Fishers building department

In Fishers, building permits and inspections are handled by the city’s Permitting & Inspections Department, which works alongside Planning & Zoning. Applications, plan uploads, fee payments, and inspection requests all go through the city’s OpenGov Permitting & Licensing portal. This page covers property inside Fishers city limits. Some addresses with a Fishers mailing address are actually outside the city and fall under Hamilton County or another jurisdiction.

Applying in OpenGov

1. Go to the Fishers OpenGov portal and sign up for an account, or sign in if you already have one.
2. Pick the permit type. Building-side record types include:
   • residential building (new home, addition, or remodel)
   • basement finish
   • deck
   • screen porch
   • accessory structure
   • roofing/siding
   • swimming pool and spa
   • demolition
   • moving
   • electrical
   • plumbing
   • heating, cooling, or gas
   • commercial building
   • multifamily building and multifamily unit
   • sanitary sewer new connection
3. Enter the property address or parcel number, project details, and applicant and owner information. Attach plans and documents, then submit.

The city warns about fake payment-request emails. Real City of Fishers emails come only from addresses ending in @fishersin.gov or @fishers.in.us. Check any unexpected invoice with the department before you pay.

Commercial, industrial, and multifamily developments also need an Improvement Location Permit (ILP) from Community & Economic Development. The ILP covers site work only. Residential plot plans can be requested through OpenGov.

Fees listed in OpenGov

Permit	Fee
New single-family home	$850 + $0.20/sq ft + $75 for a basement, plus impact fees
Residential addition	$300 + $0.10/sq ft
Residential remodel	$150
Basement finish	$150
Deck	$150
Screen porch	$225
Accessory structure	$285 + $0.10/sq ft
Residential pool / pool and spa / spa only	$250 / $325 / $75
Roofing/siding, electrical, plumbing, HVAC/gas (residential)	$75 each ($100 nonresidential)
Residential demolition	$225 ($325 nonresidential)
Contractor registration	$100

The portal links to the full fee schedule in the Fishers city code. New homes also require a 3-year sidewalk maintenance bond for sidewalks in the right-of-way, in lots or sections submitted after November 20, 2017. The bond must be at least 20% of the construction cost and is due before the certificate of occupancy is issued.

Drainage easements and floodplain

Any work inside a drainage swale or drainage easement requires a separate Drainage Easement Permit from the Department of Public Works. That includes fences, patios, sheds, decks, pools, tile, and sump pump re-routes. Check the city map before you place a fence or shed near a rear lot line.

If a property is in or next to a Special Flood Hazard Area, you must submit a completed FEMA Elevation Certificate once the finished floor is built. Floodplain permits are also issued through Public Works.

Inspections

Most inspections are scheduled online. In OpenGov, go to My Account → Inspections, open the record, and click + New Appointment. Pick a date and an AM or PM slot, then add a contact. For some record types, city inspectors schedule the inspection themselves.

Contractors can also use the stand-alone Inspection Request form. It covers footing, open hole, underslab, gas line, temporary and permanent power, pool and grid bonding, framing, driveway, sidewalk, zoning, sewer lateral, and temp final inspections. A separate Final Inspection Request form starts the final.

Requirements that come up often:

• Footings: erosion control must be in place, or the inspection fails. For decks, post holes must be dug at inspection time.
• Deck framing: the inspection focuses on ledger attachment and on fastener size, type, and spacing.
• Underslab plumbing: use purple primer and glue, or the inspector will require a smoke or water test. Do not pour a slab over 24 inches or more of bedding without an engineer’s approval.
• Framing: do not insulate, brick, or side before approval. Green “Do Not Occupy” stickers record each sign-off.
• Temporary power: utilities must be located first through the Indiana dig location service at 1-800-382-5544.
• Sewer lateral inspections: call (317) 595-3120 to schedule.
• Final inspection: submit a Completion and Compliance form, and make sure all fees, letters, and drawings are in first. Commercial finals need 5 business days’ notice. A certificate of occupancy is available on request after the final passes. Do not occupy before then.

New construction must post a sign showing the address and lot number.

Contractor registration

Contractors register through OpenGov. Registration costs a $100 flat fee, except for bonded right-of-way contractors, who are not charged. You need a certificate of liability insurance with either of these:

• at least $500,000 per occurrence for bodily injury and $100,000 for property damage, or
• a $500,000 combined single limit.

The City of Fishers, 3 Municipal Dr. must be listed as certificate holder. Coverage cannot be limited to a single job, and the department must get 30 days’ written notice before cancellation.

Contractors working in the right-of-way also post a performance bond with Engineering: at least $2,000, or a $25,000 blanket bond.

Codes and other offices

Fishers enforces Indiana’s state-adopted codes, including the 2020 Indiana Residential Code (based on the 2018 IRC), along with its Unified Development Ordinance. Commercial (Class 1) projects also need an IDHS Construction Design Release.

For zoning questions, contact Planning & Zoning at (317) 595-3155. Septic and private-well permits are issued by the Fishers Health Department.