10 of the 10 rules below carry a statute citation that was read at the official source (most recently October 2026), with the controlling text quoted. The rest are conservative reference values from Aptoria's compliance data and are labeled unverified.
Security deposit size: No statutory cap on the security deposit amount. IC 32-31-3 regulates return and itemization only. (Ind. Code § 32-31-3-12 to -16, confirmed 2026-10). Returning the deposit: Not more than 45 days after termination of the rental agreement and delivery of possession, the landlord must deliver a written itemized notice of deductions (accrued rent, damages, unpaid utilities) and refund the balance; the clock does not run until the tenant supplies a written mailing address. Failure to send the itemized damages list within 45 days constitutes agreement that no damages are due, and the landlord is liable for the amount withheld plus reasonable attorney's fees and court costs. (Ind. Code § 32-31-3-12, -14, -15, -16, confirmed 2026-10).
How Indiana treats the landlord's core obligations
Late fees: No statutory cap or grace period; the fee is governed by the lease. Local units may not regulate fees charged by a landlord (§ 32-31-1-20(c)(7)), so no municipal cap applies either. (Ind. Code § 32-31-1-20(c)(7) (no late-fee statute), confirmed 2026-10). Application fees: No statutory cap on application fees; Article 31 contains no application-fee section, and local units may not regulate lease applications, screening or landlord fees (§ 32-31-1-20(c)(1), (3), (7)). (Ind. Code § 32-31-1-20(c) (no application-fee statute), confirmed 2026-10).
Nonpayment notice: Not less than 10 days' notice to pay or quit when a tenant refuses or neglects to pay rent when due, unless the parties agreed otherwise in the lease or the tenant pays in full before the period expires. No notice is required if the lease sets a definite term or requires rent in advance and the tenant fails to pay in advance (§ 32-31-1-8). (Ind. Code § 32-31-1-6; § 32-31-1-8, confirmed 2026-10). Rent increases: No Indiana statute sets a rent-increase notice period. A tenancy at will (month-to-month) can be ended on one month's written notice (§ 32-31-1-1), so a rent change on such a tenancy is in practice imposed by a one-month notice; during a fixed term rent changes only as the lease allows. Local rent regulation is pre-empted (§ 32-31-1-20(b)). (Ind. Code § 32-31-1-1 (no rent-increase statute), confirmed 2026-10). Ending a month-to-month tenancy: One month's written notice delivered to the tenant terminates a tenancy at will; for periodic tenancies of three months or less, notice equal to the period (i.e., one month for month-to-month) is sufficient. Year-to-year tenancies need 3 months' notice. Notice is not required where the lease fixes the term. (Ind. Code § 32-31-1-1(a); § 32-31-1-4; § 32-31-1-8, confirmed 2026-10). Entry: Reasonable written or oral notice of intent to enter, and entry only at reasonable times; no fixed hour count. No notice is needed in an emergency threatening safety or the landlord's property, under court order, or if the unit is abandoned/surrendered. (Ind. Code § 32-31-5-6(f)-(g), confirmed 2026-10).
Indiana has no statewide rent regulation on file, so any cap on increases would come from a local ordinance. Source-of-income protection is not on file statewide, although cities and counties can add it. Card surcharges on rent: allowed within card-network limits. Managing property for others for compensation generally requires a state license: State real estate broker license required for property management for others — confirm with state commission.
Security deposits
What Indiana allows a landlord to collect up front, how it must be held, and the deadline and paperwork for returning it.
Security deposit limit
Source-confirmed 2026-10
No statutory cap on the security deposit amount. IC 32-31-3 regulates return and itemization only.
“Upon termination of a rental agreement, a landlord shall return to the tenant the security deposit minus any amount applied to”
Excerpt from the cited source as read on the date shown.
no deposit-amount limit exists.
Reference value in Aptoria's compliance data: “No statewide cap”. Where it differs from the statute above, the statute controls; differences found in review are logged for an engine update.
The maximum a landlord may collect up front as security against unpaid rent or damage, usually expressed as a multiple of one month's rent. Separate pet, key or cleaning deposits often count toward the same limit.
Deposit return deadline
Source-confirmed 2026-10
Not more than 45 days after termination of the rental agreement and delivery of possession, the landlord must deliver a written itemized notice of deductions (accrued rent, damages, unpaid utilities) and refund the balance; the clock does not run until the tenant supplies a written mailing address. Failure to send the itemized damages list within 45 days constitutes agreement that no damages are due, and the landlord is liable for the amount withheld plus reasonable attorney's fees and court costs.
