Cal. Civ. Code § 32-31-1-20
Local units prohibited from regulating rental rates and landlord-tenant relationship
Operative Text
Sec. 20. (a) Subject to IC 36-1-3-8.5, this section does not apply to privately owned real property for which government funds or benefits have been allocated from the United States government, the state, or a political subdivision for the express purpose of providing reduced rents to low or moderate income tenants. (b) 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. (c) A unit (as defined in IC 36-1-2-23) may not regulate, through an ordinance or otherwise, any of the following aspects of a landlord-tenant relationship with respect to privately owned real property located in the unit unless the regulation is authorized by an act of the general assembly: (1) The screening process used by a landlord in approving tenants to lease privately owned real property. (2) Security deposits. (3) Lease applications. (4) Leasing terms and conditions. (5) Disclosures concerning the: (A) property; (B) lease; or (C) rights and responsibilities of the parties; involved in a landlord-tenant relationship. (6) The rights of the parties to a lease. (7) Any fees charged by a landlord. Any ordinance or regulation that violates this subsection is void and unenforceable.
Indiana Code § 32-31-1-20 establishes that local government units — such as cities, towns, and counties — are generally prohibited from enacting their own rules that control rental rates or govern key aspects of the landlord-tenant relationship for privately owned property. This prohibition covers a broad range of topics, including tenant screening, security deposits, lease applications, leasing terms, required disclosures, party rights, and landlord fees. Any local ordinance or regulation that conflicts with this provision is declared void and unenforceable. A notable exception exists for privately owned properties that receive government funds specifically designated to provide reduced rents to low- or moderate-income tenants.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Ind. Code § 32-31-1-20, landlords operating in Indiana can generally rely on state law — rather than a patchwork of local ordinances — to govern their rental practices, including how they screen tenants, structure leases, set fees, and handle security deposits. Because local units of government are prohibited from regulating these areas without express state legislative authorization, a compliant operator typically looks to Indiana state statutes and any applicable federal law as the primary framework for their rental operations. Landlords whose properties receive government subsidies specifically aimed at reducing rents for low- or moderate-income tenants should be aware that the exception under this section may subject those properties to different rules.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Ind. Code § 32-31-1-20 means that tenants in Indiana generally cannot rely on local city or county ordinances to provide protections around issues like security deposits, lease terms, tenant screening, or landlord fees, because local governments are broadly prohibited from enacting such rules without state authorization. Tenants whose housing is subsidized by government funds for the purpose of providing reduced rents may fall under a different framework, as those properties are carved out from this prohibition. Tenants seeking to understand their rights are generally encouraged to review Indiana state landlord-tenant statutes and consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid provider familiar with state law.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 14, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
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