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August storms: Indianapolis, IN

Temporary Housing on Your Lot in Indianapolis After the August Storms

For families in Indianapolis, Carmel, Fishers, Noblesville, Greenfield, Anderson, Martinsville, and rural Hamilton, Hancock, Madison, and Morgan counties whose home is not livable after the August 2026 storms. A furnished travel trailer on your own lot where the local rule allows it, billed to your carrier under Additional Living Expenses where the claim covers it.

Local rules: Indianapolis allows one RV stay of up to 15 days a year and Carmel, Fishers, and Noblesville bar living in a parked RV; Greenfield and unincorporated Morgan County have the closest thing to a path, through a temporary permit.

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Local rules on a trailer on your lot. We found the official local code for Indianapolis / Marion County, the City of Carmel, the City of Fishers, the City of Noblesville, the City of Greenfield, unincorporated Hancock County, the City of Anderson, unincorporated Madison County, the City of Martinsville, and unincorporated Morgan County, each quoted below with its source. For unincorporated Hamilton County, we did not find a rule on an official page, so check with the local office. We confirm the rule for your address before delivery. See the local rules.

This page is for homeowners in Indianapolis, Carmel, Fishers, Noblesville, Greenfield, Anderson, Martinsville, and rural Hamilton, Hancock, Madison, and Morgan counties whose home is not livable after the August 2026 storms. Indiana has no statewide rule on living in a travel trailer on your own lot while the house is repaired, so the city or county code decides. Indianapolis allows one RV stay of up to 15 days a year, Carmel, Fishers, and Noblesville bar living in a parked RV, and Greenfield and unincorporated Morgan County have the closest thing to a path, through a temporary permit. Each rule is quoted below with its source. 1st Choice Living has placed furnished travel trailers on homeowners’ own property, nationwide, since 2004. We check the local rule for your address before anything is delivered, and we bill the carrier directly under ALE where the claim covers it.

The August storms and Marion, Hamilton, Hancock, Madison, and Morgan counties

FEMA lists Marion County, Hamilton County, Hancock County, Madison County, and Morgan County under Individual Assistance for this disaster. Households there apply for FEMA help at DisasterAssistance.gov or 1-800-621-3362; FEMA set October 25, 2026 as the deadline to apply in Indiana. Storm facts as of October 17, 2026, from official sources:

  • Indiana. On August 13, 2026, Governor Braun signed Executive Order 26-21, declaring a statewide disaster emergency for 30 days due to flooding, severe weather, tornadic activity, and a derecho that began August 11, 2026. Source
  • Federal, Indiana. On August 25, 2026, FEMA listed a major disaster declaration for Indiana, DR-4933-IN, for severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, and flooding from August 11 to 24, 2026, and on September 25, 2026 it added Cass, Pike, and Putnam counties for Individual Assistance. As of October 17, 2026, its designated areas page named 24 counties under Individual Assistance, the FEMA program that pays households directly: Carroll, Cass, Dearborn, Decatur, Delaware, Fayette, Franklin, Hamilton, Hancock, Henry, LaPorte, Lake, Madison, Marion, Morgan, Pike, Porter, Pulaski, Putnam, Randolph, Rush, Tipton, Union, and Wayne. Source
  • Deadline to apply, Indiana. In its September 25, 2026 news release, FEMA said the deadline to apply for FEMA Individual Assistance in Indiana is October 25, 2026. Source
  • Weather, Indiana. NWS Indianapolis says a wet pattern from August 11 to 17, 2026 brought over a foot of rain to some parts of central Indiana, and that the White River at Anderson and Noblesville set record crests, breaking records from 1913. Source

Go back to a property only when local officials say it is safe. For roads, debris, and assistance events, follow the Marion County Emergency Management (MESA), the Hamilton County Emergency Management, the Hancock County Homeland Security (Emergency Management), the Madison County Emergency Management & Office of Homeland Security, and the Morgan County Emergency Management Agency, and the Indiana Department of Homeland Security.

Recovery status as of October 17, 2026

What the official county, city, state, utility, and FEMA pages stated when we read them. Each line carries its date and links its source.

