Building & Code Services

All new construction, demolition, and various other site improvements and activities within the City of Carmel and Clay Township requires an Improvement Location Permit (ILP or building permit). This would include all new structures, interior remodels and renovations, and/or enlargements.

If you are in doubt about whether you would need a permit, please contact our office anytime between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. at (317) 571-2444, or contact our Inspector on Call between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. at (317) 571-2481. We can help you make that determination. One ILP is issued for any given construction project, and all work being done is covered under this permit. The Builder of Record on the ILP assumes responsibility for all aspects of construction performed, from the actual types of work being done to the scheduling and completion of all required inspections, and payment of all fees.

For TOWN HOME projects: Construction of town homes which meet the following requirements are called "True" town homes by our staff:

1. Occupancy Classification by the Indiana Department of Homeland Security Fire & Building Safety division as: TOWNHOUSE
2. Minimum 2 hour separation wall construction. (By means of either a 2-hour wall, or two 1-hour walls)
3. Residential code is used for the review of the structure(s); although both a State and local plan submittal and review are required.
4. Each dwelling unit is on a separately platted lot, (just like in a subdivision with free-standing single family homes) where private ownership of the land by the homeowner includes land area both inside the dwelling unit and exterior of the dwelling unit, within the property lines of the lot. (In other words, there is private ownership of front and rear yard—and a side yard as well, if the dwelling unit is one of the end units, as well as the area contained within the structure itself.)

For true town home construction, we do require a submittal meeting prior to the submittal for the first permits in the development. This meeting is only required with the submittal of the first permits of the development, unless changes to the development plan or other Planning & Zoning process approvals occur. Permits are issued per dwelling unit for this type of construction. If your project is for 3 or more attached dwelling units, but does not meet the criteria above, please go to our Commercial / Institutional / Multi-family Permits Requirements section and see the requirements listed for multi-family projects. Or, if you have questions, please contact our office at (317) 571-2444.
Please Note: At the present time, our application form is a carbon-less, transferable Layer form. These can be picked up from our office, or contact our office to have one mailed to you.

For copies of specific submittal documents and lists of submittal requirements for different construction types, click on the appropriate project type listed below.

RESIDENTIAL SAMPLE APPLICATION (ILP) (See separate link below if pool, and for additional submittal pages for demolition.)

RIGHT OF WAY PERMIT (Required to be filled out along with the Residential ILP for project such as a Remodel, Addition, or Accessory Structure within the city limits. If unsure if needed please check with engineering at (317) 571-2441)

RESIDENTIAL SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS  [PDF]

DEMOLITION PERMIT REQUIREMENTS [PDF]

SWIMMING POOL AND SPA SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS [PDF]

SWIMMING POOL AND SPA SAMPLE APPLICATION  [PDF]

SEPARATE ELECTRICAL / METER-BASE [PDF] (also called the 2017 Electrical Inspection Application) (For those inspections needed, which are not associated with a building permit project)

PLAN REVISION/AMENDMENT APPLICATION [PDF] (For submittal of changes to projects where a permit has already been issued.)

WHEN AND WHERE SMOKE ALARMS ARE REQUIRED [PDF]

Other Helpful Information Handouts:

Fence Handout [PDF]

Basement Handout  [PDF]

Additions Handout  [PDF]

Garage Handout [PDF]

Proper Erosion Control [PDF]

Set Back Distances for Single and Two Family Dwellings [PDF]

How to Tell if it is a Room Addition, Remodel, or Porch [PDF]

Energy Code Handout  {PDF}
(this is a very large file, please be patient during download)

IMPORTANT: All new construction in Clay Township requires a certain number of building inspections to be completed and before the Certificate of Occupancy or Certificate of Substantial Completion may be issued.