Overview
BNS publishes separate location, drainage, structural and craft categories. Its homeowner manual describes site and construction plans, contractor responsibility and staged inspections. Use current service instructions and coordinate all required records; a single structural application is not proof every system has approval.
Authority
Business and Neighborhood Services (BNS)
Fee effective date
Applications received on/after January 5, 2026
Trades
Select a trade for its permit path, licensing, code resources, fees and filing pitfalls.
Electrical craft permit
Indianapolis BNSApplicable Code
Applicable Indiana electrical provisions and BNS craft requirements.
License Requirement
Use the qualified City electrical contractor route; confirm any homeowner examination directly.
License Fee
2026 business entity $247; new individual $377; individual renewal $247.
CEUs
Confirm City credential renewal requirements; no universal hours asserted.
Permit Fee
Existing repair/residential addition up to 1,000 sq ft $169; $23 per additional 500 sq ft.
Plan Review Time
Separate craft record and inspections from structural approval.
Common Pitfalls
- Electrical equipment/service scope can use a different fee line.
- A structural owner permit does not establish electrical eligibility.
Permit-to-closeout workflow
Confirm jurisdiction and scope
Check Indianapolis/Marion County service and site requirements.
Prepare plans
Use BNS residential checklist and scaled site/construction drawings.
Confirm credentials
Have licensed contractors apply for hired work; confirm owner conditions.
Coordinate records
Determine location, drainage, structural and craft submissions.
Resolve review and pay
Use the current fee columns and obtain issued approvals.
Inspect and complete
Schedule required stages, completion documentation and final approval.
Permit fees and worked estimates
The City narrative identifies January 5, 2026 for newly received applications. The actual offered asset is an XLSX workbook, with separately labeled application, review and issuance columns.
| Trade | Permit fee | License fee |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical craft permit | Existing repair/residential addition up to 1,000 sq ft $169; $23 per additional 500 sq ft. | 2026 business entity $247; new individual $377; individual renewal $247. |
| Plumbing craft permit | Residential repair/remodel up to 1,000 sq ft $153; $23 per additional 500 sq ft. | 2026 plumbing business/individual new or renewal category $142. |
| Heating and cooling craft permit | Combined heating/cooling up to 2,500 sq ft $185; $23 per additional 1,000 sq ft. | 2026 business entity $247; new individual $377; renewal individual $247. |
| Fire systems and state review | Specific permit amount not verified in this review. Request the actual fire/system assessment; state design-release fees are separate from City structural fees. This unverified amount is excluded from the worked example. | Fee amount not verified in this review. Use the relevant fire-prevention/service credential rather than a general contractor fee. |
| Structural and residential building | Residential remodel without addition up to 1,000 sq ft: $40 + $150 + $200 = $390. | 2026 general business entity new/renewal $247; additional eligible employees separately. |
Submission checklist
Homeowner and licensing
The official manual describes eligible personal structural work with a Statement of Intent and Understanding. Electrical/HVAC owner examination and plumbing owner permits have narrower conditions; request BNS confirmation before using them. Hired contractors should hold appropriate City credentials and obtain their required permits.
Codes and amendments
Coordinate current Indiana provisions, City building standards and local zoning. The older homeowner manual is useful for process but is not current fee proof. Indiana DHS state construction design release, when required, is a separate layer from local permit issuance.
Inspections and closeout
Use the issued permit number and current Construction Services instructions to request staged inspections. Keep approved plans available and complete required rough-ins before framing/final closeout. The BNS manual describes submitting completion/compliance documentation before the structural final; confirm current instructions and occupancy needs.