QUESTION:  What are the restrictions for building a wood fence on my
residential property (Indianapolis, IN > Marion County > Washington
Township)?

DETAILS OF FENCE:  I live on a corner lot.  I would like to build a 6
foot tall wood fence around my side yard.  Only one side of the fence
will face a side street and it will not be adjacent to the street (~ 5
feet from the street).  My side yard has a patio.  Privacy and
security are critical as my kids play there.  The side yard is the
backyard due to where the house was built on the lot.

WHAT I HAVE HEARD:  I have heard (but cannot confirm) that there is a
fence height restriction of 4 feet alongside a residential road. 
However, I have also heard that if the fence is around a yard with a
patio that a 6 foot fence is permissable.  It is a bit confusing as
there are numerous 6 foot fences built in my neighborhood.

Dear vitrius,

The Indianapolis Zoning Code does not limit the height of a fence
along a residential street to four feet; a such limitation is not
mentioned in the Code. Solid fences and similar barriers may be up to
six feet high in residential areas. Existence of a patio does not
influence that permitted maximum height of a fence. However, there is
a limitation concerning fences of front yards, which may not exceed
the height of 42 inches.

You can read the relevant parts of the Zoning Code here; below that,
you will find a link to the official source in case you would like to
learn more about the regulations:


Indianapolis/Marion County Zoning Ordinances
Chapter 731: Dwelling Districts
Article II: Dwelling Destrict Regulations
Section 731-219: Accessory uses

(a) Permitted accessory uses. The following accessory uses shall be
permitted in all dwelling districts, except the D-11 dwelling district
[...], subject to the accessory use requirements of section 731-219(b)
and the dwelling district regulations of section 731-200:

[...]

(b)(2)c. Structural barriers (including, by way of example, a [...]
solid fence [...]) shall be permitted in front, side and rear yards
provided that:

1. The height of any structural barrier shall not exceed six (6) feet.

Provided, however:

i. Any structural barrier in the required front yard shall not exceed
forty-two (42) inches in height. This provision (i), shall not apply:

(a) To corner lots in Development Area One, as noted in the
Thoroughfare Plan for Marioin County, Indiana and reproduced in
section 731-102 as Diagram J.

For corner lots in Development Area One:

Fences up to six (6) feet in height may be permitted in any front yard
which: 1. does not serve as the primary entrance (that which
architecturally is designed as the main or "front door") for the
dwelling; and, 2. does not face the primary entrance of a dwelling
unit across the street.

Fences exceeding forty-two (42) inches in height shall not encroach
beyond the building line established on the other street frontage.

(b) To any D-6, D-6II. D-7, D-8 (multifamily only), D-9, and D-10
Districts where the linear street frontage of the project exceeds five
hundred (500) feet.

For multifamily projects in the above Districts:

Fences or structural barriers up to six (6) feet in height may be
permitted in any front yard which exceeds five hundred (500) linear
feet of frontage. For sites which have frontage on two (2) streets, a
fence or structural barrier may be up to six (6) feet in height only
if the applicable street frontage exceeds five hundred (500) linear
feet.


Source:

Department of Metropolitan Development, City of Indianapolis:
Indianapolis/Marion County Zoning Ordinances
http://www.indygov.org/eGov/City/DMD/Planning/Zoning/municode.htm


Hope this helps!
Regards,
Scriptor