  • October 17, 2026. FEMA, SBA and outreach staff were scheduled at the Broad Ripple Farmers Market in Indianapolis (9 a.m. to noon) and at Lowe's, 3425 S. Scatterfield Rd., Anderson (10 a.m. to 1 p.m.). Source: Indiana Department of Homeland Security
  • October 16, 2026. In Madison County, FEMA help was offered at the Anderson Public Library (111 E. 12th St.) and at Zion Baptist Church in Anderson. FEMA lists the Zion Baptist Church site as permanently closed at the close of business on October 16. Source: FEMA
  • September 24, 2026. Hamilton County said demolition of the Hazel Dell Parkway bridge south of 106th Street would start September 28, with the contract requiring completion by October 30. Source: Hamilton County
  • September 4, 2026. Indianapolis DBNS mailed substantial damage determination notices to properties in mapped floodplains. Owners should contact flood@indy.gov or 317-327-8088 before starting repairs. Source: City of Indianapolis, DBNS Flood Damage & Repairs FAQ
  • September 3, 2026. Hamilton County's housing FAQ says displaced residents register through Indiana 211 and may choose IHCDA rental assistance or a hotel stay of up to 30 days. Source: Hamilton County Emergency Operations
  • August 31, 2026. Indy DPW contracted the emergency repair of the River Rd./Brandt Rd. washout, with repairs expected to be complete by the end of 2026. Source: City of Indianapolis, Department of Public Works

Not stated on an official page. Anything not listed here was not stated on an official page we read. Ask the county emergency management agency for the latest.

Local rules on living in an RV on your lot

Whether a trailer can stay on your lot while the house is repaired is decided by your city or town, or outside city limits by the county or township, and by your HOA if you have one. We did not find an Indiana statute or state rule that allows or limits living in an RV or travel trailer on the lot of a home that is not livable after a disaster, so the city, town, or county zoning code decides.

Here is what each local code says, in plain words and then in its own words, with the link to the official page it was read on.

Indianapolis / Marion County

The consolidated zoning code says a parked RV may not be used for living, sleeping or housekeeping for more than one stay of up to 15 days per calendar year. No storm or rebuilding exception was found. Ask the city before anyone moves in.

“Parked recreational vehicles shall not be occupied or used for living, sleeping or housekeeping purposes for more than one instance, not to exceed 15 days, per calendar year.” Source: Indianapolis-Marion County Code, Sec. 743-306.AA

City of Carmel

Carmel's development ordinance says a parked or stored RV may not be lived in. The only allowance found is for a visiting RV in a front yard or driveway for up to 10 days a month, and no storm or rebuilding exception was found. Ask the city before anyone moves in.

“At no time shall parked or stored vehicles be occupied or used for habitation as defined herein. ... Non-resident recreational vehicles may be parked in a front yard or driveway, not on the public right-of-way and used for habitation, including temporary connection to any appropriate utilities, for a period not to exceed ten (10) days per month.” Source: Carmel Unified Development Ordinance, Sec. 5.34 (RV-01)

City of Fishers

Fishers' development ordinance says an RV shall not be used as living quarters, and a parked or stored RV on a home lot may never be used for living or sleeping. No storm or rebuilding exception was found. Ask the city before anyone moves in.

“A recreational vehicle shall not be used as living quarters. ... At no time, shall such parked or stored vehicle be occupied or used for living, sleeping, or housekeeping purposes.” Source: Fishers Unified Development Ordinance, Sec. 6.10.2.A.5 and Sec. 12.2

City of Noblesville

Noblesville's development ordinance says a parked or stored RV may not be used for living or sleeping, except one visiting RV for up to 10 days in a row and 14 days a year. No storm or rebuilding exception was found. Ask the city before anyone moves in.

“one (1) additional recreational vehicle may be permitted for visitation for a maximum of ten (10) consecutive days and not to exceed fourteen (14) days in any one year. ... At no time shall any parked or stored recreational vehicle be occupied or used for living, sleeping, or housekeeping purposes, except as provided for visitations in (6) above.” Source: Noblesville Unified Development Ordinance, Art. 9, Part B, Sec. 4.J

Unincorporated Hamilton County

We did not find a rule on living in an RV or travel trailer on your own lot on an official page for unincorporated Hamilton County. Check with the local planning or zoning office before a trailer is placed, and ask whether a permit is needed and how long a temporary unit may stay.

City of Greenfield

Greenfield's development ordinance does not directly say whether a family may live in an RV on its own lot. It does let an RV be parked temporarily, with a temporary certificate of occupancy, as part of a program run by a unit of government or another temporary use the Board of Zoning Appeals approves. Ask the planning office before anyone moves in.

“Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, a recreational vehicle may be temporarily parked or stored, on the grant of a temporary certificate of occupancy, in the open in conjunction with: i. A public health program sponsored by a Public Health Department. ii. A program sponsored by any unit of government. iii. A carnival or other public affair or function authorized by proper authority. iv. Other similar uses deemed temporary by the Board of Zoning Appeals and attached with such time period, conditions, and safeguards as the Board may deem necessary.” Source: Greenfield Unified Development Ordinance, Sec. 155.036(3)(D)

Unincorporated Hancock County

In residentially zoned major subdivisions, the county development ordinance says an RV may not be used for living or sleeping, except one visiting RV for up to 30 days in any three months. No rule was found for other rural lots, and no storm or rebuilding exception was found. Ask the county planning office before anyone moves in.

