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Indianapolis Landlord-Tenant Rules

Indianapolis adds local rules on top of Indiana landlord-tenant law. Here is what is different, with the city code or agency page behind each rule.

State preemption of local landlord-tenant rulesIndiana sharply limits what Indianapolis can regulate. Local units may not regulate rental rates, and unless the General Assembly authorizes it they may not regulate tenant screening, security deposits, lease applications, lease terms, required disclosures about the property, the lease or the parties' rights, the parties' rights under a lease, or landlord fees. Any ordinance that does is void. Local units also may not require landlords to accept Section 8 or similar housing vouchers.
IC 36-1-3-8.5 text: https://iga.in.gov/ic/2026/Title_36/Article_1/Chapter_3.pdf. As a result, Indianapolis has no local source-of-income, deposit, fee or lease-term rules.
Tenant rights notice & retaliation (Chapter 582 proposal)In 2020 the City-County Council considered Proposal No. 41 to add Revised Code Chapter 582, 'Protection of Tenants' Rights.' It would have required landlords to give each tenant a signed Notice of Tenant Rights and Responsibilities, created a Tenant Information Hotline, banned retaliation (with a presumption for adverse action within 60 days and penalties of $2,500 and $7,500), and barred housing discrimination based on expunged or sealed convictions.
Adoption and current status were not verified. The later state amendment (P.L.168-2020) voids local regulation of disclosures and lease rights, which likely affects the notice provisions. Do not present this as current law without confirmation.
Landlord registrationIndianapolis runs a Landlord Registration Program through the Department of Business and Neighborhood Services. Owners of residential rental units within the City of Indianapolis must register. Excluded cities in Marion County are exempt.
The indy.gov page is a JavaScript app and returned no readable text. Chapter 851 and § 851-104 are cited from Proposal No. 41, 2020, and the requirement summary comes from a search-result snippet. Fees and deadlines were not verified.

Eviction cases in Indianapolis are heard in: Marion County Small Claims Court (township divisions; governed by IC 33-34). Evictions may also be filed in Marion Superior Court.

Eviction court, fees and help

Local agencies

Frequently asked questions

What landlord-tenant rules does Indianapolis add on top of Indiana law?
State preemption of local landlord-tenant rules: Indiana sharply limits what Indianapolis can regulate. Local units may not regulate rental rates, and unless the General Assembly authorizes it they may not regulate tenant screening, security deposits, lease applications, lease terms, required disclosures about the property, the lease or the parties' rights, the parties' rights under a lease, or landlord fees. Any ordinance that does is void. Local units also may not require landlords to accept Section 8 or similar housing vouchers.; Tenant rights notice & retaliation (Chapter 582 proposal): In 2020 the City-County Council considered Proposal No. 41 to add Revised Code Chapter 582, 'Protection of Tenants' Rights.' It would have required landlords to give each tenant a signed Notice of Tenant Rights and Responsibilities, created a Tenant Information Hotline, banned retaliation (with a presumption for adverse action within 60 days and penalties of $2,500 and $7,500), and barred housing discrimination based on expunged or sealed convictions.; Landlord registration: Indianapolis runs a Landlord Registration Program through the Department of Business and Neighborhood Services. Owners of residential rental units within the City of Indianapolis must register. Excluded cities in Marion County are exempt.

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General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.