Bolthole Index

Union County, Ohio

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Leesburg Township, Ohio

Leesburg Township in Union County, Ohio sets its own zoning, through a township zoning resolution1. Building permits for new homes are required and come from the Union County Building Department2. Septic and well permits come from the Union County Health Department3.

At a glance

Zoning
Yes. Leesburg Township enforces its own zoning resolution1
Building permit
Required for new residential construction; issued through the Union County Building Department2
Septic
Permit from the Union County Health Department, with a site inspection first34
Well
Permit required from the Union County Health Department5
RV living
Township rules define RV occupancy only in RV parks, as temporary stays; other cases not confirmed6
Manufactured homes
Conditionally permitted by district; at least 1,200 sq ft7
Driveway
Permit required; county Engineer for county or township roads, ODOT for state highways8
Property tax
Union County effective rate about 1.3%9

Who to call

Planning & zoning

Leesburg Township Zoning Officer

Township zoning questions and zoning certificates under the Leesburg Township zoning resolution

(937) 209-0175

Building permits

Union County Building Department (Engineer's Office, Building Regulation)

Building permits, plan review and inspections for construction in Union County; zoning approval must be obtained separately from the applicable township or municipality

937-645-3018

engineer@unioncountyohio.gov

233 West 6th Street, Marysville, OH 43040

Health department

Union County Health Department (Environmental Health)

Household sewage treatment system (septic) installation permits, operating permits and inspections for Union County

937-642-2053

ehcontact@uchd.net

940 London Avenue, Suite 1100, Marysville, Ohio 43040

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

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Does Leesburg Township, Ohio have zoning, and what does it mean for RVs and manufactured homes?

Yes. Leesburg Township divides its land into zones and districts under a township zoning resolution adopted under Chapter 519 of the Ohio Revised Code1. The official schedule lists districts including U-1 Rural, R-1 Low Density Residential, B-2 Local Business and M-1 Light Manufacturing10. Union County itself does not run countywide zoning; townships do11.

Before a building or use changes, the Zoning Inspector must issue a certificate of occupancy confirming that the use conforms to the resolution12. Farm uses and farm buildings are largely exempt from the resolution and need no zoning certificate, but a residential dwelling still needs a permit, and the exemption narrows in platted subdivisions13.

A manufactured home that is not permanently sited, or a mobile home, may be placed on an individual lot only in a district that conditionally permits it. It needs at least 1,200 square feet of floor area and a permanent foundation, and must be fully skirted within 90 days7.

We could not confirm district-by-district minimum lot sizes, setbacks or height limits for Leesburg Township, so get the numbers for your parcel from the township Zoning Officer before you buy.

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

Yes. New residential construction in Leesburg Township needs a building permit from the Union County Building Department, and plumbing, electrical and mechanical permits are required too2. The township does not issue building permits; it handles zoning. The county department tells applicants to obtain zoning approval from the applicable township first14.

A building permit cannot be issued until the zoning, health, floodplain and driveway requirements have been addressed2. Permit fees are based on the square footage of the project and include the applicable trades, with a 1% fee collected for the Ohio Board of Building Standards on all permit fees15.

The county department says a residential shed of 200 square feet or less is exempt from building permits, though a zoning permit may still be required14. Which inspections are mandatory, and which building code edition applies in Leesburg Township, we could not confirm; ask the Union County Building Department.

How do septic permits work in Leesburg Township, Ohio?

Septic permits inside Leesburg Township come from the Union County Health Department, not the township3. A sewage system installation permit and operating permit must be obtained before installation16. A site inspection must be completed before the septic permit is issued4.

The health department also performs a follow-up inspection 12 months after a new system is finished16. Well permits come from the same office5.

Union County's soils matter here: only about 0.1% of the county's soils rate as not limited for a conventional drain field, so expect a site evaluation and possibly an engineered system17.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on your land in Leesburg Township, Ohio?