“delivered to the tenant not more than forty-five (45) days after termination of the rental agreement and delivery of possession”
Excerpt from the cited source as read on the date shown.
Reference value in Aptoria's compliance data: “45 days after move-out”. Where it differs from the statute above, the statute controls; differences found in review are logged for an engine update.
The window after the tenant vacates in which the landlord must refund the deposit or deliver an itemized statement of deductions. Missing the deadline is the most common way a landlord forfeits the right to keep any part of the deposit.
Separate pet deposit
Source-confirmed 2026-10
No statewide cap on security deposits and no statute authorizing or prohibiting a separate pet deposit. IC 32-31-3-9 defines 'security deposit' broadly to include any money returnable to the tenant on condition of returning the unit in the required condition, so a refundable pet deposit is a security deposit subject to the 45-day itemized return rule of IC 32-31-3-12. Local units may not regulate security deposits or landlord fees (IC 32-31-1-20(c)).
“"security deposit" means a deposit paid by a tenant to the landlord or the landlord's agent to be held for all or a part of the term of the rental agreement to secure performance of any obligation of the tenant under the rental agreement.”
Excerpt from the cited source as read on the date shown.
Reference value in Aptoria's compliance data: “Permitted”. Where it differs from the statute above, the statute controls; differences found in review are logged for an engine update.
Whether a refundable pet deposit can be collected on top of the security deposit. Even where it is permitted, the combined amount usually has to stay inside the overall deposit limit.
In practice
• Hold the deposit the way the statute requires (separate or escrow account where applicable) and record the account in the file.
• Document move-in condition with a dated, photographed inventory the tenant can sign; it is the only evidence that supports a later deduction.
• Send the itemized statement and any refund by a trackable method, and keep the receipts or estimates behind every deduction.
Rent, late fees and application fees
The fees a Indiana lease can charge, the statutory ceilings that override the lease, and whether rent increases are regulated statewide.
Late fees
Source-confirmed 2026-10
No statutory cap or grace period; the fee is governed by the lease. Local units may not regulate fees charged by a landlord (§ 32-31-1-20(c)(7)), so no municipal cap applies either.
Absence confirmed by reading the Article 31 chapter list; no chapter addresses late fees. Binding text is at iga.in.gov (official; the section pages render client-side and could not be read in this session); the Justia URL reproduces the 2025 code.
Reference value in Aptoria's compliance data: “No statewide cap (reasonableness standard)”. Where it differs from the statute above, the statute controls; differences found in review are logged for an engine update.
Any statutory ceiling on the fee for late rent and any mandatory grace period before it can be charged. Where there is no statutory cap, courts still strike fees they find punitive rather than a reasonable estimate of the landlord's cost.
Application fee limit
Source-confirmed 2026-10
No statutory cap on application fees; Article 31 contains no application-fee section, and local units may not regulate lease applications, screening or landlord fees (§ 32-31-1-20(c)(1), (3), (7)).
Absence confirmed by reading the Article 31 chapter list. Binding text is at iga.in.gov (official; the section pages render client-side and could not be read in this session); the Justia URL reproduces the 2025 code.
Reference value in Aptoria's compliance data: “No statewide cap”. Where it differs from the statute above, the statute controls; differences found in review are logged for an engine update.
A cap on what an applicant can be charged to apply, sometimes limited to the actual cost of screening and sometimes prohibited outright. Fee receipts and refund rules usually travel with the cap.
Statewide rent regulation
Source-confirmed 2026-10
(b) Statewide preemption of local rent control. No statewide rent cap. IC 32-31-1-20(b) bars any unit (city, town, county) from regulating rental rates for privately owned real property, through zoning or otherwise, unless authorized by the General Assembly; subsection (c) also preempts local regulation of screening, security deposits, lease applications, lease terms, disclosures, party rights and any landlord fees. Exception (a): property receiving government funds allocated expressly to provide reduced rents to low- or moderate-income tenants.
“A unit (as defined in IC 36-1-2-23) may not regulate rental rates for privately owned real property, through a zoning ordinance or otherwise, unless the regulation is authorized by an act of the general assembly.”
Excerpt from the cited source as read on the date shown.
Subsection (c) closes: 'Any ordinance or regulation that violates this subsection is void and unenforceable.' Amended by P.L.215-2021.
Reference value in Aptoria's compliance data: “No statewide rent regulation (check local ordinances)”. Where it differs from the statute above, the statute controls; differences found in review are logged for an engine update.
Whether a statewide law caps annual rent increases or whether rent control exists for covered units. Local ordinances can add limits even where the state has none.
In practice
• State the late fee, the grace period and the application fee in the lease in dollars or a clear percentage; a fee that is not in the lease is rarely enforceable.
