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.
Every service we offer, delivered locally — with drawings your builder and your permit reviewer will both understand.
From first sketch to construction-ready plans, we shape spaces around how you actually live — additions, remodels, ADUs, and new custom homes.
Site planning, hardscape, and planting design that connects your home to its yard — patios, entries, and outdoor living that feel like part of the architecture.
Photoreal interior and exterior renderings so you can walk your project, make decisions with confidence, and align every stakeholder.
Measured, verified documentation of your existing home — the foundation any thoughtful remodel or addition should start from.
We prepare, package, and shepherd your submittals through the local review process — so your project keeps moving.
A curated network of vetted builders we've worked with — matched to your scope, budget, and timeline.
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.
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.
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.
Large-lot, low-density single-family residential district typically found at the urban fringe or in agricultural transition areas.
Single-family district with large suburban-style lots, common in outlying and newer subdivision areas.
Single-family suburban district with moderately sized lots common in mid-century subdivisions.
Single-family district covering many established Indianapolis neighborhoods with moderate lot sizes.
Common older single-family urban neighborhood district with smaller lots than D-3.
Applies to many close-in urban neighborhoods with narrow lots such as Fountain Square and Irvington bungalow blocks.
Allows narrow-lot single-family and two-family homes typical of dense, walkable urban neighborhoods.
Transitional district allowing single-family, two-family, and small multi-family buildings near commercial corridors.
Higher-intensity multi-family dwelling district generally located near the Regional Center and transit corridors.
Highest-density dwelling district intended for apartment buildings close to downtown and major transit lines.
Height and coverage may be further modified by Regional Center overlay standards.
Locally designated historic areas (e.g., Lockerbie Square, Herron-Morton Place, Old Northside, Woodruff Place, Chatham Arch) regulated by the Indianapolis Historic Preservation Commission.
Overlay covering downtown Indianapolis and adjacent near-downtown neighborhoods with urban design and streetscape standards.
Applies to properties within FEMA-mapped floodway and floodplain areas along Indianapolis waterways such as the White River and Fall Creek.
Establishes additional building setback lines along designated arterial and collector streets identified in the Marion County Thoroughfare Plan.
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.
This project expands an existing home with a new two-story addition, larger L-shaped front porch, and new side entry. The addition includes a garage on the lower level and a 340 SF office on the second floor, accessed directly from the existing home's upper level. Matching shed dormers and aligned roof forms bring more natural light, increase usable space, and create a stronger connection between the existing house and the addition. The result is a larger and more functional home that maintains the character of the existing residence.
This project completely remodels and expands an existing home with a new sunroom, enlarged primary suite, large side addition, and expanded front porch. The design opens up the previously divided interior, creating stronger connections between the kitchen, living, dining, front porch, and backyard. A new garage and workshop take advantage of the site's changing grade, while the additions are carefully integrated with the existing home's scale, materials, and roof forms. The result is a more spacious, connected, and functional home designed to support both the homeowners' current and future needs.
This project adds a multi-level garage addition to an existing single-family home, connected through a two-story connector that improves circulation between the house, the garage, and the backyard. Responding to the site's changing grade, the design integrates multiple garage levels while introducing a new deck, contemporary material palette, and generous glazing. The result is a functional addition that complements the scale and architectural character of the existing home.
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.
Nearby cities and area guides that pair well with the Indianapolis page.
Also in Central Indiana — zoning, setbacks, and permitting for Carmel homeowners.
Also in Central Indiana — zoning, setbacks, and permitting for Fishers homeowners.
Every city we serve across Central Indiana, plus how permitting differs between them.
Statewide overview of our Indiana services, regions, and zoning maps.
Tell us about your space and what you're hoping to do. We'll write back within one business day.