Indianapolis and Marion County use a consolidated permitting structure, with the Department of Business and Neighborhood Services (DBNS) serving as the principal agency for residential and commercial construction permits. The City’s Citizen Access Portal provides online access to structural, electrical, plumbing, heating and cooling, sign, demolition, drainage, driveway, and other permit services, along with permit searches, payments, inspections, and electronic plan review.
Land development is also closely tied to zoning. Many construction projects require an Improvement Location Permit (ILP), which confirms that the proposed structure, use, setbacks, access, parking, and other site conditions comply with the Indianapolis-Marion County Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance. Rezoning, variances, special exceptions, development plans, and other discretionary land-use matters follow separate review processes involving the Department of Metropolitan Development and the Metropolitan Development Commission.
Historic properties can add another approval layer. The Indianapolis Historic Preservation Commission (IHPC) provides design and zoning review for locally designated historic districts, conservation areas, and individually designated properties. Work requiring IHPC approval must receive the applicable Certificate of Appropriateness before construction proceeds.
Projects extending into streets, sidewalks, or other public areas can require separate right-of-way, excavation, driveway, or street-construction approvals. These permit categories are also integrated into the City’s online system. Applicants can begin with the Indianapolis/Marion County Citizen Access Portal and use Indy’s zoning maps to identify property-specific zoning, historic districts, flood zones, and other development constraints.