Fishers, IN Fence Regulations: Permit Requirements (2026)

Unlike many neighboring jurisdictions, Fishers exempts fences and walls from the building permit process. UDO Sec. 6.18.1 (Purpose & Intent) reads that walls and fences 'do not require a building permit, but they must comply with the requirements of this Article.' This is a meaningful distinction: a homeowner can install a conforming fence without applying to the building department, but the fence still must satisfy every standard in Sec. 6.18.2 — the height table, the front-yard openness requirement, the prohibition on barbed/electrified wire, the finished-side rule, the 15-foot waterway setback, and the vision-clearance triangle. Note the contrast with accessory structures (sheds, detached garages, etc.), which under UDO Sec. 6.2.1 'require a building permit unless otherwise specified.' Property owners should also confirm there is no homeowners' association (HOA) covenant or recorded easement (drainage or utility) that restricts a fence, because the UDO bars fences from encroaching into the right-of-way or into easements that prohibit them (Sec. 6.18.2(A)). When in doubt, contact the City of Fishers Planning & Zoning Department before building.