The 10 Best Indianapolis, IN General Contractors

If you hire a contractor to do construction or home improvement work on your property in Indianapolis, he/she must be properly licensed by the Indianapolis Department of Code Enforcement.

The City of Indianapolis requires all contractors engaging in any construction, land alteration, sewer work, driveway work, or excavation work to get a license from the Department of Code Enforcement. Unlike licensing regulations in other cities or states, there is no education or experience requirements. Applicants are required to hold a surety bond, a workers’ compensation policy and public liability and property damage insurance. Licenses must be renewed annually for a $247 fee. The Board has the right to suspend or revoke a license, such as for building code violations, and fraudulent activity.

Licensed city contractors are required to hold workers’ compensation and public liability and property damage insurance with coverage of $500,000 for bodily injury and $100,000 for property damage, or a minimum of $500,000 combined policy. You should always ask to see a these policies before you hire a contractor and get copies of each for your records.

The City of Indianapolis requires permits for all construction and home improvement projects, unless explicitly exempted in the Building Code. Generally, all new construction, demolition, additions, and large remodels, particularly if they affect the building’s structure will require a permit. If you perform work without a permit when one is required, you may be issued a citation, be subject to increased permit fees, the required removal of such work, problems selling your home in the future and the risk that homeowners insurance won’t cover issues that occur as a result. If you are unsure whether or not your project needs a permit, contact the Department of Business and Neighborhood Services at 317.327.8700.

The Indianapolis Department of Business and Neighborhood Services issues permits and is responsible for ensuring compliance with local codes and ordinances. At the start of your project, you and your contractor should decide who is responsible for the permitting process. Most major construction projects require the submission of construction plans for review by the Department. Plans can be submit in person, by mail, or electronically. In addition to submitting your plans to the City of Indianapolis, you must submit an application and plans to the State of Indiana’s Department of Homeland Security for a Construction Design Release. More details are available on the Indianapolis Department of Business and Neighborhood Services’ website.

Contractors in Indianapolis are required to hold a surety bond of $10,000. This offers financial protection to homeowners for faulty contractor work or in case a contractor abandons the project prior to completion.

The BuildZoom score is based on a number of factors including the contractor's license information, which is gathered from the Indianapolis Department of Code Enforcement; building permit data, gathered from the Indianapolis Department of Business and Neighborhood Services; and feedback and behavior we have observed in the BuildZoom marketplace and in other, third-party review sites.

We have analyzed every licensed contractor who has worked in Indianapolis, Indiana. Using this information, we’re able to save you time, money and lessen your risk by providing you with a simple and straight-forward way to gather and receive multiple bids from vetted general contractors in Indianapolis. Click here to get started by providing us with a few details about your project.