• Never charge above the statutory cap even when the lease says more; the excess is unenforceable and can expose the landlord to penalties.
• Keep fee calculations in the ledger so a tenant, a court or an auditor can reproduce them from the rent roll.
Notices, rent increases and termination
How much written notice Indiana requires before a rent increase, before ending a month-to-month tenancy, and before filing for nonpayment.
Rent-increase notice
Source-confirmed 2026-10
No Indiana statute sets a rent-increase notice period. A tenancy at will (month-to-month) can be ended on one month's written notice (§ 32-31-1-1), so a rent change on such a tenancy is in practice imposed by a one-month notice; during a fixed term rent changes only as the lease allows. Local rent regulation is pre-empted (§ 32-31-1-20(b)).
Binding text is at iga.in.gov (official; the section pages render client-side and could not be read in this session); the Justia URL reproduces the 2025 code.
Reference value in Aptoria's compliance data: “30 days”. Where it differs from the statute above, the statute controls; differences found in review are logged for an engine update.
The written notice a landlord must give before a rent increase takes effect on a periodic (month-to-month) tenancy. Fixed-term leases generally cannot be changed mid-term.
Month-to-month termination notice
Source-confirmed 2026-10
One month's written notice delivered to the tenant terminates a tenancy at will; for periodic tenancies of three months or less, notice equal to the period (i.e., one month for month-to-month) is sufficient. Year-to-year tenancies need 3 months' notice. Notice is not required where the lease fixes the term.
“A tenancy at will may be determined by a one (1) month notice in writing, delivered to the tenant.”
Excerpt from the cited source as read on the date shown.
Reference value in Aptoria's compliance data: “30 days”. Where it differs from the statute above, the statute controls; differences found in review are logged for an engine update.
The notice a landlord must give to end a periodic tenancy without cause. Some jurisdictions require longer notice for long-term tenants or require a stated cause.
Pay-or-quit notice
Source-confirmed 2026-10
Not less than 10 days' notice to pay or quit when a tenant refuses or neglects to pay rent when due, unless the parties agreed otherwise in the lease or the tenant pays in full before the period expires. No notice is required if the lease sets a definite term or requires rent in advance and the tenant fails to pay in advance (§ 32-31-1-8).
“a landlord may terminate the lease with not less than ten (10) days notice to the tenant unless:(1) the parties otherwise agreed”
Excerpt from the cited source as read on the date shown.
Many Indiana leases waive the 10-day notice ('the parties otherwise agreed'); check the lease before relying on the statutory period.
Reference value in Aptoria's compliance data: “10 days”. Where it differs from the statute above, the statute controls; differences found in review are logged for an engine update.
The notice a tenant must receive for nonpayment before the landlord can file for possession, and the time the tenant has to pay in full and cure. This is the step most often done wrong in an eviction.
In practice
• Serve notices in the form and by the method the statute names, and keep proof of service with the dated notice.
• Count notice periods the way the statute counts them (calendar days, business days, or "before the next rent due date") and build in a margin.
• Treat a notice to a possibly rent-regulated or subsidized unit as a legal check, because longer periods and extra content requirements usually apply.
Landlord entry
When a Indiana landlord may enter an occupied unit and how much notice the tenant must receive.
Non-emergency entry notice
Source-confirmed 2026-10
Reasonable written or oral notice of intent to enter, and entry only at reasonable times; no fixed hour count. No notice is needed in an emergency threatening safety or the landlord's property, under court order, or if the unit is abandoned/surrendered.
“shall give a tenant reasonable written or oral notice of the landlord's intent to enter the dwelling unit; and (3) may enter a tenant's dwelling unit only at reasonable times.”
Excerpt from the cited source as read on the date shown.
Reference value in Aptoria's compliance data: “Reasonable notice”. Where it differs from the statute above, the statute controls; differences found in review are logged for an engine update.
The advance notice required before a landlord enters an occupied unit for repairs, inspections or showings. Emergencies are the usual exception.
In practice
• Give written notice with the date, a reasonable time window and the purpose, and log the entry afterwards.
• Emergencies are the only common exception; document what made the entry urgent.
• A pattern of unannounced entries is a common basis for tenant complaints and counterclaims.
Payments, fair housing and licensing
Operational rules that sit outside the landlord-tenant act but decide how rent can be collected, who can be screened out, and who may manage for others.
Card surcharges on rent
Allowed within card-network limits
Returned-payment (NSF) fee
No statewide statutory cap on file
Source-of-income protection
No statewide protection on file
Local ordinances can extend protection beyond the statewide rule.
