,” so the limitations in ORC Chapter 303 apply.
For nonresidential property only, the county may regulate height, bulk, number of stories, size, lot coverage, yards, courts, open spaces, and population density.
Agricultural uses and agricultural buildings are subject to the limitations in ORC 303.21; the statute also contains limitations for public utilities, railroads, telecommunications towers, alcoholic-beverage sales, oil and gas drilling, and permanently sited manufactured homes.
Activities regulated under ORC Chapters 1513 and 1514 may be regulated only in the interest of public health or safety, and Chapter 1514 activities must be provided for as permitted or conditional uses as specified by ORC 303.02.
“the board of county commissioners may regulate by resolution, in accordance with a comprehensive plan”
county building authorityGeneral
County commissioners may adopt and enforce local residential building regulations in unincorporated areas and may operate certified county building departments that enforce state residential and nonresidential building codes, accept and approve plans, and conduct inspections.
Local residential building regulations may be enforced within the unincorporated area or within districts established in the unincorporated area.
A local residential building regulation may not differ from the state residential building code unless it addresses subject matter not addressed by that code or is adopted under ORC 3781.01.
An existing structures code must concern subject matter not addressed by, and may not conflict with, the state residential building code.
County building departments may enforce state codes only for the types of buildings and subject matters for which they are certified.
Certification permits enforcement authority, plan approval, and inspections; the certification application identifies whether it covers residential or nonresidential buildings and whether residential certification covers new construction only or also repair and alteration.
The board may adopt flood-hazard, Lake Erie coastal-erosion, and drainage regulations, subject to the statutory limits and exceptions in ORC 307.37.
Local regulations, codes, or amendments require public hearings at not fewer than two regular or special board sessions; they take effect on the thirty-first day after adoption.
Regulations adopted under ORC 307.37 generally do not affect buildings or structures existing, or under construction, before adoption, except as provided for an existing structures code.
The state residential building code is effective as a uniform requirement in areas with a building department certified to enforce it.
“The board of county commissioners may adopt local residential building regulations governing residential buildings as defined in section 3781.06 of the Revised Code”
One more reviewed finding on this topic
General — Ohio boards of county commissioners adopting and enforcing local residential building regulations in unincorporated county areas, including districts established within those areas, and administering state building codes when certified.
“The board of county commissioners may adopt local residential building regulations governing residential buildings”
Inside cities and towns in Muskingum County
Municipal rules found while researching the county. They apply inside that city or town, not to unincorporated land.
Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified
Principal buildings and one- or two-family dwellings in the zoned portion of Falls Township, Muskingum County, under the district regulations.
Applies only in the Falls Township Zoned District, primarily east of the Licking River.
The minimum square footage is the required ground-floor footprint and excludes breezeways, porches, terraces, and garages.
The resolution was adopted March 6, 2017 and amended January 14, 2019, February 14, 2022, and January 12, 2026.
principal building minimum size, District A Agriculture: >= 700 sq ft (minimum required ground-floor footprint; excludes breezeways, porches, terraces, and garages) · principal building minimum size, District R Residential: >= 700 sq ft (minimum required ground-floor footprint; excludes breezeways, porches, terraces, and garages) · principal building minimum size, District B Business and Commercial: >= 1000 sq ft (minimum required ground-floor footprint; excludes breezeways, porches, terraces, and garages)
“At this time, just over half of Falls Township has been designated as a "Zoned District" which is primarily located East of the Licking River. These districts are governed by the adopted Zoning Resolution.”
Living in an RVLimited
One recreational vehicle per dwelling unit in Zanesville residential districts.
The RV may not be occupied for living or sleeping purposes for more than seven consecutive nights.
The RV may not be parked on a public street for more than seventy-two consecutive hours.
A collapsible RV not stored in a garage must be stored in collapsed position.
Where available, the RV must be parked in a garage, carport, or covered parking space; otherwise the ordinance specifies driveway and open off-street parking locations.
