PlainPermit

Do I need a permit for a retaining wall in Indianapolis, IN?

Short answer: It depends on the details for a retaining wall in Indianapolis, IN (for example: Over 4 ft: permit).

Last verified: · Confidence: high · Status: Verified from official source

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.
Depends on your project Confidence: high

No permit for retaining walls up to 4 ft (lowest finished grade to top) unless supporting a surcharge.

What changes the answer

Cost

Fee not extracted; see the Indianapolis residential permit guide. Unverified, confirm locally

Fee source: https://citybase-cms-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/20bb8d3c1a0b4c66b07fbe8813d77f23.pdf · All verified Indianapolis permit fees

Where to apply

Indianapolis Department of Business and Neighborhood Services (residential permits)

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). See also: how to apply for a building permit.

Official sources

“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;”

Source: https://citybase-cms-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/20bb8d3c1a0b4c66b07fbe8813d77f23.pdf

Verified: · Status: verified · Confidence: high

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Other projects in Indianapolis

Retaining wall permits in other cities

Compare retaining wall permit rules in all 25 cities · All Indiana cities