Residential permit rules in Indiana

Representative cities: Indianapolis, Fort Wayne. Covers 16 common home projects.

Verify locally. Indiana enforces a statewide building code (adopted I-Codes) through the Dept. of Homeland Security, but permits are issued locally by each city or county building department — so thresholds and fees vary by jurisdiction. Always verify with your local building department (e.g., Indianapolis BNS or Fort Wayne Community Development). Rules below are state/city-level guidance drawn from official sources — always confirm with the issuing building department before starting work. See the county permit authorities to find the right office.

Project	Permit?	Authority	Typical fee	Timeline	Go / No-Go	Key notes
🏠 Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU)	Permit required	city	Building permit fee set by the local building department; zoning/use approval also required.	—	Case by case	ADUs are allowed only where local zoning permits an accessory dwelling unit. A building permit is required for construction. Verify with your city (e.g., Indianapolis BNS or Fort Wayne Community Development).
🪵 Deck / Porch	Conditional	city	Set by the local building department.	—	Generally allowed	Attached decks and any deck over 30 in above grade need a permit. Indianapolis requires a structural permit for deck work. Exempt: Decks more than 30 in above grade generally require a building permit under the Indiana Residential Code (IRC R105.2).
🧱 Fence / Wall	Conditional	city	—	—	Generally allowed	Most Indiana municipalities do not require a building permit for residential fences, but front-yard height limits and HOA covenants may apply. Verify locally.
🛖 Shed / Outbuilding	Conditional	city	—	—	Generally allowed	Detached one-story sheds below the local size threshold are generally exempt. Check your city’s residential code (e.g., Fort Wayne). Exempt: Many Indiana jurisdictions exempt one-story detached accessory sheds under ~120 sq ft; some cities use a higher threshold.
🪜 Basement Finish	Permit required	city	Building permit fee set by the local department.	—	Generally allowed	Finishing a basement into habitable space requires permits for egress, framing, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work. Sleeping rooms need code-compliant egress windows.
🚗 Garage / Carport	Permit required	city	Building permit fee set by the local department; zoning clearance may be required.	—	Generally allowed	A new attached or detached garage requires a building permit.
☀️ Rooftop Solar PV	Permit required	city	Electrical/structural permit fee set by the local department.	—	Generally allowed	Rooftop solar PV requires an electrical and structural permit, reviewed by the local building department.
🌡️ HVAC Replacement	Permit required	city	Mechanical permit fee set by the local department.	—	Generally allowed	Furnace, AC, or heat-pump replacement requires a mechanical permit and inspection.
🍳 Kitchen Remodel	Permit required	city	Building permit fee; trade permits (plumbing/electrical) billed separately.	—	Generally allowed	A permit is required when relocating plumbing/electrical, moving walls, or changing fixtures. Cosmetic-only work may be exempt.
🛁 Bathroom Remodel	Permit required	city	Building permit fee; trade permits (plumbing/electrical) billed separately.	—	Generally allowed	A permit is required when relocating plumbing/electrical, moving walls, or changing fixtures. Cosmetic-only updates may be exempt.
🏗️ Room Addition	Permit required	city	Building permit fee based on valuation; zoning and plan review apply.	Plan-review permits take longer; timelines vary by city.	Generally allowed	Room additions change the footprint and require a full building permit, zoning approval, and usually a site plan.
🪟 Window / Door Replacement	Conditional	city	—	—	Generally allowed	Swapping windows or exterior doors in the same opening is generally exempt; enlarging or adding openings requires a permit.
🏘️ Roof Replacement	Permit required	city	Roof-covering/structural permit fee set by the local department.	—	Generally allowed	Indianapolis requires a structural permit for a tear-off and reroof. Minor leak repairs may be exempt. Verify locally.
🅿️ Driveway / Parking Pad	Conditional	city	—	—	Generally allowed	A permit may be required where the driveway connects to the street/right-of-way or involves significant grading. Indianapolis issues driveway permits.
🏊 Swimming Pool / Spa	Permit required	city	Building permit fee; barrier fencing required by code.	—	Generally allowed	In-ground and above-ground pools need a permit and barrier fencing. Verify locally for setback and barrier rules.
🧱 Retaining Wall	Conditional	city	—	—	Generally allowed	Height and whether the wall supports a surcharge (driveway, structure, or slope above) determine the permit threshold. Verify with your building department.

State-wide sources: Indiana Dept. of Homeland Security — Building Safety & Fire Prevention · City of Indianapolis — Dept. of Business & Neighborhood Services (Permits) · City of Indianapolis — Residential Permit Checklist · City of Fort Wayne — Community Development & Residential Code