We could not confirm that you can. The township zoning resolution describes RV occupancy in terms of recreational vehicle parks, where RVs are temporary living quarters for recreation or vacation6. RV sites are described as temporary accommodation for a recreational vehicle, tent or other camping unit18. The materials we reviewed did not set a separate rule for an RV on a private lot, so call the Zoning Officer before moving one onto land.

We also could not find a clearly identified tiny-home or accessory-dwelling rule in the township resolution. Any dwelling still needs a building permit from the county2.

Building a home in Leesburg Township, Ohio: the steps, in order

  1. Call the Leesburg Township Zoning Officer to confirm your parcel's district and get zoning approval19.
  2. Ask the Union County Health Department for a site inspection, then obtain the septic and well permits4.
  3. Check whether the property lies in a flood hazard area; if so, a flood hazard area permit is required20.
  4. Apply for a driveway permit from the Union County Engineer if the driveway meets a county or township road; for a state highway, contact the Ohio Department of Transportation8.
  5. Submit your building permit application to the Union County Building Department2.
  6. Before occupying the home, obtain a certificate of occupancy from the township Zoning Inspector12.

What stays with Union County, and what should you check before buying in Leesburg Township?

Union County handles building permits, septic and well permits, driveway permits on county and township roads, and flood hazard area permits, while the township sets zoning23820. Selling off part of a property must follow the Union County Subdivision Regulations21.

For the numbers, Union County's effective property tax rate is about 1.3%, with a median bill of $3,847 a year922. Farmland averages $8,151 per acre23. For land outside the township, see the Union County page.

Watch-outs

  • Setbacks, minimum lot sizes and building height limits in each Leesburg Township district could not be confirmed; ask the township Zoning Officer before you buy10.
  • Farm buildings are exempt from township zoning certificates, but residential dwellings are not, and the exemption narrows in platted subdivisions13.
  • A building permit cannot be issued until zoning, health, floodplain and driveway requirements are addressed, so start with the township and health department2.
  • RV and tiny-home living on private land is not clearly addressed in the township resolution we reviewed; confirm with the Zoning Officer6.

Sources

  1. Leesburg Township, Union County, Ohio Zoning Resolution (Leesburg Township), quoted and re-checked
  2. Ready, Set, Build! – Union County, Ohio (Leesburg Township), quoted and re-checked
  3. Ready, Set, Build! – Union County, Ohio (Leesburg Township), quoted and re-checked
  4. Ready, Set, Build! – Union County, Ohio (Leesburg Township), quoted and re-checked
  5. Ready, Set, Build! – Union County, Ohio (Leesburg Township), quoted and re-checked
  6. Leesburg Township, Union County, Ohio Zoning Resolution (Leesburg Township), quoted and re-checked
  7. Leesburg Township, Union County, Ohio Zoning Resolution (Leesburg Township), quoted and re-checked
  8. Ready, Set, Build! – Union County, Ohio (Leesburg Township), quoted and re-checked
  9. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  10. Leesburg Township, Union County, Ohio Zoning Resolution (Leesburg Township), quoted and re-checked
  11. Union County Board of County Commissioners (2026 county census)
  12. Leesburg Township, Union County, Ohio Zoning Resolution (Leesburg Township), quoted and re-checked
  13. Leesburg Township, Union County, Ohio Zoning Resolution (Leesburg Township), quoted and re-checked
  14. Union County Building Department (Engineer's Office, Building Regulation) (unioncountyohio.gov)
  15. Residential Building Permit Requirements – Union County Building Department (Leesburg Township), quoted and re-checked
  16. Union County Health Department (Environmental Health) (uchd.net)
  17. 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
  18. Leesburg Township, Union County, Ohio Zoning Resolution (Leesburg Township), quoted and re-checked
  19. Leesburg Township Zoning Officer (leesburgtownshipoh.com)
  20. Ready, Set, Build! – Union County, Ohio (Leesburg Township), quoted and re-checked
  21. Ready, Set, Build! – Union County, Ohio (Leesburg Township), quoted and re-checked
  22. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  23. Farmland value per acre (USDA census): Bolthole Index county data

Written October 24, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Leesburg Township

Leesburg Township’s own rules

  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    A building or premises inside Leesburg Township that is created, erected, changed, converted, altered, enlarged in use, or enlarged in structure.

