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Clark County, IN Building Setbacks & Zoning: Lot Coverage Limits (2026)

Some Restrictions

Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

R1 max lot coverage: 30% (§ 156.22(J))
A1 max lot coverage (residential): 25% (§ 156.21(I))
B1 max lot coverage: 75% (§ 156.25(I))
Coverage counted: house, garage and accessory buildings combined
Applies to: unincorporated Clark County only

Summary

Unincorporated Clark County limits single-family lots in the R1 district to 30% lot coverage and A1 Agricultural lots to 25%, capping the combined footprint of a house, garage and accessory buildings. Commercial B1 lots may cover up to 75% of the parcel.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Clark County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

(J) Lot coverage. The maximum lot coverage shall not exceed 30% of the lot area.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2019 S-0: Code: Local legislation current through Ordinance 31-2014, passed 12-18-2014).

Full Breakdown

22(J), covering the R1 Single-Family Residential district, states: "Lot coverage. " Lot coverage is calculated against the total horizontal building footprint, so it captures the house, attached garage and any accessory structures counted together, in combination with the district's separate minimum lot size, setback and floor-area rules in the same sections. A property owner planning a home addition, detached garage or oversized shed needs to check the running total against the applicable percentage before applying for an improvement location permit under chapter 151, since exceeding the cap blocks permit issuance regardless of setback compliance.

Violations & Fines

Building improvements that push a lot's total coverage above the district maximum is a zoning violation that can result in a denied or revoked improvement location permit. The Plan Commission enforces the coverage limits alongside the Building Commissioner, and the Board of Zoning Appeals under § 156.47 is the venue for any variance request; general penalty provisions in chapter 10 apply absent a more specific fine in chapter 156.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much of my lot can I build on in unincorporated Clark County?

In the R1 Single-Family Residential district, § 156.22(J) caps total lot coverage at 30% of the lot area. The A1 Agricultural Zone is stricter for single-family lots, capping coverage at 25% under § 156.21(I).

Does lot coverage include my garage and shed?

Yes. The county calculates lot coverage as the total horizontal building footprint within outside walls of both the principal structure and any accessory buildings on the lot, so a garage or shed counts toward the district percentage cap.

Is the coverage limit the same for a business lot?

No. Business districts allow far more coverage; § 156.25(I) sets the B1 Limited Business maximum at 75% of the total lot area, well above the residential caps.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Clark County

Noise Ordinances: Construction HoursSome Restrictions Fence Regulations: Height LimitsSome Restrictions Setback RulesSome Restrictions Structure Height LimitsSome Restrictions Noise Ordinances: Barking DogsSome Restrictions Noise Ordinances: Vehicle NoiseSome Restrictions Parking Rules: Abandoned VehiclesSome Restrictions Fence Regulations: Material RestrictionsLight Restrictions

All Clark County rules

Compare Clark County to another location·View the Indiana building setbacks & zoning overview

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