Ferdinand joins countywide zoning reform effort with Dubois Strong support

A countywide zoning rewrite could change the rules for new homes in Ferdinand, Jasper and Huntingburg, from how dense neighborhoods can be to how quickly builders can get permits and what kinds of houses are allowed at all.

At a recent Ferdinand Board of Zoning Appeals meeting, Ken Sicard told members that the county’s comprehensive plan had already flagged the need to update zoning laws, but doing that work town by town would be too expensive. Ferdinand is now tying its own effort to a broader push led by Dubois Strong, which has joined with IncCodes to review and modernize zoning codes across Dubois County.

The first phase centers on Jasper, Huntingburg and Ferdinand. Dubois Strong said it would work with the three municipalities, local officials, planning staff and community stakeholders so any recommendations fit each community’s priorities, development goals and character. That matters because zoning decisions determine where housing can go, how much can be built on a parcel and what land uses can be mixed together without triggering a separate variance or rezoning fight.

Local reporting has said Dubois County’s zoning regulations date back to the 1980s, a gap that has become more visible as the county wrestles with housing needs and active development. WITZ reported that officials have been considering allowances for factory-built homes, container-based homes finished to resemble traditional houses and tiny homes or minimalist housing, all of which could be easier to place under a modernized code. The point, county leaders have said, is to create standards that are consistent enough to speed review while still leaving room for local character.

The zoning work is tied directly to the 2023 Dubois County Housing Study. Dubois Strong said the effort supports strategies in that study, including reducing development risk, expanding housing options, preserving existing housing and encouraging infill and new lot development. In practical terms, that means the county is trying to make it easier to build on existing lots and to diversify the kinds of homes available in the market.

The timing is not theoretical. Dubois Strong has pointed to active projects already underway, including Northridge Estates in Jasper, where Phase 1 includes 12 single-family lots starting in the $270,000 range and 28 villa-style homes; Poplar Ridge Apartments in Huntingburg, planned for 126 rental units; and Ferdinand’s Royal Ridge, where 22 completed townhomes were fully occupied. Hidden Meadows in Ferdinand also still had lots available for new homes.

The zoning review is unfolding alongside broader planning work. In September 2025, Dubois County asked residents to weigh in on a comprehensive plan update meant to guide growth, development and investments for the next 8 to 10 years. And in late May, Ferdinand redevelopment discussions already were touching on utility infrastructure for a new residential development, a reminder that zoning, roads and water and sewer planning are all part of the same local-government decision.