Indiana Rental Fee Rules
Indiana rules on rental fees for renters and landlords, with the statute or official page behind each answer. Last verified: 2026-10-22.
Short answer: No state cap or refund rule on application or screening fees was found. Local governments are barred from regulating tenant screening, lease applications, or any fees charged by a landlord unless the General Assembly authorizes it. IC 32-31-1-20(c)
The rules in Indiana
| Application / screening fees | No state cap or refund rule on application or screening fees was found. Local governments are barred from regulating tenant screening, lease applications, or any fees charged by a landlord unless the General Assembly authorizes it. Searched IC 32-31 chapters 1-12; no fee statute found. Source: IC 32-31-1-20(c) |
|---|---|
| Other rental fees | No statute — no state limit or disclosure rule for other rental fees (convenience, move-in, etc.) was found in IC 32-31, and local units are preempted from regulating 'any fees charged by a landlord'. |
Related questions
- How much can a landlord charge for a rental application fee?
- What rental fees are illegal (junk fees)?
Indiana vs. neighboring states
| State | Application / screening fees | Other rental fees |
|---|---|---|
| Indiana | No state cap or refund rule on application or screening fees was found. Local governments are barred from regulating tenant screening, lease applications, or any fees charged by a landlord unless the General Assembly authorizes it. IC 32-31-1-20(c) | No statute — no state limit or disclosure rule for other rental fees (convenience, move-in, etc.) was found in IC 32-31, and local units are preempted from regulating 'any fees charged by a landlord'. IC 32-31-1-20(c)(7); IC 32-31 (checked) |
| Illinois | Reusable screening reports: if an applicant provides a qualifying reusable tenant screening report (prepared within the last 30 days by a consumer reporting agency, free for the landlord to access, covering the landlord's criteria), the landlord may not charge an application screening fee or a fee to access the report (since Jan. 1, 2025). For leases entered on or after Jan. 1, 2027, rental application fees (including background checks) are capped at $50; a landlord may pass through a higher actual third-party background-check cost only if it paid the cost up front and bills the applicant with receipts within 14 days (otherwise the fee is waived). Fees added on top of the application fee that duplicate screening costs or are unrelated to screening are banned. 765 ILCS 705/30 (P.A. 103-840, eff. 1-1-25); 765 ILCS 705/35(c)(1)-(2) (P.A. 104-479, eff. 1-1-27) | For leases entered on or after Jan. 1, 2027: all non-optional fees (one-time or recurring) must appear on the first page of the lease or the tenant does not owe them; listings must disclose non-optional fees, and listings/leases must say whether utilities are included. Banned: lease renewal/modification fees; fees for an eviction notice or for filing before an eviction order (court costs still recoverable); after-hours maintenance fees; fees for contacting the owner/manager or a maintenance hotline; maintenance travel fees; routine maintenance fees; pest fees where the tenant did not contribute; and move-in/move-out walk-through fees. Renaming a fee does not avoid the law; tenants may sue for injunctive and monetary relief plus attorney's fees. Already in effect: a landlord using a payment portal that charges a transaction fee must allow a fee-free way to pay rent (leases after 1-1-25), and a landlord may not require rent to be paid by electronic funds transfer (leases after 1-1-24). 765 ILCS 705/35 (P.A. 104-479, eff. 1-1-27); 765 ILCS 705/3.5 (P.A. 103-809); 765 ILCS 705/4 (P.A. 103-132) |
| Kentucky | No statute — no cap, refund rule, or reusable-screening-report rule was found in KRS Chapter 383. KRS Chapter 383 (section list checked) | No statute — no general limit or disclosure rule for other rental fees was found in KRS Chapter 383. A lease may not authorize penalties or termination because a tenant called police or sought emergency help (punitive damages up to 2 months' rent). KRS Chapter 383 (checked); KRS 383.302 |
| Michigan | Not verified yet | Not verified yet |
| Ohio | No statute. Ohio has no cap, refund rule, or portable-screening-report rule for rental application fees. Ohio Rev. Code ch. 5321 (no application-fee section) | No statute. Chapter 5321 sets no limits on move-in, convenience, or other rental fees and no fee-disclosure rule. Lease clauses requiring the tenant to pay the landlord's attorney fees are unenforceable (§ 5321.13), and unconscionable terms may be refused enforcement (§ 5321.14). Ohio Rev. Code §§ 5321.13, 5321.14 |
City rules that may add to state law
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Compare rental fees in all 50 states and DC →
Indiana Rental Fee Rules FAQ
Is there a limit on rental application fees in Indiana?
No state cap or refund rule on application or screening fees was found. Local governments are barred from regulating tenant screening, lease applications, or any fees charged by a landlord unless the General Assembly authorizes it. (IC 32-31-1-20(c))
What rental fees are banned or limited in Indiana?
No statute — no state limit or disclosure rule for other rental fees (convenience, move-in, etc.) was found in IC 32-31, and local units are preempted from regulating 'any fees charged by a landlord'. (IC 32-31-1-20(c)(7); IC 32-31 (checked))
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.