Cal. Civ. Code § 36-1-20-3.5
Permit to lease rental units, when authorized; participation in class or program as condition prohibited; section not applicable to registration or inspection programs created before July 1, 1984
Operative Text
Sec. 3.5. (a) This section does not apply to a political subdivision with a rental registration or inspection program created before July 1, 1984. (b) A political subdivision may not require a rental unit's owner or landlord to do any of the following: (1) Except as provided in subsection (c), obtain a permit to lease the rental unit. (2) Participate in a class or government program as a condition for leasing the rental unit. (c) Notwithstanding subsection (b), a political subdivision may require a rental unit's owner or landlord to obtain a permit only as follows: (1) A fee may not be charged to obtain a permit. (2) Except when there is a change of ownership of the real property, a permit does not expire. A political subdivision may require a new owner of the real estate to obtain a new permit. (3) Only one (1) permit may be required for a rental unit community.
Indiana Code § 36-1-20-3.5 limits what local governments (political subdivisions) in Indiana can require of residential rental property owners, with an exception for programs that existed before July 1, 1984. As a general rule, local governments may not require landlords to obtain a leasing permit or complete a class or government program as a condition of renting out a unit. However, if a local government does require a permit, that permit must be free of charge, must not expire unless ownership of the property changes, and only one permit may be required for an entire rental unit community.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Ind. Code § 36-1-20-3.5, landlords operating in Indiana are generally shielded from local requirements to obtain a paid leasing permit or complete a government-mandated class before renting a unit. If a local government does impose a permit requirement that complies with the statute's narrow allowances, compliant operators confirm that no fee is being charged, that the permit remains valid without renewal (unless the property changes hands), and that only one permit is sought for a rental community. Landlords whose local government has a rental registration or inspection program predating July 1, 1984, should be aware that those programs are not subject to this section's restrictions.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Ind. Code § 36-1-20-3.5 establishes limits on what local governments can demand of landlords as a condition of renting, which can affect the regulatory environment tenants live under. Tenants who believe a local government is imposing permit or program requirements on landlords in ways that conflict with this provision may find it useful to contact a local tenant-rights organization or legal aid office for general information about how the law applies in their area. Note that programs created before July 1, 1984 are exempt from this section, so the rules in a given locality may vary depending on when any local rental registration or inspection program was established.
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
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.