    • The Zoning Inspector must issue a certificate stating that the proposed use conforms to the zoning resolution.
    • A temporary certificate may be issued for no more than six months during alterations or partial occupancy pending completion.

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

    “It shall be unlawful to use or occupy or permit the use or occupancy of any building or premises or both, or part thereof thereafter created, erected, changed, converted, or wholly or partly altered or enlarged in its use or structure until a certificate of occupancy shall have been issued therefore by the Zoning Inspector stating that the proposed use of the building or land conforms to the requirements of this Resolution.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside Leesburg Township, Union County, Ohio.

    • The resolution is subject to Ohio Revised Code Chapter 519 and its agricultural-exemption limitations.
    “A RESOLUTION OF THE TOWNSHIP OF LEESBURG, UNION COUNTY, OHIO ENACTED IN ACCORDANCE .WITH A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND THE PROVISION OF CHAPTER 519, OHIO REVISED CODE, DIVIDING THE TOWNSHIP INTO ZONES AND DISTRICTS”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Zoning districts inside Leesburg Township.

    • The official schedule is part of the zoning resolution and district regulations are minimum regulations.
    • Districts shown in the official schedule include U-1 Rural, R-1 Low Density Residential, B-2 Local Business, and M-1 Light Manufacturing.
    “OFFICIAL SCHEDULE OF DISTRICT REGULATIONS Zoning Districts Permitted Uses Conditional Uses”
  • Living in an RVLimited

    Recreational-vehicle occupancy in a recreational-vehicle park inside Leesburg Township.

    • The resolution defines recreational-vehicle park occupancy as temporary living quarters for recreation or vacation purposes.
    • The opened materials did not establish a separate rule for RVs outside a recreational-vehicle park.
    “Recreational Vehicle Park. A parcel of land upon which two or more recreational vehicles sites are located, established, or maintained for occupancy by recreational vehicles of the general public as temporary living quarters for recreation or vacation purposes.”
  • Camping on your landLimited

    Camping units at a recreational-vehicle site inside Leesburg Township.

    • The resolution describes RV sites as accommodating a recreational vehicle, tent, or other individual camping unit only on a temporary basis.
    “Recreational Vehicle Site. A plot of ground within a recreational vehicle park intended for the accommodation of either a recreational vehicle, tent, or other individual camping unit on a temporary basis.”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Manufactured homes not permanently sited and mobile homes placed individually on a lot in a district where conditionally permitted inside Leesburg Township.

    • The use must be conditionally permitted in the district.
    • The dwelling must have at least 1,200 square feet of floor area.
    • It must be placed on a permanent concrete stand or foundation with at least two tie-down rings and be fully skirted within 90 days.
    • The Board of Zoning Appeals may impose other reasonable and appropriate conditions.

    minimum floor area: >= 1200 square feet (Manufactured homes not permanently sited and mobile homes on an individual lot.) · skirting deadline: <= 90 days (After placement.)

    “The following requirements shall apply to manufactured homes (not permanently sited) and/ or mobile home dwellings that are placed upon an individual lot in any district where conditionally permitted.”
  • Agricultural exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

    Agricultural land uses and agricultural buildings or structures inside Leesburg Township.

    • The exemption does not affect residential dwellings, which require a permit.
    • It does not apply in a platted subdivision or in the specified contiguous fifteen-or-more-lot area approved under ORC 711.131.
    • Where either condition exists, the resolution applies to agriculture on lots of one acre or less and specified agricultural activities/buildings on lots over one acre through five acres.
    “This Resolution does not affect the use of any land for agricultural purposes, or the construction or use of buildings or structures incident to the use for agricultural purposes of the land on which such buildings or structures are located and no zoning certificate shall be required for any such building or structure. (Residential dwellings do require a permit however.)”

