Bolthole Index

Wayne County, Ohio

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Smithville, Ohio

The Village of Smithville, in Wayne County, Ohio, has its own zoning with 8 districts, run by a village Zoning Administrator and Planning Commission12. Septic permits for homes inside the village come from the Wayne County Health Department, not Village Hall3. Parking a trailer for 48 hours or longer is prohibited unless an exception applies4. We could not confirm who issues building permits inside the village, so ask Village Hall before you buy.

At a glance

Zoning
Yes. The village has its own zoning code with 8 districts (A-1, F-1, R-1, R-2, R-3, C-1, C-2, M-1).2
Zoning permits
Wayne County lists Smithville as a village where residential projects need a zoning permit; the fee is paid at Village Hall.56
Building permit
Not confirmed for inside the village; ask Village Hall and Wayne County Building Codes.7
Septic
Wayne County Health Department, Environmental Health Unit38
RV or trailer living
Limited: trailer parking of 48 hours or more is prohibited, with exceptions4
Mobile homes
Only in an R-3 Mobile Home Park of at least 6 acres9
Wells
Permit from the local board of health under state rules10

Who to call

Zoning

Village of Smithville (Village Hall and Zoning Administrator)

Zoning applications, variance requests and conditional-use applications inside the village

(330) 669-2311

zoning.smithvillevh@gmail.com

207 West Main St. P.O. Box 517 Smithville, OH 44677-0517

Septic permits

Wayne County Health Department, Environmental Health Unit

Septic design review, installation and alteration permits, and operating permits

330-264-2426

428 W. Liberty St.

Also useful

Wayne County Planning Department: zoning permit or CAP determination

The county's guide to whether a village project needs a CAP or a local zoning permit

330-287-5525

428 WEST LIBERTY STREET, WOOSTER, OH 44691

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

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Does Smithville, Ohio have zoning, and what does it mean for RVs and mobile homes?

Yes. The incorporated Village of Smithville is divided into 8 zoning districts: A-1, F-1, R-1, R-2, R-3, C-1, C-2 and M-12. The village has a Zoning Administrator, a Planning Commission and a Board of Zoning Appeals14. Wayne County's own list agrees: Smithville is a village where a zoning permit applies11.

Trailers are tightly limited. Parking a trailer in any district for 48 hours or longer is prohibited, except small utility, boat and vacation trailers authorized by the Board of Zoning Appeals, and one trailer stored in an enclosed garage or accessory building with no living quarters maintained4. Living in an RV on a village lot is therefore not allowed under the code we reviewed.

Mobile homes and similar portable residences are permitted only in a Mobile Home Park in an R-3 district, and a qualifying park needs at least 6 acres and its own water and sewage treatment9. We could not confirm village rules for tiny homes, accessory dwellings or short-term rentals; ask the Zoning Administrator.

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

We could not confirm who issues residential building permits inside Smithville. The village code refers to building-permit applications reviewed by the Zoning Administrator for flood safety12, but no general issuing office turned up. Ohio law requires plans to be approved by the municipal, township or county building department that has jurisdiction before an owner builds7.

Wayne County lists Smithville among villages that have adopted the Residential Code, where a zoning permit is needed instead of a county CAP11. Call Village Hall at (330) 669-2311 first13, then Wayne County Building Codes, to learn which office reviews and inspects a house in the village.

Outside village limits the answer differs. For unincorporated land, see the Wayne County page.

How do you get a zoning permit in Smithville?

Zoning applications go through Village Hall, and the fee on the application is paid when the application is submitted613. A variance request is filled out, returned with the fee, and sent to the Planning Commission for review1413. A conditional-use application is used only when the Zoning Administrator directs it14.

New subdivisions and other new developments inside the village are reviewed by the Zoning Administrator for flood damage and drainage15. In a flood-hazard location, new construction, including prefabricated and mobile homes, must be anchored, built with flood-resistant materials and designed to minimize flood damage12.

How do septic permits work inside Smithville?

Septic stays with Wayne County, not the village. Where a septic system serves land inside Smithville, a permit to install or alter it must be obtained before any construction or repair begins3. The Wayne County Health Department's Environmental Health Unit issues those permits after approving a submitted design plan816.

