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.
The Fishers UDO treats retaining walls primarily through the waterway-proximity provision. Sec. 6.18.2(F) prohibits walls and fences from being built within 15 feet of the top of bank of any lake, pond, or waterway, and from being built within easements for those water features — but it expressly states that 'this provision does not apply to retaining walls that do not obstruct access.' 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. Under the Indiana Residential Code 2020 (which adopts the 2018 IRC with state amendments), Section R404.4 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. 6.16.2(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.
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.
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Fishers actively encourages native planting: its UDO landscaping standards (§ 6.7.1) aim to 'encourage native planting that protect biodiversity,' draw plant...
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Fishers Code Chapter 52 lets the Mayor declare a water warning or water emergency for the Citizens Water / Indiana American system. Under § 52.05, restrictio...
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Fishers Code §§ 95.20-95.25 require owners to cut weeds and rank vegetation over eight inches tall, plus any noxious plants listed in IC 15-16-7-2. The Depar...
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