Wayne County residents planning to build an accessory structure — a garage, barn, gazebo or greenhouse, for example — in a flood plain likely will soon face less regulation.
The county’s Advisory Plan Commission on Jan. 15 voted to favorably recommend to the county commissioners a new flood plain ordinance. If approved by commissioners, it would repeal a 2015 ordinance.
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources provided much of the ordinance language. By adopting the ordinance, the county will maintain eligibility in a federal flood hazard insurance program. Spring Grove and Greens Fork will adopt the same ordinance because the county flood plain coordinator also oversees those communities.
Richmond, Hagerstown, Cambridge City and Centerville must also have ordinances for insurance program eligibility.
Steve Higinbotham, the county administrator and current flood plain coordinator, told plan commission members that the main differences in the proposed ordinance involve what accessory structures require DNR permits.
Currently, any accessory structure larger than 400 square feet proposed for a flood zone requires a DNR permit. The new ordinance allows open-sided structures that are anchored to the ground and includes more guidelines that would allow structures larger than 400 square feet without a permit.
“So it’s a little better for our community,” Higinbotham said.
After the 8-0 ordinance vote, the plan commission voted that Dan Hollenberg continue as chair and Theresa Scruggs continue as vice chair for 2026. They also approved Higinbotham as the Board of Zoning Appeals’ hearing officer and as the commission’s temporary secretary until a new planning director is hired to replace Laura Miller, who retired. Ron Cross was appointed to continue as the commission’s attorney.
A version of this article appeared in the January 21 2026 print edition of the Western Wayne News.