The county charges a $125 design review fee, and plot plans are not reviewed until it is paid17. A newly installed system must pass a 12-month inspection before an operating permit is issued18. Soils matter: only 1.4% of the soils in Wayne County rate as not limited for a conventional drain field, so expect a site evaluation and possibly an engineered system if the lot has no public sewer19. We could not confirm whether the village requires a sewer connection for new homes; ask Village Hall.

Building a home in Smithville: the steps, in order

  1. Ask the Zoning Administrator which district the lot is in, and whether the use and any trailer or mobile home is allowed there2.
  2. Submit the zoning application with its fee at Village Hall6.
  3. Confirm with Village Hall and Wayne County Building Codes who reviews and inspects residential building plans in the village7.
  4. If the lot is not on public sewer, have the Environmental Health Unit approve a septic design, then obtain the installation permit3.
  5. Check for a flood hazard on the site before design is final12.
  6. Plan for the septic operating permit after the 12-month inspection18.

What stays with Wayne County, and what to check before you buy in Smithville

Septic permits and private-well permits come from the board of health, which in Wayne County is the Wayne County Health Department810. The county lists well permit fees of $450 for a new or replacement well and $225 for an alteration20. We could not confirm a separate village rule on private wells.

The county's rules on unincorporated land, such as no county zoning outside Chippewa Township, do not apply inside the village21. Driveway work on county or township roads needs an access permit from the Wayne County Engineer22, while a driveway inside the village is governed by village rules we could not confirm.

Wayne County's effective property tax rate is 1.2%23.

Watch-outs

  • Smithville's code says a trailer cannot be parked for 48 hours or longer in any district without an exception, so a camper is not a way to live on a village lot4.
  • We could not confirm who issues and inspects residential building permits inside the village; call Village Hall at (330) 669-2311 and Wayne County Building Codes before you buy13.
  • Septic and well permits come from the Wayne County Health Department even though zoning comes from the village810.

Sources

  1. Smithville Code of Ordinances, § 153.015 Districts (Village of Smithville), quoted and re-checked
  2. Smithville Code of Ordinances, § 153.015 Districts (Village of Smithville), quoted and re-checked
  3. Wayne County Health Department, Sewage Treatment Systems (Village of Smithville), quoted and re-checked
  4. Smithville Code of Ordinances, § 153.052 Trailers, Motels, Motor Homes (Village of Smithville), quoted and re-checked
  5. Planning Department, quoted and re-checked
  6. Village of Smithville Zoning (Village of Smithville), quoted and re-checked
  7. Section 3791.04 | Submission of plan - approvals - prohibition - fine (Ohio statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  8. Sewage Treatment Systems | Wayne County Health Department, quoted and re-checked
  9. Smithville Code of Ordinances, § 153.051 Mobile Home Park Residence (Village of Smithville), quoted and re-checked
  10. Chapter 3701-28 | Private water systems (Ohio statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  11. Wayne County Planning Department: zoning permit or CAP determination (wayneohio.org)
  12. Smithville Code of Ordinances, § 150.02 Building Permit System (Village of Smithville), quoted and re-checked
  13. Village of Smithville (Village Hall and Zoning Administrator) (thevillageofsmithville.com)
  14. Village of Smithville Zoning (Village of Smithville), quoted and re-checked
  15. Smithville Code of Ordinances, § 150.02 Building Permit System (Village of Smithville), quoted and re-checked
  16. Wayne County Health Department, Environmental Health Unit (wayne-health.org)
  17. Sewage Treatment Systems, quoted and re-checked
  18. Wayne County Health Department, Sewage Treatment Systems (Village of Smithville), quoted and re-checked
  19. 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
  20. Private Water Wells | Wayne County Health Department, quoted and re-checked
  21. Planning Department | Wayne County Ohio, quoted and re-checked
  22. Wayne County Access Management Regulations, quoted and re-checked
  23. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data

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

Answers from the rulebook for Village of Smithville

Village of Smithville’s own rules

  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside the incorporated Village of Smithville.

    • Village zoning administration includes a Zoning Administrator and a Planning Commission review process.
    “The incorporated area of Smithville, Ohio, is hereby divided into districts, of which there shall be eight in number known as:”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    The incorporated area of Smithville village.

    • The adopted code lists eight districts: A-1, F-1, R-1, R-2, R-3, C-1, C-2, and M-1.

    number of zoning districts: 8

    “The incorporated area of Smithville, Ohio, is hereby divided into districts, of which there shall be eight in number known as:”
  • Living in an RVLimited

    Trailer occupancy or parking inside Smithville village.

