Indianapolis, IN Solar Energy: Panel Permits (2026)

Sec. 743-306.CC, titled 'Renewable energy facility, solar and geothermal,' sets the placement and height rules for accessory solar in two sentences: 'Accessory renewable energy facilities for solar and geothermal shall only be located in side and rear yards or on rooftops. Accessory renewable energy facilities for solar may exceed the maximum height requirement by a maximum of 18 inches.' Table 744-204-1, the citywide table of height exceptions and yard encroachments, backs this up on both ends: it lists 'Renewable Energy Facility, Solar or Geothermal' as allowed to 'encroach into the side or rear yard setback,' and separately lists 'Renewable Energy Facility, Solar' among the height exceptions, capped at 'not extend more than 18 inches above the maximum building height.' Geothermal equipment gets the same side/rear/rooftop siting rule as solar but not the extra 18 inches of height, since that allowance in Sec. 743-306.CC.2 is written for 'solar' specifically.

The definitions chapter, Sec. 740-202, describes what qualifies: 'the accessory use of solar collectors or other devices or structural design features of a structure that rely upon sunshine as an energy source and is capable of collecting, distributing or storing the sun's radiant energy for a beneficial use.' Because a solar installation is a site improvement and does not appear on the Sec. 740-801.A.3 list of structures exempted from an Improvement Location Permit, such as air conditioning units, antennas or small mini-barns, an accessory solar array still needs an Improvement Location Permit from the Metropolitan Development Commission's Bureau of License and Permit Services before installation, on top of meeting the CC placement and height standards.