Do you need a permit for a deck in Indianapolis?
It depends on the project. Indianapolis exempts some decks from a building permit and requires one for the rest1; the exemption's limit is 30 inches, with the conditions in the city's wording below. Work that needs no building permit can still need zoning approval.
On this page
Depends on size or scope
Indianapolis's rule“Erection or installation of a deck where: a. No part of the floor is more than thirty (30) inches above finished grade; and b. There is compliance with the assessor notification requirements of section 536-215…”1
City of Indianapolis, Department of Business and Neighborhood Services, Sec. 536-201(b)(15), p. 23
Which permits you need
| Permit | Required when | The city’s wording |
|---|---|---|
| Building permit | Conditional | Erection or installation of a deck where: a. No part of the floor is more than thirty (30) inches above finished grade; and b. There is compliance with the assessor notification requirements of section 536-215…1 |
| Zoning permit or review | ILP not required for structures under 18 in above grade | Minor Residential Structures that extend less than 18 inches above grade level (measurement excludes handrails)…2 |
Limits and conditions in Indianapolis's rule
Each limit sits next to the sentence it comes from; the conditions in that sentence are part of the rule.
| Rule | Value | The city’s wording |
|---|---|---|
| Exempt up to this height above grade | 30 inches | No part of the floor is more than thirty (30) inches above finished grade…1 |
Zoning rules: separate from the building permit
A project can be exempt from one and still need the other (zoning vs building permits).
| Zoning rule | Value | The city’s wording |
|---|---|---|
| Side and rear setback | 5 ft from the rear lot line; front and side: the district's minimum setbacks | Shall not be located closer to any rear lot line than 5 feet…2 |
| Front and side setbacks | Not closer than the district minimum front/side setbacks | Shall not be located closer to any front or side lot line than the required minimum front and side yard setbacks of the dwelling district, or, in the case of a front yard, the established front yard setback on the lot, whichever is greater…2 |
| Zoning approval needed even without a building permit? | Yes | Minor Residential Structures: Structures that are subordinate and secondary to the primary residential use of a property, such as garages, carports, porches, decks or patios 18 inches or greater in height, mini-barns, sheds, workshops, swimming pools, hot tubs, porte-cocheres, bathhouses, cabanas, secondary dwelling unit, shelters for personal livestock, greenhouses, and other accessory buildings or structures similar and comparable in character to these uses.2 |
What to submit
- Deck details3
Who can apply
- Licensed contractor or property owner doing own work (Statement of Intent)4
Review time
10-15 business days (typical first review)5. This is the department's published figure, not a guarantee.
Special areas and extra reviews
- Historic districts may need a certificate of appropriateness even when no permit is required1
- Floodplain development permit may be needed even when no building permit is required1
- Flood permit required for all construction in a flood zone4
Who to ask
City of Indianapolis Department of Business and Neighborhood Services (DBNS)6
Building permits
- Apply online
- aca-prod.accela.com7
- Phone
- (317) 327-87008
- [email protected]8
- Address
- 200 E. Washington St., Suite 107, Indianapolis, IN 46204 (City-County Building)6
- Hours
- 9 AM-4 PM Monday-Friday6
- Inspections
- By automated phone line 317-327-5525 using the permit number4
Deck permit rules in other cities
Rules differ from city to city. Compare Indianapolis with 18 other cities on the national deck permit guide, or go straight to one:
- New York City, NY
- Los Angeles, CA
- Chicago, IL
- Houston, TX
- Phoenix, AZ
- San Antonio, TX
- San Diego, CA
- Dallas, TX
- Jacksonville, FL
- Fort Worth, TX
- San Jose, CA
- Charlotte, NC
- Columbus, OH
- San Francisco, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Oklahoma City, OK
- Philadelphia, PA
- Austin, TX
Sources
- 2016 Building Standards and Procedures of the Consolidated City of Indianapolis (Chapter 536 etc.)City of Indianapolis, Department of Business and Neighborhood ServicesEffective January 1, 2018Checked November 7, 2026
- Indianapolis-Marion County Consolidated Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance (August 2026)City of Indianapolis, Department of Metropolitan DevelopmentEffective August 19, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
- Residential Permit ChecklistCity of Indianapolis, Department of Business and Neighborhood ServicesChecked November 7, 2026
- Homeowner's Building Permit GuideCity of Indianapolis, Department of Business and Neighborhood ServicesLast updated March 2021Checked November 7, 2026
- Permit Issuance Process (flowchart)City of Indianapolis, Department of Business and Neighborhood ServicesChecked November 7, 2026
- Department of Business and Neighborhood ServicesCity of Indianapolis, Department of Business and Neighborhood ServicesChecked November 7, 2026
- Accela Citizens Access Portal (ACA)City of Indianapolis, Department of Business and Neighborhood ServicesChecked November 7, 2026
- License and Permit FeesCity of Indianapolis, Department of Business and Neighborhood ServicesChecked November 7, 2026