Fishers, IN Fence Regulations: Retaining Walls (2026)
Key Facts
- UDO height table for retaining walls
- None published: see building code
- Waterway exemption
- Retaining walls not obstructing access. Sec. 6.18.2(F)
- Engineering / permit threshold
- Over 4 ft (48 in) retained. IRC R404.4
- Surcharge
- Triggers design requirement regardless of height
- Top-of-bank setback
- Required by UDO Sec. 6.16.2(C)
Summary
Fishers' UDO sets no separate height table for retaining walls, but carves them out of the waterway rule: a retaining wall that does not obstruct access is exempt from the 15-foot top-of-bank setback that applies to walls and fences (Sec. 6.18.2(F)). Permitting of taller retaining walls is governed by the Indiana Residential Code.
Walls and fences shall not be built within 15 feet of the top of bank of any lake, pond, or waterway. ... This provision does not apply to retaining walls that do not obstruct access.
Full Breakdown
The Fishers UDO treats retaining walls primarily through the waterway-proximity provision. Sec. ' The UDO does not publish a standalone maximum height for retaining walls the way it does for fences. Structural and permitting requirements for retaining walls in Indiana come from the building code, not the zoning ordinance. 4 requires retaining walls that are not laterally supported at the top and that retain more than 48 inches (4 feet) of unbalanced fill, or that support a surcharge, to be designed to ensure stability against overturning, sliding, and excessive settlement, which in practice triggers engineered design and a building permit for taller walls.
Setback rules in UDO Sec. 2(C) also require structures to be set back from the top of bank of a watercourse, so siting a retaining wall near water should be checked against both the building code and the UDO. Confirm specifics with Fishers Building & Code Enforcement before construction.
Violations & Fines
A retaining wall built within a waterway easement, or one that obstructs access within 15 feet of a top of bank, violates UDO Sec. 6.18.2(F) and is enforceable under Chapter 11. A retaining wall over 4 feet (or one carrying a surcharge) built without the engineered design and permit required by Indiana Residential Code R404.4 is a building-code violation and can be red-tagged or ordered corrected.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Fishers' fence ordinance limit retaining wall height?
Do I need a permit for a retaining wall in Fishers?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fishers
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