    • Small utility, boat, and vacation trailers may be authorized by the Board of Zoning Appeals.
    • One trailer may be stored in an enclosed garage or accessory building, but no living quarters may be maintained or business conducted while parked or stored.
    • A zoning certificate is required to ensure compliance.

    trailer parking period: >= 48 hours (Exceptions and notification provisions in § 153.052(A) apply.)

    “Parking of a trailer in any district for 48 hours or a longer period of time shall be prohibited, except for small utility, boat and vacation trailers when authorized by Board of Zoning Appeals and except that one trailer may be stored in an enclosed garage or other accessory building, provided that in all cases no living quarters shall be maintained or any business conducted in connection therewith while the trailer is parked or stored, and to insure compliance therewith, a zoning certificate shall be required.”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Mobile homes, trailers, and similar portable residence structures inside Smithville village.

    • They are permitted only in a Mobile Home Park in the R-3 Residence District.
    • A qualifying park must contain at least six acres, provide water and collective sanitary sewer/sewage treatment and disposal, and meet the listed space, clearance, driveway, and recreation-area standards.

    minimum mobile-home-park area: >= 6 acres · minimum individual mobile-home space: >= 4000 square feet

    “No mobile homes, trailers, or similar portable residence structures shall be permitted to locate in the municipality except in a Mobile Home Park in an “R-3" Residence District.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision proposals and other proposed new developments inside Smithville village.

    • Zoning Administrator review assures consistency with minimizing flood damage, flood-resilient placement of public utilities and facilities, and adequate drainage.
    “The Zoning Administrator shall review, or cause to be reviewed, all subdivision proposals and other proposed new developments to assure that: (1) All such proposals are consistent with the need to minimize flood damage;”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    Each mobile-home or trailer space in an R-3 Mobile Home Park inside Smithville village.

    • Requirement applies to the regulated mobile-home park, not generally to every residential driveway.

    minimum driveway width: >= 20 feet

    “All mobile home spaces shall abut a driveway of not less than 20 feet in width, which shall have unobstructed access to a private or public street; and”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    New construction or substantial improvement at a Smithville building site in a flood-hazard location.

    • The Zoning Administrator reviews building-permit applications for site safety.
    • Affected construction, including prefabricated and mobile homes, must be designed and anchored against flotation, collapse, or lateral movement; use flood-resistant materials and utility equipment; and use practices minimizing flood damage.
    “The Zoning Administrator shall review all building permit applications for new construction or substantial improvements to determine whether proposed building sites will be reasonably safe from flooding. If a proposed building site is in a location that has a flood hazard, any proposed new construction or substantial improvement (including prefabricated and mobile homes) must:”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Village zoning applications inside Smithville village.

    • The listed application fee must be paid when submitting to Village Hall.
    • The specific fee-schedule amounts were not extracted from the linked form.
    “The fee listed on the application needs to be paid when application is submitted to Village Hall.”
  • Permit processPartial

    Village zoning applications inside Smithville village.

    • Variance requests must be returned with the fee and are submitted to the Planning Commission for review.
    • Conditional-use application is used when directed by the Zoning Administrator.
    “Request for Variance: Fill out and return with fee, application submitted to the Planning Commission for review. Conditional Use Application: Used when directed by Zoning Administrator”

Rules another office applies inside Village of Smithville

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

  • Septic permitRequired

    Installation or alteration of an on-site sewage treatment system serving land inside Smithville village where such a system is used.

    • Permit is required before construction or repair activity begins.
    • The cited Health Department page describes Environmental Health Unit services and submitted-design-plan approval.
    “A permit to install or alter a system must be obtained before beginning any construction or repair activities on a system.”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    Newly installed on-site sewage systems serving land inside Smithville village where such a system is used.

    • An operating permit follows approval for use, submitted as-built information, and a passed 12-month inspection.
    “Once the newly installed septic system is approved for use with submitted as-built information & the system passes a 12-month inspection an operating permit will be issued.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Building permit — General residential building construction inside Smithville village.
  • Owner-builder exemption — Residential building work inside Smithville village.
  • Inspections — Residential construction inside Smithville village.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of residential buildings inside Smithville village.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Smithville village.
5 more unanswered
  • Tiny homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Well permit
  • 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 Village of Smithville publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Wayne County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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