Shelbyville, Fairland, Morristown and the rest of Shelby County southeast of Indianapolis. The City of Shelbyville and the county each run their own permit process.
Towns we serve in Shelby County
- ShelbyvilleCovered on this page
- FairlandCovered on this page
- MorristownCovered on this page
- St. PaulCovered on this page
City of Shelbyville
The City's Planning & Building Department handles permits, contractor registrations, inspections and zoning, and most services are moving to the Citizenserve online portal.
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The City says building, Improvement Location and right-of-way permits typically take 3–5 days. Homeowners who both own and live in their home may pull a permit and do most work themselves; otherwise a licensed contractor is required. Fences don't need a permit but must meet the City's development ordinance standards1. Ask Planning & Building whether your patio, wall or pergola needs a permit.
Unincorporated Shelby County
Outside city and town limits, the Shelby County Plan Commission's permit chart says a deck needs a permit if it is over 200 sq ft, attached to the house, or has a floor more than 18 inches above the ground.
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It also says any permitted project that adds or increases impervious surface needs an Improvement Location Permit too4. Patios are impervious surface, so confirm with the Plan Commission before you build. In Fairland, Morristown and St. Paul, check with your town hall.
Ground conditions in Shelby County
The USDA soil survey for Shelby County is led by Crosby (about 37% of mapped acreage), Brookston (about 17%) and Miami (about 11%), with Westland and Fox soils in smaller areas.
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The largest single map unit is Crosby silt loam on 0–2% slopes2. Crosby and Brookston drain slowly5, so a deep compacted base and good drainage are the main priorities.
Indiana's residential code lists a 30-inch frost depth for Shelby County, which applies to footings for pergolas, seat walls, fireplaces and outdoor kitchens3.
