Fabl. Design
Serving Indianapolis, IN · Marion County

Architectural design services in Indianapolis, IN

Fabl Design plans additions, remodels, ADUs, and custom homes for Indianapolis homeowners across Marion County. We work from Indianapolis, know how Central Indiana reviewers read a set of drawings, and handle the zoning details before they turn into redesigns.

Rendering of a carriage-house garage with a living loft and balcony beside a screened porch, designed by Fabl Design
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Services

What we do for homeowners in Indianapolis

Every service we offer, delivered locally — with drawings your builder and your permit reviewer will both understand.

Find your zoning code

Look up your Indianapolis zoning district

Before design begins, confirm the district your lot sits in. The Indianapolis zoning map lets you search by street address or parcel number and shows the base district plus any overlays that affect what you can build.

  1. 1Open the Indianapolis zoning map and accept the parcel viewer disclaimer.
  2. 2Search by street address or parcel (tax) number to find your property.
  3. 3Note your base district and any overlays, then match them to the standards below.

Zoning maps are for general research only. Verify districts, overlays, and permitted uses with the Indianapolis planning department before making decisions — or send us your address and we'll confirm it for you.

Zoning & overlays

Single-family zoning codes in Indianapolis

The district your lot sits in sets your setbacks, height, and how much of the site you can cover. Here's a quick reference we use during schematic design in Indianapolis.

D-ADwelling District, agricultural/very low density

Large-lot, low-density single-family residential district typically found at the urban fringe or in agricultural transition areas.

Min lot
87,120 sq ft (2 acres)
Min width
150 ft
Front setback
50 ft
Rear setback
50 ft
Side setback
15 ft
Max height
35 ft
Coverage
20%
D-1Dwelling District, low density

Single-family district with large suburban-style lots, common in outlying and newer subdivision areas.

Min lot
15,000 sq ft
Min width
90 ft
Front setback
40 ft
Rear setback
30 ft
Side setback
10 ft
Max height
35 ft
Coverage
30%
D-2Dwelling District, low-medium density

Single-family suburban district with moderately sized lots common in mid-century subdivisions.

Min lot
10,000 sq ft
Min width
75 ft
Front setback
35 ft
Rear setback
25 ft
Side setback
8 ft
Max height
35 ft
Coverage
30%
D-3Dwelling District, medium-low density

Single-family district covering many established Indianapolis neighborhoods with moderate lot sizes.

Min lot
7,500 sq ft
Min width
60 ft
Front setback
30 ft
Rear setback
25 ft
Side setback
6 ft
Max height
35 ft
Coverage
35%
D-4Dwelling District, medium density

Common older single-family urban neighborhood district with smaller lots than D-3.

Min lot
6,000 sq ft
Min width
50 ft
Front setback
25 ft
Rear setback
20 ft
Side setback
5 ft
Max height
35 ft
Coverage
35%
D-5Dwelling District, medium-high density

Applies to many close-in urban neighborhoods with narrow lots such as Fountain Square and Irvington bungalow blocks.

Min lot
5,000 sq ft
Min width
40 ft
Front setback
Per established front-yard average on the block, typically 20-25 ft
Rear setback
20 ft
Side setback
5 ft
Max height
35 ft
Coverage
40%
D-6Dwelling District, high density (small lot single-family/two-family)

Allows narrow-lot single-family and two-family homes typical of dense, walkable urban neighborhoods.

Min lot
3,000 sq ft
Min width
30 ft
Front setback
Per established front-yard average on the block
Rear setback
15 ft
Side setback
3 ft
Max height
35 ft
Coverage
45%
D-7Dwelling District, high density multi-family transition

Transitional district allowing single-family, two-family, and small multi-family buildings near commercial corridors.

Min lot
3,000 sq ft per unit
Min width
30 ft
Front setback
15 ft
Rear setback
15 ft
Side setback
5 ft
Max height
35 ft
Coverage
50%
D-8Dwelling District, urban multi-family

Higher-intensity multi-family dwelling district generally located near the Regional Center and transit corridors.

Min lot
2,000 sq ft per unit
Min width
25 ft
Front setback
10 ft
Rear setback
15 ft
Side setback
5 ft
Max height
45 ft
Coverage
60%
D-9Dwelling District, highest density multi-family

Highest-density dwelling district intended for apartment buildings close to downtown and major transit lines.