Nonresidential districts have no restrictions on RV parking other than outdoor-storage rules.
maximum occupancy period: <= 7 consecutive nights · maximum public-street parking period: <= 72 consecutive hours · RV quantity: 1 per dwelling unit
“A single recreational vehicle as defined herein per dwelling unit may be parked or stored in a Residential District provided that it is: (1) Not occupied for living or sleeping purposes for more than seven consecutive nights;”
2 more reviewed findings on this topic
Limited — Recreational vehicle parks in the Village of New Concord.
“Within zoning districts there may be uses listed as conditional. The Planning Commission shall have the power to decide applications for conditional uses in those cases specified in this ordinance.”
Limited — Recreational vehicle parks in the Village of New Concord.
“X= Permitted Use, C= Conditional Use [...] Recreational Vehicle Park C”
Camping on your landAllowed
Campgrounds in the Village of New Concord.
The use table lists campground as a permitted use in the S-1 Open Space and Conservation District.
The code defines a campground as an area for temporary occupancy accommodations including cabins, tents, and major recreational equipment, primarily for recreational purposes and retaining an open-air or natural character.
“Campground: An area or tract of land on which accommodations for temporary occupancy are located or may be placed, including cabins, tents, and major recreational equipment, and which is primarily used for recreational purposes and retains an open air or natural character.”
One more reviewed finding on this topic
Allowed — Campgrounds in the Village of New Concord zoning districts where the use table marks Campground as permitted, including the S-1 Open Space and Conservation column.
“X= Permitted Use, C= Conditional Use [...] Campground X”
Manufactured homesAllowed (with conditions)
HUD Code manufactured single-family detached homes on individual lots outside manufactured-home parks or subdivisions in Zanesville residential districts.
The home must conform to the approval standards in Table 13, § 1137.05.
All seven standards permit administrative approval by the Zoning Administrator; failure to meet any standard requires Board of Zoning Appeals approval.
Standards include a permanent structural perimeter foundation, minimum 1:4 roof pitch subject to stated exception, compatible exterior walls, minimum twenty-foot width, street-facing orientation subject to stated exceptions, floor-level limit, and utility/manufacturer-installation requirements.
minimum dwelling width: >= 20 feet · maximum floor elevation above exterior finish grade: <= 2 feet (at the building line)
“Manufactured homes that meet all seven approved standards under Section 1137.05, Table 13, shall be approved administratively by the Zoning Administrator. If a manufactured home fails to meet any of the approval standards, then it must be approved by the Board of Zoning Appeals.”
One more reviewed finding on this topic
Limited — Manufactured-home parks and nonconforming mobile homes in the Village of New Concord.
“A nonconforming trailer or mobile home located on a lot (outside a manufactured home park) in any district, once removed, shall not be relocated on such lot unless the unit was "traded-in" for another unit which meets the definition of a manufactured home as defined herein. In this instance, the replacement shall be on site within thirty (30) days of the removal of the previous unit and must meet all yard requirements.”
Set by your township or city, not the county
In Ohio, zoning is adopted by each township or city, so Muskingum County has no county-wide answer on these. Find your township or city in the list of places on this page, or call its clerk or zoning administrator.
Zoning districts
Lot coverage
Tiny homes
Accessory dwellings
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.
Living off-grid in Muskingum County, Ohio
Is Muskingum County a good place to live off-grid or homestead?
Muskingum County scores 67/100 on the Bolthole Index, a strong county profile. Its strengths: low administrative friction for a quiet rural property and mixed durability signals. Watch-outs: a weaker property-autonomy legal backdrop and about 69,841 people within a 30-minute drive.
Do you need a building permit in Muskingum County, Ohio?
Muskingum County does not require a county building permit for a home in unincorporated areas, and it has no county-wide zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by Zanesville-Muskingum County Health Department - Sewage Treatment Systems. Owner-builders may act as their own contractor to build their home. These answers are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked. Rules change and cities within the county differ — always confirm with the county before you buy or build.
How much does land cost in Muskingum County, Ohio?
Land in Muskingum County runs about $5,530 per acre, based on the latest county data.
What is the water situation in Muskingum County?
Muskingum County gets about 41.6" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 2.1% of years.
How remote is Muskingum County?
A representative private-land location has about 69,841 people within a 30-minute drive and 4,998,758 within two hours. The road-network catchments count population across county lines and clusters of smaller cities; straight-line radius values remain available as a comparison.
