St. Joseph County zones unincorporated land. In the R: Single Family District, building height may not exceed two and one-half stories or 40 feet, whichever is lower, under Zoning Ordinance § 154.107(F). Libraries, religious uses, and schools are exempt.
Because St. Joseph County exercises real zoning authority through its Area Plan Commission under Indiana's Advisory Planning Law (IC 36-7-4-601), building-height caps in the unincorporated county are enforceable rules, not guidelines. In the R: Single Family District, § 154.107(F) provides that building height shall not be more than two and one-half stories, or forty feet, whichever is lower, except for libraries, religious uses, and schools. Accessory dwelling units may not exceed the height of the primary dwelling. Sport and athletic field light poles may reach 110 feet under § 154.352. Inside South Bend, Mishawaka, or Walkerton, the municipal height limit applies instead.
Exceeding the 40-foot height cap violates the St. Joseph County Zoning Ordinance. The Building Department can withhold the permit and require the structure be lowered. Greater height needs a variance from the Area Board of Zoning Appeals.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
St. Joseph County, IN
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St. Joseph County, IN
Garage-sale signs are temporary signs in St. Joseph County, up to 24 square feet per frontage and two per lot in residential districts under Zoning Ordinance...
St. Joseph County, IN
St. Joseph County allows political yard signs as temporary signs. Zoning Ordinance §154.373 exempts signs up to 2 square feet from permits; a larger temporar...
St. Joseph County, IN
South Bend requires every non-occupant landlord to register rentals annually by September 1. Indiana Code 36-1-20-5 caps the fee at five dollars. Unincorpora...
St. Joseph County, IN
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St. Joseph County, IN
Rent control is illegal in St. Joseph County. Indiana Code 32-31-1-20 bars any unit, including South Bend, Mishawaka, and the county, from regulating rental ...
See how St. Joseph County's structure height limits rules stack up against other locations.
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