Zoning Library › Indiana › Indianapolis, IN
Indianapolis, IN zoning: where a drive-thru restaurant is allowed
Is a drive-thru allowed in Indianapolis, IN?
A drive-thru restaurant is allowed by right (no conditional use permit, special exception or rezoning) in these zoning districts: C1, C3, C4, C5, C7, CBD2, I1, I2, I3, I4, MU1, MU2.
It is not allowed in 17 districts: CBD1, CBD3, D1, D2, D3, D4, D5, D5II, D6, D6II, D7, D8, D9, D10, D11, DA, DS.
36 districts are not confirmed yet.
Drive-thru restaurant rule by zoning district
| District | Drive-thru restaurant | What the code says | Section | Source | Read on |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C1 | By right | Use table (Ch. 743): Drive-Through = A (permitted accessory use) in C-1, C-3, C-4, C-5, C-7, MU-1, MU-2, I-1 to I-4, CBD-2. Accessory to a permitted restaurant; use-specific standards (incl. 25 ft separation rule from protected districts in the standards table) and stacking apply. | Indianapolis Consolidated Zoning/Subdivision Ord. Ch. 743 use table + Sec. 743 use-specific standards | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| C3 | By right | Use table (Ch. 743): Drive-Through = A (permitted accessory use) in C-1, C-3, C-4, C-5, C-7, MU-1, MU-2, I-1 to I-4, CBD-2. Accessory to a permitted restaurant; use-specific standards (incl. 25 ft separation rule from protected districts in the standards table) and stacking apply. | Indianapolis Consolidated Zoning/Subdivision Ord. Ch. 743 use table + Sec. 743 use-specific standards | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| C4 | By right | Use table (Ch. 743): Drive-Through = A (permitted accessory use) in C-1, C-3, C-4, C-5, C-7, MU-1, MU-2, I-1 to I-4, CBD-2. Accessory to a permitted restaurant; use-specific standards (incl. 25 ft separation rule from protected districts in the standards table) and stacking apply. | Indianapolis Consolidated Zoning/Subdivision Ord. Ch. 743 use table + Sec. 743 use-specific standards | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| C5 | By right | Use table (Ch. 743): Drive-Through = A (permitted accessory use) in C-1, C-3, C-4, C-5, C-7, MU-1, MU-2, I-1 to I-4, CBD-2. Accessory to a permitted restaurant; use-specific standards (incl. 25 ft separation rule from protected districts in the standards table) and stacking apply. | Indianapolis Consolidated Zoning/Subdivision Ord. Ch. 743 use table + Sec. 743 use-specific standards | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| C7 | By right | Use table (Ch. 743): Drive-Through = A (permitted accessory use) in C-1, C-3, C-4, C-5, C-7, MU-1, MU-2, I-1 to I-4, CBD-2. Accessory to a permitted restaurant; use-specific standards (incl. 25 ft separation rule from protected districts in the standards table) and stacking apply. | Indianapolis Consolidated Zoning/Subdivision Ord. Ch. 743 use table + Sec. 743 use-specific standards | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| CBD1 | Not allowed | Use table: Drive-Through cell blank for MU-3, MU-4, CBD-1, CBD-3. Not allowed. | Indianapolis Ord. Ch. 743 use table | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| CBD2 | By right | Use table (Ch. 743): Drive-Through = A (permitted accessory use) in C-1, C-3, C-4, C-5, C-7, MU-1, MU-2, I-1 to I-4, CBD-2. Accessory to a permitted restaurant; use-specific standards (incl. 25 ft separation rule from protected districts in the standards table) and stacking apply. | Indianapolis Consolidated Zoning/Subdivision Ord. Ch. 743 use table + Sec. 743 use-specific standards | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| CBD3 | Not allowed | Use table: Drive-Through cell blank for MU-3, MU-4, CBD-1, CBD-3. Not allowed. | Indianapolis Ord. Ch. 743 use table | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| CBDS | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| CS | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| D1 | Not allowed | Drive-Through not allowed in Dwelling (D) districts. Residential district. | Ch. 743 use table | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| D2 | Not allowed | Drive-Through not allowed in Dwelling (D) districts. Residential district. | Ch. 743 use table | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| D3 | Not allowed | Drive-Through not allowed in Dwelling (D) districts. Residential district. | Ch. 743 use table | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| D4 | Not allowed | Drive-Through not allowed in Dwelling (D) districts. Residential district. | Ch. 743 use table | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| D5 | Not allowed | Drive-Through not allowed in Dwelling (D) districts. Residential district. | Ch. 743 use table | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| D5II | Not allowed | Drive-Through not allowed in Dwelling (D) districts. Residential district. | Ch. 743 use table | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| D6 | Not allowed | Drive-Through not allowed in Dwelling (D) districts. Residential district. | Ch. 743 use table | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| D6II | Not allowed | Drive-Through not allowed in Dwelling (D) districts. Residential district. | Ch. 743 use table | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| D7 | Not allowed | Drive-Through not allowed in Dwelling (D) districts. Residential district. | Ch. 743 use table | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| D8 | Not allowed | Drive-Through not allowed in Dwelling (D) districts. Residential district. | Ch. 743 use table | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| D9 | Not allowed | Drive-Through not allowed in Dwelling (D) districts. Residential district. | Ch. 743 use table | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| D10 | Not allowed | Drive-Through not allowed in Dwelling (D) districts. Residential district. | Ch. 743 use table | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| D11 | Not allowed | Drive-Through not allowed in Dwelling (D) districts. Residential district. | Ch. 743 use table | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| DA | Not allowed | Drive-Through not allowed in Dwelling (D) districts. Residential district. | Ch. 743 use table | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| DP | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| DS | Not allowed | Drive-Through not allowed in Dwelling (D) districts. Residential