Do you need a permit for a fence in Indianapolis?
Usually not a building permit: Indianapolis lists fences among the work exempt from a building permit, with the conditions in its wording below1.
On this page
Usually not
Indianapolis's rule“Erection or installation of a fence or structural barrier in conformance with zoning requirements and any necessary certificates of appropriateness in a historic district…”1
City of Indianapolis, Department of Business and Neighborhood Services, Sec. 536-201(b)(13), p. 23
Which permits you need
| Permit | Required when | The city’s wording |
|---|---|---|
| Building permit | No | Erection or installation of a fence or structural barrier in conformance with zoning requirements and any necessary certificates of appropriateness in a historic district…1 |
| Zoning permit or review | No ILP for fences | Fences or structural barriers…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 |
|---|---|---|
| Retaining walls exempt up to (the wording covers retaining walls) | 4 feet | Erection of retaining walls which are not over four (4) feet in height measured from the lowest finished grade to the top of the wall, unless the walls are supporting a surcharge…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 |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum height in the front yard | 3.5 feet | Maximum height in front yard 3.5…2 |
| Maximum height in side and rear yards | 6 feet | Maximum height in side & rear yards 6…2 |
| Zoning approval needed even without a building permit? | No | Fences or structural barriers…2 |
| How height is measured | Grade to top of fence, excluding posts | The measurement of a fence or wall height must be taken from grade level to the top of the fence, exclusive of fence posts.2 |
| Front yard: open fences | 4 feet | Maximum height in front yard if 30% opacity or less 4…2 |
| Posts | 1 foot | Fence Posts. Fence posts may exceed the maximum height of the fence by one foot (1’).2 |
Review time
10-15 business days (typical first review)3. 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
Who to ask
City of Indianapolis Department of Business and Neighborhood Services (DBNS)4
Building permits
- Apply online
- aca-prod.accela.com5
- Phone
- (317) 327-87006
- [email protected]6
- Address
- 200 E. Washington St., Suite 107, Indianapolis, IN 46204 (City-County Building)4
- Hours
- 9 AM-4 PM Monday-Friday4
- Inspections
- By automated phone line 317-327-5525 using the permit number7
Fence permit rules in other cities
Rules differ from city to city. Compare Indianapolis with 18 other cities on the national fence 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
- Fort Worth, TX
- San Jose, CA
- Charlotte, NC
- Columbus, OH
- San Francisco, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Denver, CO
- 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
- 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
- Homeowner's Building Permit GuideCity of Indianapolis, Department of Business and Neighborhood ServicesLast updated March 2021Checked November 7, 2026