Fishers, IN Accessory Structures: Tiny Homes (2026)

There is no separate 'tiny home' category in the Fishers Unified Development Ordinance, so a tiny house is regulated like any other dwelling. The UDO defines a Dwelling as a building used exclusively for residential occupancy and a Dwelling Unit as a self-sufficient unit with permanently installed sleeping, cooking, and sanitary facilities. A site-built or modular tiny house intended as a permanent residence must therefore meet the Indiana One- and Two-Family Dwelling Code (the mandatory statewide building code referenced in the UDO) and sit on a lot meeting the minimum lot, setback, and coverage standards of its residential zoning district. A tiny home on wheels is treated under the UDO's definitions of Mobile Home / Manufactured Home or Recreational Vehicle; an RV may be considered a structure when installed on a site for more than 180 days (per the floodplain-chapter Structure definition), and manufactured/mobile homes are limited to manufactured home parks (dwelling sites). Importantly, the UDO does not list an accessory dwelling unit as a permitted accessory use in residential districts, so a tiny house cannot be added as a second residence behind an existing home by right - that would require a use variance. Anyone considering a tiny home should confirm zoning district, minimum dwelling size, foundation requirements, and utility connections with the Fishers Department of Planning & Zoning.