St. Joseph County Zoning Decisions: September 2026

In September 2026, St. Joseph County held 2 public meetings covering zoning matters. 9 zoning decisions had a recorded outcome this month: 8 approved (89% approval rate), 1 denied. Activity was down 15% compared to August (194 activity items across 4 meetings).

Zoning Decisions This Month

Variance denial for shed at 54280 26th Street

Denied.

Laura L. Brandenburg requested a variance from section 158.107 C1 to allow a zero-foot front yard north setback where 35 feet is required (10 feet previously granted) to accommodate a 16 by 24 shed on an approximately.37 acre through lot. Board denied.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

ADU conditional use and variance at 19987 Darden Road

Approved.

Donna Max (Donna Max J Living Trust) requested a variance from section 154.106 B1B to allow a minimum lot size of 0.95 acres where one acre is required and a conditional use to allow a detached accessory dwelling unit on septic. The ADU would be 22 by 27, 594 square feet. First ADU application in the jurisdiction. Approved.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

Garage setback variance at 51656 Cherry Road

Approved.

Ronnie Messler and Crystal Thompson requested a variance from section 154.107 sub C1 to allow a two-foot front setback where 35 feet is required for a 1,320 square foot detached garage on an approximately 0.61 acre parcel. One letter of remonstrance received. Approved.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

Garage setback variance at 13300 New Road

Approved.

Kyle A. and Catherine E. Warden requested a variance from section 154.092 sub D to allow a 55-foot front setback from the center line where 75 feet is required along a county road for an attached 24 by 36 foot three car garage addition on an approximately three-acre parcel. Approved.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

Barbed wire and 8-foot fence variances at 13801 Jefferson Road

Approved.

Indiana and Michigan Electric Company (owner), leasing to developer Bechtel Plant Machinery Incorporated (BPMI) for an industrial test loop facility, requested variance one from section 154.070 C3A3 to allow a barbed wire security fence in the minimum front yard and variance two from section 154.070 C3A1C to allow an eight-foot privacy fence where six feet is permitted. Facility conducts classified U.S. Navy work requiring a seven-foot fence with three strands of barbed wire. A motion to deny per staff recommendation died for lack of a second; variances then approved.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

Variance for 5-foot chain link fence at 54611 Clover Road

Approved.

Edward A. Nixon requested a variance from section 154.070 sub C2D1B to allow a five-foot chain link fence where four feet is required in a front yard on an approximately two-acre parcel. Approved.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

Pool privacy fence variance at 12950 Jefferson Road

Approved.

Timothy D. and Shelly L. Sparrow requested a variance from section 154.070 sub C2D1A to allow a five-foot (60 inch) tall privacy fence in the front yard where 36 inches is permitted, to enclose a proposed in-ground pool. Approved.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

Master Service Agreement Addendum No. 2 with Cintas

Approved.

Addendum to add two locations (Prosecutor's Office Special Victims Unit and PSAP 911 Center) to the Cintas rental program under state QPA contract 82999. SVU floor mats ~$2,000/year; 911 Center mats and wet mops under $453/year. Board approved.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

Showing the 8 most significant of 9 recorded zoning decisions. See all St. Joseph County meetings →

Top Keywords This Month

• variance: 54 instances
• zoning: 23 instances
• setback: 20 instances
• industrial: 9 instances
• subdivision: 8 instances

What to Watch

• Variance mentions were up 157% from August.
• Setback came up 186% more often than August.
• Industrial saw 80% more mentions month-over-month.

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