Rules another office applies inside Leesburg Township

Leesburg Township does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

  • Building permitRequired

    New residential construction inside Leesburg Township, subject to Union County Building Department permitting.

    • Building permits cannot be issued until the applicable zoning, health, floodplain, driveway, and other preceding requirements have been addressed.
    • Plumbing, electrical, and mechanical permits are also required.
    “Building permits are required in Union County. Contact our office for building permit information. Plumbing, electrical, and mechanical permits are also required.”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    Manufactured homes not permanently sited and mobile homes on individual lots in any Leesburg Township district where they are conditionally permitted.

    • This does not state a general minimum for all dwelling types.
    • The floor-area requirement is part of the conditional individual manufactured/mobile-home requirements.

    minimum floor area: >= 1200 square feet (Manufactured homes not permanently sited and mobile homes.)

    “Individual manufactured homes (not permanently sited) and/ or mobile homes shall have, using accepted industry measurement standards, a minimum area of twelve hundred (1,200) square feet of floor area.”
  • Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

    On-site sewage disposal systems inside Leesburg Township.

    • A site inspection must be completed before the septic permit is issued.
    “Well and sewage disposal system permits are required from the Union County Health Department.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    On-site sewage disposal systems inside Leesburg Township.

    • A site inspection must be completed before issuance.
    “Well and sewage disposal system permits are required from the Union County Health Department.”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    Applicants for an on-site sewage disposal-system permit inside Leesburg Township.

    • The inspection is a prerequisite to issuance of the septic permit.
    “A site inspection must be completed before the septic and well permit will be issued.”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    On-site sewage disposal serving land inside Leesburg Township.

    • A Union County Health Department sewage-disposal permit is required.
    • A site inspection must be completed before the permit is issued.
    “Well and sewage disposal system permits are required from the Union County Health Department. A site inspection must be completed before the septic and well permit will be issued.”
  • Well permitRequired

    Wells inside Leesburg Township.

    • A site inspection must be completed before issuance.
    “Well and sewage disposal system permits are required from the Union County Health Department. A site inspection must be completed before the septic and well permit will be issued.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision or sale of part of land inside Leesburg Township.

    • The land division must comply with the Union County Subdivision Regulations.
    “If you wish to subdivide or sell off any part of your property, you must do so in accordance with the Union County Subdivision Regulations.”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    A driveway installed along a county or township road inside Leesburg Township.

    • For a driveway along a state highway, contact the Ohio Department of Transportation instead.
    “A driveway permit is required if you plan to install a driveway. See Driveway & Address to apply for a driveway permit from our office if the driveway is along a county or township road.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    A home built in a flood-hazard area inside unincorporated Leesburg Township.

    • Certain building restrictions apply within flood-hazard areas.
    • Applicants should check with the county office whether the property is in the flood-hazard area.
    “Flood hazard area permits are required if your home will be built within a flood hazard area. Certain building restrictions apply within flood hazard areas.”
  • Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

    Residential building-permit applications for projects inside Leesburg Township.

    • A nonrefundable permit-application fee and plan-review fee are due at application.
    • A 1% fee is collected on behalf of the Ohio Board of Building Standards on all permit fees.
    • Permit fees include applicable trades and are based on project square footage.

    Ohio Board of Building Standards fee: 1 percent (Collected on all permit fees.)

    “Permit Fees: Fees will be comprised of any and all applicable trades and based on square footage of the project. Including but not limited to: building, electrical, and mechanical. A 1% fee will be collected on behalf of Ohio Board of Building Standards to all permit fees.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-performed residential construction inside Leesburg Township.
  • Building code adopted — Residential construction inside Leesburg Township.
  • Inspections — Residential construction inside Leesburg Township.
  • Minimum lot size — New residential lots inside Leesburg Township.
  • Setbacks — Residential structures inside Leesburg Township.
6 more unanswered
  • Lot coverage
  • Building height
  • Tiny homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Short-term rentals

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Leesburg Township publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Union County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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