Min lot
1,500 sq ft per unit
Min width
25 ft
Front setback
10 ft
Rear setback
15 ft
Side setback
0-5 ft
Max height
60 ft
Coverage
70%

Height and coverage may be further modified by Regional Center overlay standards.

Overlay districts to watch for

IHPCHistoric Preservation Overlay Districts

Locally designated historic areas (e.g., Lockerbie Square, Herron-Morton Place, Old Northside, Woodruff Place, Chatham Arch) regulated by the Indianapolis Historic Preservation Commission.

  • Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) required before exterior alterations, additions, or new construction
  • Design review against district-specific preservation plan guidelines
  • Staff-level administrative approval available for minor work; full Commission hearing for major changes
RCRegional Center Overlay

Overlay covering downtown Indianapolis and adjacent near-downtown neighborhoods with urban design and streetscape standards.

  • Enhanced streetscape and pedestrian-oriented building placement standards
  • Modified parking and setback requirements compared to base district
  • Design review coordination with the Regional Center Overlay design guidelines
FFFlood Control (Floodway/Floodplain) Overlay

Applies to properties within FEMA-mapped floodway and floodplain areas along Indianapolis waterways such as the White River and Fall Creek.

  • Floodplain development permit required from the Indianapolis Department of Metropolitan Development
  • Lowest floor elevation must meet or exceed base flood elevation
  • No net loss of floodway conveyance for additions or fill
THThoroughfare Plan Setback Overlay

Establishes additional building setback lines along designated arterial and collector streets identified in the Marion County Thoroughfare Plan.

  • Structures must be set back from the future right-of-way line shown on the Thoroughfare Plan
  • Applies in addition to, not instead of, the base district setback

These figures are general guidance for early planning — final requirements depend on your parcel, overlays, and any prior variances. Verify with the Indianapolis codes department or the official zoning ordinance. We confirm them for your address before design begins.

Recent work

A few Indianapolis projects

Whole-Home Renovation and Exterior Redesign, Rolling Acres, TN

Whole-Home Renovation and Exterior Redesign, Rolling Acres, TN

This project transforms an existing home through a comprehensive renovation and interior reconfiguration. The redesigned layout improves circulation and creates more functional connections between living spaces, while a new screen porch extends the living area toward the backyard. An expanded side entrance, updated exterior materials, and varied roof forms give the home a more contemporary character. Inside, a spacious kitchen with a vaulted ceiling and skylights, a reconfigured primary suite, and an additional upstairs bedroom make better use of the home's existing space. The result is a brighter, more functional home with a cohesive modern design.

Pool House Addition in Jackson Park, Nashville, Tennessee

Pool House Addition in Jackson Park, Nashville, Tennessee

A terraced pool house addition designed to integrate with the existing residence and respond sensitively to the site’s sloped topography. The project combines architecture, landscape, and outdoor living through a cohesive design approach centered around the pool and backyard experience.

Second-Story Addition and Attic Renovation, Sylvan Park, Tennessee

Second-Story Addition and Attic Renovation, Sylvan Park, Tennessee

This project expands the upper level of an existing single-family home to better accommodate the client's growing space needs. By adding a second story above an existing rear volume, we created a larger primary bedroom, closet, and bathroom while repurposing the original attic as a home office and playroom. The addition was carefully designed to match the home's existing roof form and architectural character, creating functional new living spaces that feel fully integrated with the original house.

Local process

Permitting & review in Indianapolis

Residential additions and remodels in Indianapolis are reviewed by the Department of Business and Neighborhood Services (BNS), which handles building permits, zoning compliance review, and inspections. Most single-family remodel and addition permits are processed through the online IndyPermit portal, and projects that meet dimensional standards of the underlying D-district typically qualify for administrative (non-hearing) review. Projects located in a historic district additionally require a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Indianapolis Historic Preservation Commission (IHPC) before BNS will issue a permit.

  1. 1Consultation & measure-up
  2. 2Design set + 3D renderings
  3. 3Builder's set
  4. 4Permit filing assistance
  5. 5Contractor matching & handoff
FAQ

Questions from Indianapolis homeowners

Start your project

Designing a home project in Indianapolis?

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