Fence Installation Permits in Evansville

Local Rule

Evansville-Vanderburgh County Building Commission;

Evansville and Vanderburgh County ordinances require permits and licensed contractors for work on buildings, and the Building Commission's own list of permit-triggering activities includes "erection of walls and fences." Retaining-wall fences 6 feet or more in height must be designed by an Indiana-licensed engineer or registered architect. Fences built of old or used material must be reasonably sound in the judgment of the Building Commissioner, and any fence deemed unsafe due to its materials or installation method must be removed or replaced on the Commissioner's order. The specific height under which an ordinary (non-retaining-wall) fence might be exempt from a permit could not be independently confirmed from a machine-readable source; confirm directly with the Building Commission at (812) 436-7881 before relying on this entry.

Source · Verified September 2026

Evansville Building Department

Hours and procedures can change — call ahead to confirm.

How This Compares to Vanderburgh County

Evansville's own rule is shown above (Permit required). Here is the separate rule that applies at the county level, for context:

Evansville-Vanderburgh County Area Plan Commission (unincorp

The county's own General Standards chapter caps fence, wall, or hedge height in required yard setbacks at 3 feet in front yards on corner lots, 4 feet in all other front yards, 6 feet along a side or rear residential lot line, and up to 8 feet in other locations. A separate chapter addresses electric fencing specifically: no property in Vanderburgh County may have an electrically charged fence unless it is used solely to restrain farm animals and is completely enclosed within a non-electric perimeter fence at least 4 feet high with openings no larger than 4 inches, marked with a visible warning sign. The Area Plan Commission requires a permit for any improvement including accessory structures, and any fence constructed as a retaining wall of 6 feet or more must be designed by an Indiana-licensed engineer or architect.

See the full county page

Nearby Cities with Verified Rules

Other cities near Evansville with a confirmed fence installation rule:

FAQs

Building It Yourself? Here's What You'll Need

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