Streets and connectivity.
Indianapolis-Marion County Revised Code § 741-303
in effectSec. 741-303. - Streets and connectivity.
A. General. All proposed plats shall allocate adequate areas for streets in conformity with the Comprehensive Plan and Official Thoroughfare Plan for Marion County, Indiana, and these regulations.
1. Subdivisions shall provide a logical street layout in relation to topographical conditions, public convenience, safety, multi-modal use and the proposed use of the land to be served by such streets.
2. Street layout shall be in accordance with Chapter 744, Article III (Access and Connectivity).
3. Streets shall intersect as nearly as possible at right angles. No street shall intersect another at an angle of less than 75 degrees.
4. Not more than two streets shall intersect at any one point.
5. Bicycle lanes meeting the Indiana Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (IMUTCD) for location, width, and marking shall be provided along collector streets.
6. All streets shall be dedicated to the public. Alleys may be private.
7. All streets shall meet all applicable engineering standards of the Department of Public Works, and the designs shall be approved by that Department.
8. The subdivider shall add turn lanes or other improvements recommended by the Department of Public Works to the existing street system to minimize the impact of the connection upon the existing street system.
B. Through connectivity.
1. In the Metro Context Area.
a. Primary arterials shall be located at approximately one mile intervals both in an east-west direction, and a north-south direction. Secondary arterials shall align and connect across arterial streets to distribute traffic and to provide continuity on bicycle routes.
b. Within each one square mile of land defined by primary arterials, secondary arterials shall divide the segment east-west, and north-south at approximately the half-mile points (or from 550 feet to 660 feet on either side of the half-mile points), into four approximately quarter-mile square (160 acres) areas.
[image omitted; see the official code]
Diagram A Concept of Roadway Network at One-Mile section scale
c. Within each approximately 160 acre segment defined by secondary arterials, at least one continuous collector street must connect a major arterial or a major collector, in both the north-south and the east-west directions.
[image omitted; see the official code]
Diagram B Concept of Roadway network at Quarter Section scale
d. For each approximately 40-acre area generally defined by the collector street network described in subsection 3. above, at least one local street or connection giving access to its interior shall be provided on every perimeter street of the area unless prevented by a geologic or topographic obstacle. Local streets shall connect across collector streets to the degree practicable.
[image omitted; see the official code]
Diagram C Concept of Roadway Network at 40-acre scale
e. Emergency vehicles must not have to use more than two different local streets (any street other than a primary arterial, a secondary arterial or a collector street) to reach their destination.
f. Access from primary and secondary arterials. Lots shall not, in general, derive direct access exclusively from a primary or secondary arterial. If the area proposed to be platted abuts upon or contains an existing or proposed arterial, the street plan must limit direct access to the arterial to one access point per 500 feet of frontage along the arterial; vehicular access must be provided to each lot abutting the arterial by a combined interior access drive easement; or a marginal access street (the marginal access street and the thoroughfare must be separated from one another by a landscaped median of land at least 15 feet in width).
2. In the Compact Context Area.
a. The existing street grid shall be continued through each development to the degree practicable unless the Administrator determines that extension of the street grid is not practicable due to site, utility, or topography constraints or that the extension would compromise public health or safety.
b. Where the existing street grid cannot be extended through a development parcel for reasons stated in subsection 1., the development parcel shall incorporate streets north-south and east-west access through the parcel on approximately a one-eighth mile spacing. The resulting streets shall align with streets of the same classification across parcel perimeter streets unless the Administrator determines that alignment is not practicable due to site, utility, or topography constraints or that the alignment would compromise public health or safety.
c. Emergency vehicles must not have to use more than two different local streets (any street other than a primary arterial, a secondary arterial or a collector street) to reach their destination.
3. Additional connection requirements.
a. Each major subdivision that constructs or proposes a new street shall provide for at least one street connection to each adjacent subdivision or future adjacent subdivision.
b. Each nonresidential subdivision shall provide for vehicle connections to each adjacent subdivision or future adjacent subdivision.
c. All existing or platted streets that terminate at the property boundary line of a proposed subdivision shall be continued into the proposed subdivision to provide street connections to adjoining lands and streets within the proposed subdivision, provided, however, that internal local streets may terminate in a cul-de-sac if the Plat Committee determines that an existing environmental feature severely limits or inhibits connectivity.
d. Permanently dead-ended streets and alleys, except for cul-de-sac streets, are prohibited.
e. Streets longer than one lot that terminate at the property boundary line of undeveloped land shall provide an improved temporary turnaround. The right-of-way of a temporarily dead-ended street shall extend to the property line of the plat. An adequate easement for a turnaround shall be provided with a temporary cul-de-sac provided. A notation on the plat shall state that land outside the normal street right-of-way shall revert to abutting property owners when the street is continued.
f. Subdivisions proposing 30 or more lots shall have more than one access to the existing street network. Subdivisions that propose access to the existing street network by a single outlet shall provide a landscaped median at the intersection of the existing street dividing the two directions of traffic, with the median extending back to the next intersecting street.
g. Streets entering opposite sides of another street shall be laid out either directly opposite one another or with a minimum offset of 125 feet between their centerlines.
h. Whenever cul-de-sac streets are created, a 15-foot wide pedestrian access/public utility easement shall be provided between the cul-de-sac head or street turnaround and the sidewalk system of the closest adjacent street or pedestrian sidewalk or pathway, unless the Administrator determines that public access in that location is not practicable due to site, utility or topography constraints.
