Marion County – Indianapolis
Indianapolis area Airbnb and short term rental laws.
Renting the home you live in: Permit required
Renting a home you don’t live in: Permit required
Indianapolis needs a short term rental permit for each unit. The first permit costs $150 and renewals each year are free.
Permit fee $150
PERMIT
Indianapolis Short Term Rental Permit
How to apply
Apply online through the city’s Citizen Access portal and pick the Short Term Rental record type. Each unit needs its own permit. List the owner, any property manager, how the unit is advertised, the advertised guest count, and the dwelling type.
Fee
$150 one time for the first permit. A new permit after a revocation also costs $150.
Renewal
Renew every year. Renewal is free.
Where rentals are allowed
Short term rentals are allowed in any legally built home that meets building code, in a main building or a legal second dwelling unit. RVs, mobile homes, travel trailers, vehicles, shipping containers, and buildings not meant for full time living are not allowed. No zoning district limits apply, and no development plan approval is needed.
Guest limits
No city guest cap. The application must state the advertised guest count for each unit.
Caps
No cap on short term rentals.
Safety and inspections
The unit must be legally built and meet building codes. The city can require an inspection with the yearly permit to confirm the unit is safe to live in.
Parking, trash, and noise
Parking and signs must follow city zoning rules. General city noise and nuisance rules apply.
Local contact
If you use a property manager, list their contact info on the application.
Penalties
The city can inspect, cite, and revoke a permit. Renting without a permit is a Class C infraction. Three citations in one calendar year can cost you the permit for up to one year.
Last changed
January 1, 2025
Apply
Official rules
More information
- Chapter 852: Short term rental permit program
- Sec. 852-106(2)(c): Permit fee
- Sec. 131-501: City fee schedule
- Sec. 743-306(GG): Where rentals are allowed
- Sec. 852-106(2)(d): Inspection with registration
- Chapter 744 Art. IV, V, VII; Chapter 931: Parking rules
- Chapter 744 Art. IX: Sign rules
- Sec. 852-108: Citations and revocation
- IC 36-1-24: State short term rental law
- G.O. 25, 2024: Adopting ordinance