Property-management licensing
License generally required to manage for others
State real estate broker license required for property management for others — confirm with state commission.
Compliance posture values are reference data compiled from public statutes and are not source-confirmed line by line. Confirm with the state agency before relying on them.
Indiana next to its neighbors
Own units on both sides of a state line? These are the reference values for every bordering jurisdiction. Open a state to see which values carry a citation.
Federal and state disclosures Aptoria's lease workflow surfaces for Indiana. This is a working checklist from public sources, not a complete legal inventory for a specific property.
• Lead-based paint hazards (pre-1978 housing) — EPA Pamphlet "Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home"
• Flood disclosure
Official sources
Primary sources a Indiana landlord should bookmark. Each link was fetched and read during the October 2026 review; the binding text is always the current official version.
How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Indiana?
No statutory cap on the security deposit amount. IC 32-31-3 regulates return and itemization only. (Ind. Code § 32-31-3-12 to -16, confirmed 2026-10).
How long does a Indiana landlord have to return the security deposit?
Not more than 45 days after termination of the rental agreement and delivery of possession, the landlord must deliver a written itemized notice of deductions (accrued rent, damages, unpaid utilities) and refund the balance; the clock does not run until the tenant supplies a written mailing address. Failure to send the itemized damages list within 45 days constitutes agreement that no damages are due, and the landlord is liable for the amount withheld plus reasonable attorney's fees and court costs. (Ind. Code § 32-31-3-12, -14, -15, -16, confirmed 2026-10).
What is the maximum late fee in Indiana?
No statutory cap or grace period; the fee is governed by the lease. Local units may not regulate fees charged by a landlord (§ 32-31-1-20(c)(7)), so no municipal cap applies either. (Ind. Code § 32-31-1-20(c)(7) (no late-fee statute), confirmed 2026-10).
How many days does a Indiana pay-or-quit notice give the tenant?
Not less than 10 days' notice to pay or quit when a tenant refuses or neglects to pay rent when due, unless the parties agreed otherwise in the lease or the tenant pays in full before the period expires. No notice is required if the lease sets a definite term or requires rent in advance and the tenant fails to pay in advance (§ 32-31-1-8). (Ind. Code § 32-31-1-6; § 32-31-1-8, confirmed 2026-10).
How much notice must a Indiana landlord give before entering?
Reasonable written or oral notice of intent to enter, and entry only at reasonable times; no fixed hour count. No notice is needed in an emergency threatening safety or the landlord's property, under court order, or if the unit is abandoned/surrendered. (Ind. Code § 32-31-5-6(f)-(g), confirmed 2026-10).
How much notice is required to raise rent in Indiana?
No Indiana statute sets a rent-increase notice period. A tenancy at will (month-to-month) can be ended on one month's written notice (§ 32-31-1-1), so a rent change on such a tenancy is in practice imposed by a one-month notice; during a fixed term rent changes only as the lease allows. Local rent regulation is pre-empted (§ 32-31-1-20(b)). (Ind. Code § 32-31-1-1 (no rent-increase statute), confirmed 2026-10).
How much notice is required to end a month-to-month tenancy in Indiana?
One month's written notice delivered to the tenant terminates a tenancy at will; for periodic tenancies of three months or less, notice equal to the period (i.e., one month for month-to-month) is sufficient. Year-to-year tenancies need 3 months' notice. Notice is not required where the lease fixes the term. (Ind. Code § 32-31-1-1(a); § 32-31-1-4; § 32-31-1-8, confirmed 2026-10).
Does Indiana have statewide rent control?
No statewide rent regulation is on file for Indiana. Local ordinances can still limit increases, so check the city or county where the unit sits before setting a renewal rent.
Is source of income a protected class in Indiana?
No statewide source-of-income protection is on file for Indiana, but cities and counties can adopt it. Check local law before refusing a voucher or benefit income, and apply any screening criteria consistently.
Can a Indiana landlord add a surcharge for paying rent by card?
Allowed within card-network limits. Where a surcharge is allowed, it must still follow card-network rules and be disclosed before payment.
How this page was verified
Every rule is shown in one of two states. “Source-confirmed” means an editor opened the official statute page named next to the rule on the date shown, read the controlling text, and recorded the excerpt you see; the excerpt is quoted verbatim so you can check it. “Reference value” means Aptoria's compliance engine applies a conservative number for this rule, but nobody has yet tied it to a specific statute section on this page, so it must be checked before you rely on it.
This page meets Aptoria's evidence floor for publication (10 source-confirmed rules and 3 fetched official sources). Statutes change; local ordinances can be stricter; the facts of a tenancy change the result.