Johnson County Board of Zoning Appeals

The Johnson County Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) hears and makes decisions regarding use variances, development standards variances, special exceptions, zoning ordinance violations and appeals of administrative decisions.

The current members are listed below. The Board of Zoning Appeals typically meets on the fourth Tuesday of the month at 7:00 pm in the Auditorium of the Johnson County Courthouse Annex

Board of Zoning Appeals Members

• Chris Campbell – Chairman
• James Kaylor– Vice Chairman
• Charley Canary – Secretary
• Mike Hoffman – Member
• Douglas Gray – Member
• Roger Meyer – Alternate Member

Per IC 36-7-4-920 (g) and the Johnson County Board of Zoning Appeals Rules and Procedures

"A person may not communicate with any member of the board before the hearing with intent to influence the member's action on a matter pending before the board."

Letters to the Board can be sent to Staff prior to a meeting. If letters or correspondences are received six days prior to a public meeting, they will be included in the meeting packet material. After six days, copies will be supplied at the public meeting. 

Building Department

For general questions on permits, fees, and types of inspections: Please email building@johnsoncounty.in.gov

Building Permit Packets and Fee Schedule 

BUILDING PERMIT REVIEW TIME:

The average review time on a building permit application is 10 business days. Please plan your project accordingly.

This is subject to change if the department receives more than the expected number of permits in a week.

BUILDING CODE

As stated in the Johnson County Ordinance Number 2008-02:

Pursuant Indiana Code 22-13-2-3 (b), the rules of the Indiana Fire Prevention and Building Safety Commission as set out in the articles of Title 675 of the Indiana Administrative Code are hereby incorporated by reference in this code and shall include later amendments to those Articles as the same are published in the Indiana Register or the Indiana Administrative Code, with effective dates as fixed therein.  Johnson County does not have any adopted amendments or individual building codes. 

The Indiana Administrative Code - Title 675 Fire Prevention & Building Safety Commission can be viewed at the State of Indiana website, or directly by clicking HERE.

In the unincorporated parts of Johnson County, the Director of Planning and Zoning, or his/designated agents, are charged with administering and enforcing all provisions of the building code.  If you have questions regarding provisions or applicability of the code, contact the Building Offical or Director at 317-346-4350

Fire Code: The Department of Planning and Zoning works with all Fire Districts within Johnson County for assistance on Fire Code regulations and Inspections. 

Road Impact Fee:

Building Permit Applications for all new single-family homes and commercial developments for areas within White River Township will be assessed a Road Impact Fee. The Road Impact Fee will be collected by the Planning and Zoning Office along with the Building Permit Fee at the issuance of the Building Permit. All questions should be directed to the Johnson County Highway Department (317-346-4630).

Advance Structural Components - I-joist : 

 It is required to indicate at the time of permit application if the structure will be using “advanced structural components”. Advanced structural components are defined as lightweight I-joists or lightweight roof trusses.

Energy Code: 

Per Energy Codes, Johnson County Planning & Zoning will be requiring permits for all window replacements. 

Click here for a list of the current Building Code adopted by the State of Indiana https://www.in.gov/dhs/boards-and-commissions/fpbsc-rules/ 

Planning Commission

The Johnson County Plan Commission is an advisory body to the Board of Commissioners. The Plan Commission reviews development proposals (e.g. subdivisions and rezonings) and conducts comprehensive land use planning for the county. In this role, the Plan Commission utilizes the help of the staff of the Department of Planning and Zoning and the Technical Review Committee.

The Plan Commission generally meets on the fourth Monday of each month at 6:00 pm in the Auditorium of the Johnson County Courthouse Annex.

