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 Fishers.
EREstate-Rural Residential District
Larger residential lots of at least one acre and rural lots with low environmental impact; a conservation subdivision option is available.
- Min lot
- 1 acre (43,560 sq ft)
- Min width
- 125 ft standard / 150 ft corner (50 ft frontage)
- Front setback
- 60 ft (all street types)
- Rear setback
- 50 ft
- Side setback
- 30 ft
- Max height
- 35 ft or 3.5 stories, whichever is greater
- Coverage
- 35% max impervious area
Municipal water/sewer hookup not required. Minimum living area 2,000 sq ft (1-story) / 2,200 sq ft (2-story).
R1Residential District (R1)
Single-family detached homes at low density, roughly 1.0–1.5 dwelling units per acre.
- Min lot
- 20,000 sq ft
- Min width
- 125 ft standard / 150 ft corner (50 ft frontage)
- Front setback
- 30 ft local street / 45 ft other street types
- Rear setback
- 40 ft
- Side setback
- 20 ft
- Max height
- 35 ft
- Coverage
- 35% max impervious area (up to 50% abutting Geist Reservoir)
Municipal water and sewer required. Minimum living area 1,800 sq ft (1-story) / 2,000 sq ft (2-story).
R2Residential District (R2)
Single-family homes at roughly 1.0–1.7 dwelling units per acre.
- Min lot
- 15,000 sq ft
- Min width
- 100 ft standard / 120 ft corner (50 ft frontage)
- Front setback
- 25 ft local street / 40 ft other street types
- Rear setback
- 40 ft
- Side setback
- 15 ft (10 ft with attached side- or rear-load garage); 30 ft aggregate
- Max height
- 35 ft
- Coverage
- 35% max impervious area (up to 50% abutting Geist Reservoir)
Municipal water and sewer required. Minimum living area 1,600 sq ft (1-story) / 1,800 sq ft (2-story).
R3Residential District (R3)
Single-family detached homes at medium density, roughly 1.0–2.0 dwelling units per acre.
- Min lot
- 12,000 sq ft
- Min width
- 90 ft standard / 108 ft corner (50 ft frontage)
- Front setback
- 25 ft local street / 40 ft other street types
- Rear setback
- 30 ft
- Side setback
- 10 ft (5 ft with attached side- or rear-load garage); 20 ft aggregate
- Max height
- 35 ft
- Coverage
- 40% max impervious area (up to 50% abutting Geist Reservoir)
Municipal water and sewer required. Minimum living area 1,250 sq ft (1-story) / 1,400 sq ft (2-story).
R4Residential District (R4)
Single-family homes at roughly 1.0–2.5 dwelling units per acre.
- Min lot
- 10,000 sq ft
- Min width
- 80 ft standard / 96 ft corner (50 ft frontage)
- Front setback
- 25 ft local street / 40 ft other street types
- Rear setback
- 25 ft
- Side setback
- 10 ft
- Max height
- 35 ft
- Coverage
- 40% max impervious area (up to 50% abutting Geist Reservoir)
Municipal water and sewer required. Minimum living area 1,100 sq ft (1-story) / 1,350 sq ft (2-story).
R5Residential District (R5)
The highest single-family density range in Fishers, roughly 1.0–3.0 dwelling units per acre.
- Min lot
- 7,500 sq ft
- Min width
- 70 ft standard / 84 ft corner (50 ft frontage)
- Front setback
- 25 ft local street / 40 ft other street types
- Rear setback
- 25 ft
- Side setback
- 10 ft
- Max height
- 35 ft
- Coverage
- 50% max impervious area
Municipal water and sewer required. Minimum living area 1,000 sq ft (1-story) / 1,200 sq ft (2-story).
These figures are general guidance for early planning — final requirements depend on your parcel, overlays, and any prior variances. Verify with the Fishers codes department or the official zoning ordinance. We confirm them for your address before design begins.
