Vanderburgh County  Commissioners Slash Residential Building Requirements, Increasing Flexibility for Property Owners 

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 Vanderburgh Commissioners Slash Residential Building Requirements, Increasing Flexibility for Property Owners 

EVANSVILLE, IN – September 28, 2023 – In a unanimous decision today, the Board of Commissioners of Vanderburgh County took a significant step forward by revising residential building requirements in the unincorporated county. 

Most notably, the Commissioners abolished the minimum land size requirement for housing construction on platted lots in the unincorporated county. This action builds upon the earlier work of the Commission which reduced minimum acreage from 5 to 2.5 acres for homes reliant on septic systems, reduced the minimum square footage of homes, and allowed “mother-in-law” structures on existing lots. 

Effective upon publication in the County’s official codebook on October 3, 2023, these revisions are centered around “Table A – Standards for Principal Buildings on Individual Lots.” Key amendments include the elimination of minimum lot size and rear yard requirements, an expansion of maximum height and lot coverage allowances, and a reduction in minimum lot width requirements. 

Cheryl Musgrave, President of the Board of Commissioners, emphasized the practical impact of this revision, stating, “Simply put, this revision of ‘Table A’ signifies that families now have the opportunity to make the most use of their land whether it’s for new construction or additions to existing homes.” 

Justin Elpers, vice president, stated, “This transformative shift not only makes housing more affordable for families when constructing their homes but also gives property owners greater freedom to build on existing lots.” 

Ben Shoulders stated, “This most recent step reflects the Commissioners’ commitment to curbing urban sprawl by allowing smaller lots and without the need for time-consuming variances.” 

BACKGROUND: Under previous regulations, a home in district R-1 required a minimum lot size of 6,000 square feet, restricted height to no more than 35 feet, and capped lot coverage at 30%. With the amended ordinance, the burdensome minimum lot size requirement has been completely removed, the maximum height restriction of 35 feet lifted entirely, and lot coverage expanded to 75%. 

LINK OF ORDINance

Ordinance NO. CO.07-19-017 – Ordinance Amending Section 17.38.010 (Table A – Standards for Principal Buildings on Individual

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4 COMMENTS

  1. .
    QUESTION:
    Does this mean that the home next to all of us? Our neighbor?
    Does this mean that our neighbor can add buildings, or add extensions to his home, immediately and RIGHT ON THE PROPERTY LINE of our lot?

    No set back? None? Right up to the edge of the property?

  2. They keep the 5 ft setback on the sides but changed the rear setback from 25 to 0. Increased lot coverage from 30 t0 75%. This will cause drainage problem in existing subdivisions and increase the requirements for drainage on new subdivisions. So great a $400000 house can have a 400 sf home on a 20 x 50 lot built right next door.

  3. Also. No public or county department input. No public meeting. First reading was in 2019. Area plan commission did not even vote on the ordinance.

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