Jeffersonville is the county seat of Clark County, Indiana, and it is where I-65 enters Indiana after crossing the Ohio River from Louisville. That single fact explains much of the commercial market: the city has riverfront and downtown property, a major retail corridor on Veterans Parkway, and, just outside town, one of the largest business and logistics parks in the region. This page covers where commercial property is, how Jeffersonville's Unified Development Ordinance sorts it, and how approvals work. The Southern Indiana commercial real estate overview places the city in the wider market.

Where commercial property is in Jeffersonville

Several distinct areas make up the city's commercial map:

• Downtown and the riverfront: the Big Four Bridge, a former rail bridge now used by pedestrians and cyclists, lands at Big Four Station, and the nearby NoCo Arts and Cultural District adds restaurants and shops. City Hall and the planning office are at 500 Quartermaster Court.
• Veterans Parkway and Hamburg Pike: the city's annual report describes Jeffersonville Town Center as a commercial development at the southeast corner of Hamburg Pike and Veterans Parkway, with multiple tenants approved in recent years.
• Former shipyard sites: Jeffboat closed in 2018, and city officials announced plans in 2022 to redevelop its 80-acre site. The city also tracks a former shipyard parking lot at Market and Main, known as Howard Yard.
• River Ridge Commerce Center: a 6,000-acre business and office park managed by the River Ridge Development Authority, with warehousing, flex, and industrial buildings.

What drives demand here

Jeffersonville's bridge access is unusually direct. The Abraham Lincoln Bridge and the John F. Kennedy Memorial Bridge both carry I-65 between downtown Louisville and Jeffersonville, one for each direction of travel. Farther east, the Lewis and Clark Bridge carries I-265 across the river near Utica in Clark County. The result is a city that Louisville-based businesses can reach quickly and that regional distributors can reach by interstate.

River Ridge sits on land that was once the Indiana Army Ammunition Plant. The development authority was established in 1998, manages the park, and reports more than 60 companies on site, including manufacturing, aerospace, automotive, and logistics users. Industrial and logistics activity centers on that park, while retail and service activity centers on Veterans Parkway and the downtown riverfront. Because these are different tenant types with different lease structures, it helps to decide early which one you are buying into. Our guide to triple net lease investing explains the lease type many single-tenant retail and industrial buildings use.

Zoning and permits in Jeffersonville

On July 5, 2021, the Common Council adopted Ordinance 2021-OR-36, which approved a Unified Development Ordinance for the whole city and replaced the older separate zoning and subdivision ordinances. The Department of Planning and Zoning is in Suite 200 at 500 Quartermaster Court.

The city's own rezoning notices show how the districts are labeled. Examples include C1 (Commercial-Medium Scale), CD (Commercial Downtown), a highway commercial district, and PUD (Planned Development). Check the current UDO and zoning map for the full list and for the use rules in each one.

Two boards do the main review work. The seven-member Plan Commission handles zoning map and code amendments, subdivisions, and development plans. The five-member Board of Zoning Appeals handles variances, special exceptions, use variances, and administrative appeals. According to the city's 2022 annual report, changes in the UDO let staff approve more projects administratively. Every new business needs a Certificate of Zoning Compliance, and building permit applications are filed through the city's online permitting site, which requires a free account. Historic district projects need a Certificate of Appropriateness. Parcels outside city limits fall under Clark County planning and zoning instead, so confirm which jurisdiction applies before you assume anything.

Types of commercial property you will find

• Shopping center and pad-site retail along Veterans Parkway and similar corridors.
• Downtown and riverfront storefronts, restaurants, and offices.
• Warehouse, distribution, and flex buildings, especially around River Ridge.
• Medical and urgent-care buildings, which have appeared among the new businesses approved in the city.
• Apartment buildings and other multi-unit properties. Anything with two or more units is commercial real estate, and the cap rate math shows how investors compare them.
• Redevelopment land and former industrial sites, which usually need environmental and title review first.

Buying or selling a business that owns its building

A restaurant, medical practice, shop, or light industrial company often owns its building through a separate entity. Selling one means pricing the operating business and the real estate separately, deciding whether the buyer takes over the property or leases it, and checking that the zoning approvals follow the use. In Jeffersonville, the Certificate of Zoning Compliance for a new business is a practical item to raise early. Our guide to buying or selling a business with real estate lays out the steps.

Working with Winner Realty in Jeffersonville

Winner Realty is based in Louisville. Lisa Tucker holds both Kentucky and Indiana real estate licenses, so a Jeffersonville purchase or sale does not require splitting the work between two firms. We can help you read the zoning, line up inspections, and coordinate with lenders and title. Owners can start with the free commercial property valuation. If you are selling a Kentucky property and buying in Jeffersonville, see our 1031 exchange guide, and discuss the Indiana side with your qualified intermediary and tax adviser.

Frequently asked questions

Is River Ridge part of Jeffersonville?

The development authority's office address is in Jeffersonville, but the park is a large site on the city's outskirts near Charlestown. Zoning authority can depend on exactly where a parcel sits, so check whether the city or Clark County governs a specific property. The River Ridge Development Authority is also a good contact for park land.

Can I buy in Jeffersonville if my business is in Louisville?

Yes. Your business address does not restrict where you buy. You will use Indiana law and Jeffersonville or Clark County approvals for the property itself, and an Indiana-licensed agent. Ask your attorney about how to hold title and how a Kentucky entity registers to do business in Indiana.

What do I need before opening a business in an existing building?

Jeffersonville requires a Certificate of Zoning Compliance for all new businesses. You may also need building permits for work inside the space, sign permits, and approvals from other departments. Ask for a zoning check before you sign a lease or purchase contract.

Do old industrial sites need extra review?

Often, yes. Former shipyard and industrial sites can carry environmental history, so lenders and buyers commonly order environmental reviews. Our due diligence checklist includes it.

To discuss a Jeffersonville property, send us a commercial inquiry, or text or email Rob at (502) 305-8915 or Rob@thewinnerrealty.com. You can also compare New Albany and Clarksville.

This page is general information, not legal or tax advice. Verify zoning, environmental, and tax details with the city, the county, and your own advisers.