district. | Ch. 743 use table | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| HD1 | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| HD2 | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| HP1 | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| I1 | By right | Use table (Ch. 743): Drive-Through = A (permitted accessory use) in C-1, C-3, C-4, C-5, C-7, MU-1, MU-2, I-1 to I-4, CBD-2. Accessory to a permitted restaurant; use-specific standards (incl. 25 ft separation rule from protected districts in the standards table) and stacking apply. | Indianapolis Consolidated Zoning/Subdivision Ord. Ch. 743 use table + Sec. 743 use-specific standards | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| I2 | By right | Use table (Ch. 743): Drive-Through = A (permitted accessory use) in C-1, C-3, C-4, C-5, C-7, MU-1, MU-2, I-1 to I-4, CBD-2. Accessory to a permitted restaurant; use-specific standards (incl. 25 ft separation rule from protected districts in the standards table) and stacking apply. | Indianapolis Consolidated Zoning/Subdivision Ord. Ch. 743 use table + Sec. 743 use-specific standards | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| I3 | By right | Use table (Ch. 743): Drive-Through = A (permitted accessory use) in C-1, C-3, C-4, C-5, C-7, MU-1, MU-2, I-1 to I-4, CBD-2. Accessory to a permitted restaurant; use-specific standards (incl. 25 ft separation rule from protected districts in the standards table) and stacking apply. | Indianapolis Consolidated Zoning/Subdivision Ord. Ch. 743 use table + Sec. 743 use-specific standards | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| I4 | By right | Use table (Ch. 743): Drive-Through = A (permitted accessory use) in C-1, C-3, C-4, C-5, C-7, MU-1, MU-2, I-1 to I-4, CBD-2. Accessory to a permitted restaurant; use-specific standards (incl. 25 ft separation rule from protected districts in the standards table) and stacking apply. | Indianapolis Consolidated Zoning/Subdivision Ord. Ch. 743 use table + Sec. 743 use-specific standards | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| MU1 | By right | Use table (Ch. 743): Drive-Through = A (permitted accessory use) in C-1, C-3, C-4, C-5, C-7, MU-1, MU-2, I-1 to I-4, CBD-2. Accessory to a permitted restaurant; use-specific standards (incl. 25 ft separation rule from protected districts in the standards table) and stacking apply. | Indianapolis Consolidated Zoning/Subdivision Ord. Ch. 743 use table + Sec. 743 use-specific standards | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| MU2 | By right | Use table (Ch. 743): Drive-Through = A (permitted accessory use) in C-1, C-3, C-4, C-5, C-7, MU-1, MU-2, I-1 to I-4, CBD-2. Accessory to a permitted restaurant; use-specific standards (incl. 25 ft separation rule from protected districts in the standards table) and stacking apply. | Indianapolis Consolidated Zoning/Subdivision Ord. Ch. 743 use table + Sec. 743 use-specific standards | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| PK1 | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| PK2 | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| SU1 | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| SU2 | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| SU3 | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| SU5 | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| SU6 | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| SU7 | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| SU8 | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| SU9 | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| SU10 | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| SU13 | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| SU16 | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| SU18 | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| SU20 | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| SU23 | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| SU28 | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| SU34 | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| SU35 | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| SU37 | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| SU38 | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| SU39 | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| SU41 | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| SU42 | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| SU43 | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| SU46 | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| SZ1 | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| SZ2 | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| UQ1 | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| UQ2 | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
"By right" means permitted with site plan and building permit review only. Overlay districts, planned developments (PD/PUD) and conditions attached to a past rezoning can change the answer for a single parcel.
Official zoning map layer
To find the district for a parcel, query the jurisdiction's own GIS zoning layer: https://gis.indy.gov/server/rest/services/OpenData/OpenData_PlanningZoning/MapServer/9 (district field: CODE1)
Indianapolis/Marion County zoning (OpenData_PlanningZoning MapServer layer 9, field CODE1 like C7, D5, MU2, CBD2; LABEL adds overlays like GSB).
Sources
How to confirm before you buy
- Look up the parcel on the official zoning map to get its district and any overlay.
- Open the code section linked in the table and read the use table and the drive-thru standards.
- Call the planning office and ask whether a drive-thru restaurant needs anything beyond site plan review at that address.
Why this library exists
I'm Luke Smith. I find land for drive-thru brands like 7 Brew, Ellianos Coffee and Starbucks, sign the tenant, build the shop and sell it as a net lease property. Every deal starts with the same question: is the use allowed here without a rezoning? Getting that answer takes too long, so we read the codes (with AI research help), and I publish what we find with a link back to every source so you can check it yourself.
If you have a site that fits a drive-thru, or you want to learn how these deals are put together, join the free Reverse Deal Finder community on Skool, see cap rates and land prices by brand, or call 1-760-392-1525. Brokers welcome: I pay commissions.