Building permits in Indianapolis, IN

Short answer: In Indianapolis, permits are issued by Department of Business and Neighborhood Services (City of Indianapolis and Marion County); of the 6 common projects we checked, 0 always need a permit, 1 do not, and 5 depend on the details.

Permitting authority: Department of Business and Neighborhood Services (City of Indianapolis and Marion County). Some separately incorporated cities in Marion County may issue their own permits; confirm locally. Exemptions below apply to one- and two-family dwellings (Class 2) and come from the BNS homeowner permit guide (undated; uses the 2020 Indiana Residential Code).

Permit rules in Indianapolis
Project	Answer	Verified
Deck	Depends on your project No permit for a deck where no part of the floor is more than 30 in above finished grade (assessor notification still required). Higher decks…	2026-10-19
Fence	No permit required No building permit for a fence that follows zoning rules (and has any required historic-district certificate).	2026-10-19
Interior / bathroom remodel	Depends on your project No permit to replace plumbing fixtures, traps and valves, or to install cabinets and floor/wall coverings. Electrical, plumbing rework or st…	2026-10-19
Roof replacement	Depends on your project No permit to replace a roof if done by a listed contractor (with notice posting) and there is no change in roof shape, no heavier covering, …	2026-10-19
Shed	Depends on your project No permit for a structure of 120 sq ft or less, under 15 ft tall, not on a permanent foundation and without electrical or HVAC systems. Larg…	2026-10-19
Water heater replacement	Depends on your project No permit to replace a water heater with one identical in venting arrangement and fuel type. Changing fuel or venting needs a permit.	2026-10-19

Fee schedule: https://www.indy.gov/activity/license-and-permit-fees · 2 verified Indianapolis permit fees

All Indiana cities · All cities · Permit guides

Not legal advice. Always confirm with your local building department. Rules change, and your parcel's zoning, HOA, historic district, floodplain or utility work can change the answer. We show the official source and the date we last checked it so you can verify for yourself.