The Shelby County Plan Commission Department serves as the main professional, technical, and administrative staff for the County’s Plan Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals. The department staff advises these entities and performs the essential day-to-day functions of the department to ensure thoughtful and responsible land development. Day-to-day functions of the department include, but are not limited to, site plan review for code compliance, general code enforcement, permitting, inspections, floodplain administration, and record keeping.
The Shelby County Plan Commission serves the unincorporated area of Shelby County. Owners of property within the other municipal limits should contact the applicable jurisdiction for questions about zoning, land use, and permits.
City of Shelbyville Planning & Building – (317) 392-5102 Website
Town of Fairland (consultant GRW Engineering) – (859) 940-7274 Website
Town of Morristown Planning & Building – (765) 763-6748 Website
Town of Edinburgh Building & Zoning – (812) 526-3514 Website
Town of Saint Paul (regulated by Decatur County Area Plan Commission) – (812) 663-8451 Website
Meetings
The next meeting of the Shelby County Board of Zoning Appeals is scheduled for November 12, 2024 at 7:00 PM
To view via zoom: ZOOM passcode: shelby
A public hearing may be continued (rescheduled) to a future date from time to time. Contact the Plan Commission Office prior to the scheduled public hearing to learn if a continuance is anticipated.
Have you seen a Public Hearing sign? Review the latest Plan Commission Meeting Materials or BZA Meeting Materials to find the applicable case information Meeting materials are typically published one week prior to the public hearing.
Desiree Calderella, AICP
dcalderella@co.shelby.in.us
Planning Director
Jessie Elsrod
jelsrod@co.shelby.in.us
Administrative Assistant
Address:
25 W. Polk Street
Room 201
Shelbyville, IN 46176
Phone: 317-392-6338
Fax: 317-421-8365
Hours:
Monday – Thursday
7AM – 5PM (Closed 12PM – 1PM for Lunch)
Land Use Petitions
Most structural and land development within the County requires one or more land use approvals. The chart below summarizes all land use approvals required by the County. Application forms are located at the Application Forms link under the Main Menu.
| Land Use Approval | Description | Approval Body |
| Improvement Location Permit | Required to construct a building, building addition, deck, pool, or other structure over 200 sq. ft. on any property in the County. | Administrative Assistant / Planning Director |
| Floodplain Permit | Required to construct a building, building addition, deck, pool, or other structure or to grade land in an area designated as a Flood Hazard Area by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Division of Water Best Available Data. | Indiana Department of Natural Resources / Planning Director |
| Sign Permit | Required to install a commercial sign. | Planning Director |
| Residential/ Commercial Site Plan | Required to construct a single-family dwelling, multifamily dwelling, and for most commercial construction. | Site Plan Committee |
| Rezoning | Request to rezone a property to a new zoning district. | Plan Commission & County Commissioners |
| Simple Subdivision | Request to subdivide a property into no more than three lots and without internal streets, public improvements, or common area. | Plan Commission |
| Traditional Subdivision | Request to subdivide a property into four or more lots. | Plan Commission |
| Exempt Subdivision | Subdivision of property in a manner complaint with Section 9.14 B 4 of the Unified Development Ordinance. | Plan Commission Approval Not Required |
| Variance of Use | A request to use land, a building, or a structure in a manner not permitted in the zoning district of the property. Example: Operate a business in a residential district. | BZA |
| Variance of Development Standards | A request to develop a property in a manner not in compliance with development standards. Example: Build a barn 5-feet from the property line in a zoning district that requires a minimum 10-foot setback. | BZA or BZA Hearing Officer |
| Flood Hazard Area Variance | A request to develop a property in a manner not in compliance with flood hazard area development standards. Example: Build a barn at an elevation lower than the flood protection elevation established by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. | BZA |
| Special Exception | A request to use land, a building, or a structure in a manner only permitted by Special Exception in the zoning district of the property. Example: Construct a solar farm in an agricultural district. | BZA |
| Administrative Appeal | An appeal of a decision made by the Planning Director. | BZA |