Allen County & Fort Wayne Department of Planning Services

Site Plan Review — non-residential buildings and additions (Allen County & Fort Wayne Department of Planning Services)

The Allen County Zoning Ordinance applies to all land within the planning jurisdiction of the county (3-1-5-1). Under 3-3-2-2(b), unless excluded by 3-3-2-3 or covered by a Development Plan under 3-3-1, a new non-residential building or structure, including a single building on its own lot, an accessory building, an addition to an existing building, a gas station canopy or pumps, and an outdoor eating, drinking or smoking area, must go through Site Plan Review and be approved by the Department of Planning Services. Section 3-3-2-3(a) excludes projects under 1,000 square feet that have no sanitary sewer or water facilities and no fire sprinkler system, but that exclusion does not cover gas station canopies or outdoor eating, drinking or smoking areas. As published in the Department of Planning Services Fee Schedule effective January 1, 2026, review costs $750 for outdoor eating/drinking/smoking areas, façades and parapets, scoreboards, gas station canopies, parking lots and projects under 1,000 square feet, $1,500 for all other projects and for infrastructure only, and $750 for a temporary construction trailer with water or sewer facilities. A site inside a city or town is subject to that municipality's zoning ordinance.