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Rental Application Fee Laws in Indiana

Indiana law bars local governments from regulating lease applications, tenant screening, and fees charged by landlords.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Indiana at a glance

Fee limit
Local fee rules preempted by state law
Ind. Code 32-31-1-20 bars local regulation of the screening process, lease applications, and any fees charged by a landlord.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Indiana

How much can a landlord charge for a rental application in Indiana?

Fee limit in Indiana: Local fee rules preempted by state law. Ind. Code 32-31-1-20 bars local regulation of the screening process, lease applications, and any fees charged by a landlord.

Where do the Indiana rental application fee laws come from?

The rules above come from Ind. Code 32-31-1-20. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

What this means in practice

Before collecting a fee, landlords can tell applicants in writing how much it is, what it pays for, and the screening criteria that will be used. Several statutes require some of this disclosure, and it also reduces disputes when an application is denied.

Keep a copy of the invoice or receipt from the screening company. Where the law ties the fee to actual cost or requires an itemized receipt, that record shows the fee was lawful.

Check local law as well as state law. In many states a city or county ordinance can set a lower limit or add refund and notice rules, and the stricter rule usually applies. A few states bar local rules on application fees.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.