Indianapolis Building Permits: What You Need to Know

Are you planning to renovate or add outdoor structures to your home? Chances are if you are making any type of structural change, you need a building permit. Whether you are finishing your basement, adding a bathroom, taking out a wall to enlarge a room, building a garage, or putting up a privacy fence, you'll want to avoid being fined or threatened by legal action. The best thing you can do is to understand the laws regarding .

What Type of Permit Do You Need?

There are different types of , so it is important to understand what you need. According to The Department of Business and Neighborhood Services, you may need one or more permits, and these are issued by various departments. Depending on other factors, you may also need additional permissions and certificates.

Typical Permits You May Need

Improvement Location Permit
Structural Permit
Drainage Permit
Driveway Permit
Electrical Permit
Wrecking Permit
Plumbing Permit
HVAC Permit
Flood Permit

Additional Permits/Certificates/Reports

Depending on your location and specific plans, you may need to submit other reports, permits, and certificates, including:

Energy Report	If using Performance or Total US Alternative option.
Sewer Permit From Citizens Energy Group	If constructing a new residence.
Septic Permit From Health and Hospital Corporation	If the home is on a septic system and the proposed construction includes a new bedroom.
Approval Documents From the Department of Metropolitan Development	If required per zoning district.
Certificate of Appropriateness From Indianapolis Historic Preservation Commission	If exterior work is being performed in a historic district.

How to Apply for an Indianapolis Building Permit on Your Own

To apply for Indianapolis building permits, you can do the following:

Go to the Department of Business and Neighborhood Services website, and read through the page entitled "Residential Permit Checklist: Everything you need to know before submitting a permit application". On this page, you will find detailed information about the type of site plans, floor plans, and other additional information that may be required for your project.
Complete and sign the Residential Development Application or the Completed Class 2 Structural Permit Application.
Complete the Residential Plan Submittal Checklist - this details the type of information/forms/additional permits you will be submitting with your application.
Complete the Statement of Intent if the work is to be completed by the property owner. (Work can only be completed by homeowners or licensed contractors).
Ensure that all documents are drawn to an engineer or architect's scale.
Ensure there are two (2) complete sets of plans.
Submit your plans.
Be prepared that additional information may be requested.

If you do not have a printer to print the checklist/required documents or need further clarification, you can get in touch with the Department of Business and Neighborhood Services. They have traditional business hours of 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. Monday-Friday, so be sure you call or visit during those times.

Phone: 317-327-8700
Fax: 317-327-5174
Address: 1200 Madison Ave Suite 100 Indianapolis, IN 46225

What if You Can't Get the Permits Yourself?

If you find yourself overwhelmed with understanding the different types of permits, which forms you need to file or plans you need to submit, you may be stressed. If you have already applied and been denied your permit(s), you may be even more frustrated. It can be tedious and time-consuming to apply for building permits. If you are struggling, you may be considering hiring a local lawyer to handle the process for you, but this can also be time-consuming and costly. If you are looking for an easier alternative, DoNotPay can help.

Let DoNotPay Help You File for Indianapolis Building Permits

If you are worried about filling out the wrong forms, submitting plans incorrectly, or are having trouble getting in touch with the correct departments during business hours to discuss your permits, you may find yourself increasingly frustrated with your remodel project. DoNotPay can reduce your stress and help you through the permit process more quickly.

If you want to apply for a building permit without hassle in Indianapolis, but don't know where to start, DoNotPay has you covered in 6 easy steps:

Go to the Planning Permissions product on DoNotPay.
Choose one of the following options:
1. Check whether your project needs a building permit or if it's exempt
2. Generate a permission request letter to send to your HOA
3. Generate a guide on how to complete the building permit application
Choose the focus of your project (new ADU, pool, shed, fence, etc.) and answer a few questions about your plans, including the size of the structure and estimated cost.
Indicate whether you're hiring a contractor and include the estimated start date and the timeline for the project.
Indicate whether any public sidewalk/street space will be used during construction.
And that's it! DoNotPay will help guide you through the building permit process by checking if your project needs a building permit, contacting any HOAs you're a part of to request building permission, or generating detailed instructions on how to start and complete your building permit application process.

Why Should You Use DoNotPay to Help Get Your Permits?

DoNotPay understands how frustrating it can be to research laws, determine which permits to apply for, and figure out which forms need to be submitted. We know that your time is valuable, which is why we help make the process fast, easy and successful. We save you time researching or even making mistakes by filing the wrong applications. All you have to do is give us the important information. DoNotPay will find exactly what you need and walk you through the entire process.

DoNotPay Can Help You With All Types of Permits and Permission

DoNotPay can do more than just help you get building permits in Indianapolis. Maybe you have a property you want to renovate in another city or state. Whether it is Palm Beach County, Los Angeles, Chicago or Sarasota County, or any other city or county in any state, we can help you get HOA approval and guide you through the permit process.

What Else Can DoNotPay Do for You Today?

Helping with building permits is just one of the many valuable services that DoNotPay provides. We can help you resolve a variety of issues, including: