Transitional yard and edge buffering.
Indianapolis-Marion County Revised Code § 744-506
in effectSec. 744-506. - Transitional yard and edge buffering.
A. Multifamily residential abutting single-family residential. Where a multifamily dwelling project that abuts a lot in the D-S, D-1, D-2, D-3, D-4, D-5, or D-5II District, or a lot in the D-8 District that contains a single-family attached dwelling or single-family detached dwelling, a landscape buffer shall be provided using either Option 1 or 2 below.
1. Option 1. A landscape buffer area at least 10 feet wide shall be provided by the multifamily dwelling project along the shared border. The buffer area shall consist of natural landscape materials such as grasses, ground cover, shrubs, and trees, and shall not contain parking or impervious surfaces. One tree shall be provided for every 35 feet of lot line and three large shrubs per 25 feet of lot line, with spacing designed to minimize sound, light, and noise impacts.
2. Option 2. An opaque wall, fence or dense (at least 50% opacity) vegetative screen at least six feet tall shall be provided. In the metro context area, a berm at least three feet tall may be used instead of the wall, fence, or dense vegetative screen. If a fence or wall is provided, the side facing away from the multifamily dwellings shall be at least as finished in appearance as the side facing the multifamily dwellings, the fence shall be placed at least three feet inside the property line, and three small shrubs per 25 feet of lot line shall be provided between the fence and the property line. If a vegetative screen is proposed, it shall be at least four feet in height at the time of planting and maintained at six feet in height minimum.
B. Commercial, institutional, or mixed-use abutting dwelling. Where a Commercial District, Mixed-Use District, Hospital District, University Quarter District, PK-II District, or SU District for a public, institutional, or civic building or project abuts a Dwelling District, a landscape buffer shall be provided within the transitional yard using either Option 1 or 2 below.
1. Option 1. A landscape buffer area at least 15 feet wide shall be provided by the commercial or institutional project along the shared border. The buffer area shall consist of natural landscape materials such as grasses, ground cover, shrubs, and trees, and shall not contain impervious surfaces. One shade or evergreen tree shall be provided for every 30 linear feet of lot line and three large shrubs per 25 linear feet of lot line, with spacing designed to minimize sound, light, and noise impacts on dwelling uses.
2. Option 2. An opaque wall, berm, fence or dense (at least 75% opacity) vegetative screen at least six feet tall shall be provided with one shade tree provided for every 50 linear feet of lot line. If a fence or wall is provided, the side facing away from the commercial or institutional use shall be at least as finished in appearance as the side facing the commercial or institutional use, the fence or wall shall be placed at least three feet inside the property line, and three small shrubs per twenty-five linear feet of lot line shall be provided between the fence and the property line. If a vegetative screen is proposed, it shall be at least six feet in height at the time of planting.
C. Industrial abutting dwelling. Where an Industrial District, building or project abuts a Dwelling District or lots used for any use listed as a dwelling use in Table 743-1: Use Table, a landscape buffer shall be provided within the transitional yard using either Option 1 or 2 below.
1. Option 1. A landscape buffer area at least 15 feet wide shall be provided by the industrial project along the shared border. The buffer area shall consist of natural landscape materials such as grasses, ground cover, shrubs and trees, and shall not contain impervious surfaces. One evergreen tree shall be provided for every 25 linear feet of lot line and four large shrubs per 25 linear feet of lot line, with spacing designed to minimize sound, light and noise impacts on dwelling uses.
2. Option 2. An opaque wall, berm, fence or dense (100% opacity) vegetative screen at least eight feet tall shall be provided with one shade tree provided for every 50 linear feet of lot line. If a fence or wall is provided, the side facing away from the industrial use shall be at least as finished in appearance as the side facing the industrial use, the fence shall be placed at least three feet inside the property line, and three small shrubs per 25 linear feet of lot line shall be provided between the fence and the property line. If a vegetative screen is proposed, it shall be at least six feet tall at the time of planting.
D. Industrial abutting commercial or institutional. Where an Industrial District, building or project abuts a C-1 District, Hospital District, University Quarter District, or a Park District, a landscape buffer shall be provided by using either Option 1 or 2 below.
1. Option 1. A landscape buffer area at least ten feet wide shall be provided by the industrial project along the shared border. The buffer area shall consist of natural landscape materials such as grasses, ground cover, shrubs and trees, and shall not contain impervious surfaces. One shade or evergreen tree shall be provided for every 40 linear feet of lot line and four large shrubs per 20 linear feet of lot line, with spacing designed to minimize sound, light and noise impacts.
2. Option 2. An opaque wall, berm, fence or dense (50% opacity) vegetative screen at least six feet tall shall be provided with one shade tree provided for every 50 linear feet of lot line. If a fence or wall is provided, the side facing away from the industrial use shall be at least as finished in appearance as the side facing the industrial use, the fence shall be placed at least three feet inside the property line, and three small shrubs per 25 linear feet of lot line shall be provided between the fence and the property line. If a vegetative screen is proposed, it shall be at least six feet tall at the time of planting.
(G.O. 64, 2015, § 2)
Source: Consolidated City of Indianapolis and Marion County, Revised Code (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/in/indianapolis_-_marion_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TITIIIPUHEWE_CH744DEST_ARTVLASC_S744-506TRYAEDBUFetched: 10/27/2026