Plan Commission Members

• Jon Myers [Term: 1/1/25 to 12/31/25] – Member, appointed by County Council  – Chairman 
• Ron West [Term: 1/1/25 to 12/31/25] – Member, Commissioner Representative – Vice Chairman
• Stoney Vann [Term: 1/1/25 to 12/31/28]-Citizen Member, appointed by County Commissioner– Secretary
• J. Gregg Cantwell [Office Term]– Member, Served by Office Held - Variance Hearing Officer
• Shalee Bradley –[Office Term]Member; Served by Office Held, Purdue Extension
• Steve Hickman [Term: 1/1/23 to 12/31/27] – Citizen Member, appointed by County Commissioner - Technical Review Committee Representative
• Robert Page [Term: 1/8/23 to 12/31/27] – Citizen Member, appointed by County Commissioner
• Douglas Gray [Term: 1/1/24 to 12/31/27]– Citizen Member, appointed by County Commissioner
• Charlie Canary [Term: 1/1/23 to 12/31/27]- Citizen Member, appointed by County Commissioner
• Ron Bates [Term: 1/1/25 to 12/31/25] - Alternate Council Representative

Information for the upcoming meeting

Agenda and Staff Report   - proposed amendments to the Unified Development Ordinance 

Technical Review Committee

Johnson County Technical Review Committee

The Technical Review Committee meets with developers to review and make preliminary recommendations relative to proposed major and minor subdivisions, new commercial development, and other larger-scale improvement projects.

The Technical Review Committee conducts a review once a month and is headed by the County Planning Engineer, It is additionally comprised of representatives from the following departments and agencies: Plan Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals, Health Department, Department of Planning and Zoning,  Highway Department, County Surveyor, Cities and Towns in Johnson County, Department of Natural Resources, INDOT (Seymour District), Camp Atterbury, other governmental units, Fire and Safety, electric, gas, and sanitary utilities, and school corporations. To request placement on an upcoming Technical Review Committee agenda, please contact the County Planning Engineer at 317-346-4350.

Application
Prior to issuance of a building permit, the Director may require an applicant to obtain site plan approval from the Johnson County Technical Review Committee, where engineering design standards shall be based on the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), the Stormwater Management Ordinance, and the Stormwater Technical Standards Manual requirements. Any alteration not covered in the design standards shall be determined by the Committee and/or Drainage Board. At the discretion of the Committee, additional information may be required, or the Committee may elect to forward the application to the Board of Commissioners or to the Drainage Board, where decisions or approvals shall be made for engineering design standards, specifications, or alternate materials  not based upon the UDO, the Stormwater Management Ordinance, or the Stormwater Technical Standards Manual.

Action by the Technical Review Committee 
The Technical Review Committee, as a designate of the Plan Commission, may grant approval of the site plan with no conditions, or with conditions after citation of an ordinance section relied upon for conditions. Conditional site plan approval may also be granted subject to the receipt of approvals or permits required from other governmental units; however, no actual development, construction activity, or use of land shall commence until all such required approvals or permits have been obtained. Within fifteen (15) days of the Committee review, the Department of Planning shall provide the applicant a written report specifying any changes required in order for the site plan to meet County ordinances.

MS4 Stormwater

Johnson County MS4 - Stormwater Division 

The Department of Planning and Zoning is the Operator, as identified by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management and the federal Environmental Protection Agency, of unincorporated Johnson County's MS4, or Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System. In that role, we review and inspect construction and post-construction stormwater quality protection plans for residential, commercial and institutional development; we monitor and regularly inspect county-owned and -maintained outfalls; we receive and investigate complaints of illicit discharges, and, where applicable, bring an enforcement action against illicit dischargers; and we promote stormwater-related public education, involvement and outreach activities through involvement with the Johnson County Partnership for Water Quality.

The Storm Water Hotline has been established to address concerns about flooding, erosion, water quality, construction sites and permits. Please contact us at planning@johnsoncounty.in.gov or 317-346-4350 to report any concerns. It is helpful if contact name and information if provide for thorough tracking as issues are reported and resolved.

The Department also requires and reviews stormwater permits for most development in the unincorporated county area. The stormwater permitting process, which exists in lieu of a standard stormwater utility fee assessed to all property owners, ensures that a given property properly and appropriately manages stormwater runoff, and provides for a high quality of cleanliness of stormwater runoff as it eventually enters county rivers and streams.

New Stormwater Management Ordinance and Stormwater Technical Standards Manual adopted 12-19-2022

Johnson County Stormwater Management Ordinance

Johnson County Stormwater Technical Standards Manual 

Helpful Information for construction activity 

Stormwater - Silt Fence detail

Stormwater - Concrete washout detail

Stormwater -Temporary construction ingress/egress pad for two-acres or larger sites

Stormwater -Temporary construction ingress/egress pad for site smaller than two-acres

Stormwater - Inlet protection mats example