“These provisions shall apply only within residentially zoned major subdivisions that are associated with residential uses as the only primary use of the property. ... At no time shall a recreational vehicle be occupied or used for living, sleeping, or housekeeping purposes except for visitation as described in this section. ... However, one additional recreational vehicle shall be permitted for visitation purposes not to exceed 30 days in any three-month period.” Source: Hancock County Unified Development Ordinance (effective Oct. 10, 2026), Sec. 6.7.B.5.c

City of Anderson

Anderson's zoning code allows an RV as a temporary residence on a residential lot only when the lot has an existing, occupied home, for up to 30 days in a row and 60 days a year. An RV used as a residence on a lot without an occupied home may be tagged and removed, and no storm or rebuilding exception was found. Ask the city before anyone moves in.

“On residential lots with an existing and occupied home, a recreational vehicle may be utilized as temporary residence, or for camping, for up to 30 consecutive days. A maximum of 60 days per calendar year shall be allowed, with a minimum of 30 days separation between placements. ... Recreational vehicles which are not placed in a legally recognized campground or private recreational site, and which are used for camping or residence on lots that do not have an existing and occupied residential structure, may be tagged then removed in accordance with codes in place at the time of infraction.” Source: Anderson Code of Ordinances, Sec. 160.03 (Recreational vehicle)

Unincorporated Madison County

In the R1 and R2 residential districts, the county land use code says an RV may never be used for overnight sleeping or living. No rule was found for farm-zoned lots, and no storm or rebuilding exception was found. Ask the county planning office before anyone moves in.

“In no case shall the vehicle be used for overnight sleeping or living.” Source: Madison County Land Use & Development Code, Sec. 6.11 (PK-06)

City of Martinsville

Martinsville's zoning code says using a travel trailer or camper as a home for more than 14 days in a calendar year is not allowed unless the zoning district specifically permits it. No storm or rebuilding exception was found. Ask the city before anyone moves in.

“Use of any structure, travel trailer, camper, tent, garage or similar structures as a dwelling or residence, or is intended to be used as such, for a period of more than 14 days in any calendar year is prohibited unless it is in a district where such use is specifically permitted.” Source: Martinsville Code of Ordinances, Sec. 94-31

Unincorporated Morgan County

The county development ordinance says an RV may not be used as a home outside an approved campground or RV park. It does allow an RV while a single-family home is being built on the same parcel, with a temporary use permit and a building permit (ILP), for one year plus one six-month renewal, for the owner only. It does not say whether repairing a damaged home counts, so ask the county planning office first.

“Recreational vehicles are designed only for recreational use and are not built to HUD manufactured home standards. Therefore, recreational vehicles are not permitted to be used for residential occupancy outside of a campground or an RV park approved by the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH). ... A recreational vehicle may be used for temporary occupancy only during the construction of a single-family dwelling on the same parcel provided the following requirements are met: (1) A temporary use permit is obtained for placement of the RV and an ILP for the single-family dwelling to be constructed on the same parcel has also been issued. (2) Temporary occupancy of the RV is limited to one (1) year and may be renewed once for an additional six (6) month period if construction of the dwelling has started but is not completed.” Source: Morgan County Unified Development Ordinance, Ch. 4.C.9.h

Rules here were read on official city, town, township, and county pages on October 17, 2026 and can change during a recovery. We confirm the rule for your address before delivery.

Permit and planning offices

Septic and health

In Morgan County, the development ordinance says an RV used while a home is being built on the same parcel must use the same address, water supply and sewage system as the home under construction. No county health department rule on hooking an RV to a septic system was found for Marion, Hamilton, Hancock or Madison counties, so call the county health department before connecting. Source: Morgan County Unified Development Ordinance, Ch. 4.C.9.h.ii(3)

Power utilities

If a trailer is not allowed at your address

Then a trailer on your lot is not the answer, and we will tell you so. Ask the planning office what it does allow during repairs, and ask your adjuster how your Additional Living Expenses apply to a hotel or a furnished rental instead. Our guide to arranging your own temporary housing covers the questions to ask and the receipts to keep.

