Indiana

Indiana Permit Guide for Metal Carports, Garages and Barns

An Indiana carport or metal garage permit comes through your local building department, which enforces the one building code Indiana sets for the whole state. Homes and their outbuildings fall under the 2020 Indiana Residential Code. Commercial buildings follow a separate state code and usually need a state design release before work starts. Farm buildings that sit on the farm and are used only for farming can be exempt from the commercial code, so the use of your building matters a lot here.

Building code in effect

The Indiana Fire Prevention and Building Safety Commission adopts the codes, and the Indiana Department of Homeland Security publishes them. For homes, the code in effect is the 2020 Indiana Residential Code (675 IAC 14-4.4), based on the 2018 International Residential Code, effective December 26, 2019. For commercial (Class 1) buildings, it is the 2014 Indiana Building Code (675 IAC 13-2.6), based on the 2012 International Building Code, effective December 1, 2014. Local units enforce these state rules. They don't write their own base code.

Who issues permits

Building permits for homes and residential outbuildings come from your local building department. That could be the county, a city or a town, depending on where the property sits. Commercial (Class 1) buildings generally need a design release from the state plan review office at the Indiana Department of Homeland Security, plus any local permit. Zoning is usually handled by a county or city plan commission and is often a separate approval with its own setbacks.

County permit guides

County guides are coming soon.

Don't see your county? Call 919-725-8176 and we'll help you find the right office.

When you need a permit

Garages and barns at a home: Indiana law (IC 22-12-1-5) counts an outbuilding for a one- or two-family home, such as a garage or barn, as a Class 2 structure. That puts it under the residential code, and many counties want a permit for it.
Carports: Many Indiana counties and cities treat a carport like any other accessory structure and ask for a permit or at least a zoning check. Size cutoffs vary by local ordinance.
Farm buildings: A building used only for farming, located on the farm, and not used for retail trade can be exempt from the Class 1 commercial code under IC 22-12-1-4(c).
Commercial use: A building used for a business, shop or rental storage is usually a Class 1 structure. It may need a state design release before you build.
Zoning still applies: Even when no building permit is needed, many Indiana counties still require an improvement location permit or zoning approval for setbacks.

Farm buildings

Indiana's farm exemption works off the definition of a Class 1 structure. Under IC 22-12-1-4(c), a building used for an agricultural purpose (defined in IC 22-12-1-2 as cultivating soil, producing crops or raising livestock) is not a Class 1 structure. The Indiana Department of Homeland Security says all of these must be true: the building is used for farming, it isn't used for anything else like an event space, it sits on the land where the farm operation happens, and it isn't used for retail trade (a produce stand can operate up to 8 consecutive months a year). If it qualifies, it doesn't need a state design release or have to meet the commercial building code. A barn tied to a house is a different story. State law lists barns as possible Class 2 outbuildings of a home, so ask your county how it treats a barn on a homestead. The state plan review office can be reached at 317-232-2222.

Wind and snow

Indiana gets strong straight-line winds and tornadoes statewide, and the northern counties near Lake Michigan see heavy lake-effect snow. Southern Indiana usually designs for lighter snow than the north, but storms still roll through every spring. Ask your county building department what wind speed and ground snow load they want your building engineered for before you order. Our partnered manufacturers offer certified buildings rated for 140 MPH wind and 35 PSF snow load, and higher ratings can be quoted where required.

Before you order

Call your county or city building department and ask if your garage, barn or carport needs a permit under the 2020 Indiana Residential Code.
Check with the plan commission about setbacks and whether you need an improvement location permit.
If the building is for a business, ask whether it counts as a Class 1 structure that needs a state design release.
For a farm building, be ready to show it sits on the farm and is used only for farming.

Common questions

Do I need a permit for a carport in Indiana?
It depends on your county or city. Indiana enforces one statewide residential code, but each local building department decides how it handles carports and small accessory structures. Many still want a permit or a zoning approval, so call before you order.

Do I need a permit for a metal garage in Indiana?
Usually, yes. Under IC 22-12-1-5 a garage for a one- or two-family home is a Class 2 structure, which falls under the 2020 Indiana Residential Code. Most local building departments issue permits for it. If the garage will be used for a business, it may be a Class 1 structure with different rules.

Are farm buildings exempt?
They can be. Under IC 22-12-1-4(c), a building used only for farming, located on the farm and not used for retail trade is not a Class 1 structure. That means it doesn't need a state design release or have to meet the commercial code. Your county may still want a zoning or location permit, so check with them.

Sources

Permit rules change. Always confirm with your local permit office before you build.

Looking at buildings? See our metal carports, metal garages and metal buildings.

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