[image omitted; see the official code]
Diagram D Pedestrian access at end of cul-de-sac
C. Cross-section and right-of-way. All subdivisions shall provide right-of-way and cross-sections in accordance with the Official Thoroughfare Plan. If the Official Thoroughfare Plan does not indicate the street, the cross-section standards in Table 741-303-1: Minimum Street Cross-Section Standards shall be provided.
Table 741-303-1: Minimum Street Cross-Section Standards
Street Type (Two-way unless noted otherwise) | Minimum Right-of-way width | Minimum Pavement Width
In the Compact Context Area | In the Metro Context Area | In the Compact Context Area | In the Metro Context Area
Primary Arterial | 100 feet | 120 feet | As determined by DPW | As determined by DPW
Secondary Arterial | 80 feet | 100 feet | As determined by DPW | As determined by DPW
Collector | 60 feet | 60 feet | 30 feet | 32 feet
Collector in Residential subdivisions | 55 feet | 60 feet | 28 feet | 28 feet
Collector in Residential subdivisions, Divided | 60 feet | 60 feet | 18 feet each way | 18 feet each way
Local | 50 feet | 50 feet | 26 feet | 28 feet
Local in Residential subdivisions | 45 feet | 50 feet | 24 feet | 24 feet
Alley | 15 feet | 20 feet | 15 feet | 18 feet
Cul-de-sac radius | 50 feet | 50 feet | 38 feet | 38 feet
D. Cul-de-sacs.
1. In the Metro Context Area, cul-de-sac lengths shall not exceed 500 feet or serve more than 20 dwelling units. In the Compact Context Area, cul-de-sac lengths shall not exceed 300 feet or serve more than 20 dwelling units. A cul-de-sac's length shall be measured from the center point of the cul-de-sac bulb or turn-around to the centerline of the right-of-way of the nearest intersecting through street.
2. Maximum cul-de-sac length may be increased by an additional 50 feet up to a maximum of 550 feet if the Committee determines that it is impractical to connect the street to another street or to provide a looped street or other means of access that would avoid the cul-de-sac or allow the cul-de-sac to meet the length limit because:
a. The area is separated from other parts of the subdivision or a possible street connection by floodways, jurisdictional wetlands, or steep slopes greater than 10% or other natural resource areas; and
b. Other properties adjoining the area have already been subdivided or developed in a manner that precludes connecting the cul-de-sac to an existing or proposed street.
E. Alleys.
1. Alleys shall be provided in Commercial and Industrial Districts in the Compact Context Area. However, this requirement may be waived if the Committee determines that the existing alley and street network will not be disrupted, and other assured provisions are made for service access, off-street loading and unloading, and parking spaces consistent with and adequate for the uses proposed.
2. In the Compact Context Area, alleys in Dwelling and Mixed-Use Districts must be installed or retained if alleys exist on any block adjacent to the proposed plat.
3. In Dwelling Districts, alleys may intersect; however, the intersecting alleys may not result in a hammer head ("T") or an ell ("L") shaped intersection.
4. Alleys that serve dock areas shall be designed with adequate turnaround facilities with a hammer head ("T") or an ell ("L") shaped turnaround provided.
F. Installation and construction of streets and alleys.
1. The finished elevation for all streets shall be at or above the base flood elevation.
2. Public streets. All streets that are to be dedicated to, and accepted for maintenance by, the applicable municipality shall be graded, constructed and surfaced in accordance with these regulations, the Standards for Street and Bridge Design and Construction (Standards for Acceptance of Streets and Bridges; G.O. 49, 1972 of the City-County Council of Indianapolis and Marion County, Indiana) and Chapter 691 of the Revised Code of the Consolidated City and County, both documents are incorporated into these regulations by reference.
3. Private streets. All development that is allowed the use of private streets (streets that are not be dedicated to or accepted for maintenance by the applicable municipality), through the grant or approval of an appropriate land use petition, shall comply with the minimum standards set forth in Chapter 744, Article III Access and Connectivity relative to the design and construction of private streets.
4. Alleys. All alleys shall be graded, constructed and surfaced in accordance with Section 691-104.
(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_CH741SURE_ARTIIIDEINST_S741-303STCOFetched: 10/27/2026