  • State Disaster Relief Fund. Indiana’s State Disaster Relief Fund rule limits its temporary housing category to vouchers or reimbursement for short-term lodging such as hotels and motels. Source
  • Hotel voucher. The Indiana Department of Homeland Security says IHCDA’s August 2026 temporary housing help covers a hotel stay of up to 60 days or rental assistance, and that the last day to apply for IHCDA’s hotel voucher through Indiana 211 is Monday, October 19, 2026. Source

How the trailer is billed: Additional Living Expenses

Additional Living Expenses, or ALE, sometimes called loss of use, pays for somewhere to live while the house is not livable. Ask your carrier whether your policy includes it and what the limit is. The Indiana Department of Insurance lists additional living expenses, “in case damage makes your home temporarily unlivable,” among the coverages in a homeowners policy, and says that if a peril your homeowners policy covers forces you to move temporarily into a hotel or motel, your insurance may pay reasonable additional living expenses.

  • Local rules for your address checked before delivery.
  • A furnished travel trailer with a kitchen, a bathroom, real beds, and heat and air, delivered, leveled, and set up on your property.
  • Utilities connected by licensed, insured contractors from our preferred vendor network, planned around what is actually working at the property.
  • Site conditions documented at setup and again at takedown.
  • Direct billing to your carrier under ALE where the claim covers it, tracked against your ALE limit.
  • One named contact from the first call to the day the unit leaves.

Flood is different. National Flood Insurance Program policies do not provide additional living expense coverage. If your home also had damage your homeowners policy covers, such as wind, ask your adjuster how ALE applies. Your own carrier’s policy form sets the time and dollar limits; we have quoted them, with the source, on loss of use coverage by insurance carrier. This is general information, not legal or coverage advice. Your policy and your adjuster decide what is covered. 1st Choice Living is independent of every insurer and of FEMA.

Already working with a temporary housing company?

We work with any temporary housing company. If one is handling your housing, ask them to place you with 1st Choice Living for a trailer on your own lot in Indianapolis. They send us the placement, we deliver, set up, and service the trailer, and the billing runs through them or straight to your carrier, whichever way their program works.

What we need to start

  • The property address and whether it is inside city or town limits.
  • How many people are in the household.
  • Your claim number and your adjuster’s name and contact.
  • Your ALE limit, if your adjuster has told you.

From there we check the local rule for that address, confirm the lot can take a unit, and plan setup around what is safe and working at the property. Adjusters and housing companies can send a placement through for adjusters and carriers or for housing companies.

Ask about a trailer on your Indianapolis lot

Call or send the request form with your claim number, your adjuster’s contact, and the property address. We confirm the local rule first, and tell you plainly if a trailer on your lot is not the right fit.

Call (214) 493-1515Request housing

More on the August storms

Frequently asked questions

Can I live in a travel trailer on my lot in Indianapolis while my house is repaired?

Not for long under the code we found. The Indianapolis and Marion County zoning code says a parked RV may not be used for living, sleeping, or housekeeping for more than one stay of up to 15 days per calendar year, and it has no storm or rebuilding exception. If your property is in a mapped floodplain, Indianapolis also asks owners to contact its flood team before starting repairs. Ask the city before anyone moves in.

What about Carmel, Fishers, and Noblesville?

All three development ordinances bar living or sleeping in a parked RV. Carmel allows a visiting RV for up to 10 days a month, and Noblesville allows one visiting RV for up to 10 days in a row and 14 days a year. None has a storm or rebuilding exception, so ask the city before anyone moves in.

Is there any path for a trailer on my lot in Greenfield or Morgan County?

Greenfield's development ordinance lets an RV be parked temporarily, with a temporary certificate of occupancy, as part of a program run by a unit of government or another temporary use the Board of Zoning Appeals approves. Unincorporated Morgan County allows an RV while a single-family home is built on the same parcel, with a temporary use permit and a building permit, but it does not say whether repairing a damaged home counts. Ask the planning office in either place first.

Will my homeowners insurance pay for housing while my Indianapolis home is repaired?

Many homeowner policies include Additional Living Expenses, also called loss of use. The Indiana Department of Insurance says that if your home is damaged by a peril your homeowners policy covers and you are forced to move temporarily into a hotel or motel, your insurance may pay reasonable additional living expenses. Whether your policy includes it, and the limit, is a question for your adjuster. Where the claim covers a trailer on your lot and the local rule allows one, we bill the carrier directly.

I applied for FEMA help. Does that change my insurance claim?

They are separate. Households in Marion County, Hamilton County, Hancock County, Madison County, and Morgan County can apply for FEMA Individual Assistance at DisasterAssistance.gov, and FEMA set October 25, 2026 as the deadline to apply in Indiana. Your Additional Living Expenses claim runs through your own carrier, and FEMA decides what its own assistance covers. 1st Choice Living is independent of FEMA and of every insurer.

Stay on your lot while the house is repaired

One named contact, local rules checked before delivery, direct billing to your carrier where the claim covers it.

Call (214) 493-1515Request housing

Sources, checked October 17, 2026