Fishers, IN Accessory Structures: ADU Rules (2026)

Indiana has no statewide law requiring cities to allow accessory dwelling units; local zoning controls under the Indiana Code Title 36-7 planning and zoning enabling statutes. In Fishers, the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) governs land use. The UDO Permitted Use Table (Sec. 5.1.5) lists accessory uses for residential districts as Personal Garden, Home Occupation, and Recreational use, plus accessory structures under Article 6.2. It does not include an accessory dwelling unit. The only accessory residence in the table is a 'Caretaker's residence' (Sec. 5.7.2.A), which is marked allowed (A) only in nonresidential and agricultural districts (C1, C2, C3, EN, I1, MA, AG, OS) and is not permitted in the residential districts (ER, R1-R5, MF). The UDO defines a Dwelling Unit as a self-sufficient unit with permanently installed sleeping, cooking, and sanitary facilities; adding such a second unit on a residentially zoned lot is therefore not allowed by right and would generally require a use variance from the Board of Zoning Appeals or a rezoning. Detached structures such as garages or pool houses are allowed under Article 6.2, but they may not be occupied as a separate dwelling. Confirm current requirements with the Fishers Department of Planning & Zoning before building.