Fishers, IN Fence Regulations: Fence Permit Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- Building permit required?
- No. UDO Sec. 6.18.1
- Must still comply with
- All of UDO Article 6.18
- Accessory structures (sheds) by contrast
- Require a permit. UDO Sec. 6.2.1
- Easement / ROW
- Fence may not encroach (Sec. 6.18.2(A))
- Department
- Fishers Planning & Zoning
Summary
Fishers does NOT require a building permit to build a fence or wall. UDO Sec. 6.18.1 states plainly that walls and fences do not require a building permit, but they must comply with all standards in Article 6.18. So a fence is permit-free, yet still has to meet height, openness, material, vision-clearance, and waterway-setback rules.
Walls and fences do not require a building permit, but they must comply with the requirements of this Article.
Full Breakdown
Unlike many neighboring jurisdictions, Fishers exempts fences and walls from the building permit process. UDO Sec. ' 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. 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. ), which under UDO Sec. ' 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. 2(A)). When in doubt, contact the City of Fishers Planning & Zoning Department before building.
Violations & Fines
Because no permit is issued, enforcement is complaint- and inspection-driven under UDO Chapter 11. A fence that violates the height, material, location, or vision-clearance standards can be cited regardless of the fact that no permit was required; the owner may be ordered to modify or remove it. Building a fence in a drainage/utility easement or the public right-of-way can also force removal at the owner's expense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to build a fence in Fishers?
Does a shed need a permit even if a fence doesn't?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fishers
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