Cal. Civ. Code § 36-1-20-5
Rental unit registration program; limitations; fees; section not applicable to registration or inspection programs created before July 1, 1984
Operative Text
Sec. 5. (a) This section does not apply to a political subdivision with a rental registration or inspection program created before July 1, 1984. (b) This chapter does not prohibit a political subdivision from establishing and enforcing a registration program for rental units within the political subdivision. (c) A political subdivision may impose on an owner or landlord of a rental unit an annual registration fee of not more than five dollars ($5). (d) A registration fee imposed under subsection (c) covers all the rental units in a rental unit community. However, if a rental unit is not part of a rental unit community, a registration fee may be imposed for each separate parcel of real property on which a rental unit is located. (e) If the ownership of a rental unit community or the ownership of a parcel of real property on which a rental unit is located changes, a political subdivision may require the new owner of the rental unit community or new owner of the real estate parcel to: (1) pay an annual registration fee of not more than five dollars ($5); and (2) provide updated registration information to the political subdivision; not later than thirty (30) days after the change of ownership.
Indiana Code § 36-1-20-5 permits local governments (political subdivisions) to create and operate registration programs for rental units within their boundaries, subject to specific limits. The annual registration fee that a local government may charge a landlord or owner is capped at five dollars, and that fee covers an entire rental unit community rather than each individual unit. When ownership of a rental property or community changes hands, the new owner generally has thirty days to pay the registration fee and submit updated registration information to the local government. This section does not apply to registration or inspection programs that were already in place before July 1, 1984.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Ind. Code § 36-1-20-5, local governments in Indiana are authorized to require landlords and property owners to register their rental units, but the annual fee for doing so is capped at five dollars per rental unit community. If a property is not part of a community, the fee may be assessed per parcel rather than per individual unit. Operators who acquire a rental unit community or parcel should be aware that compliant practice under this section generally involves submitting updated registration information and paying any applicable fee within thirty days of a change in ownership.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Ind. Code § 36-1-20-5 establishes that local governments in Indiana may run rental unit registration programs, which can serve as a mechanism for tracking rental housing ownership and conditions in a community. Tenants may find it useful to know whether their local government operates such a program, as registration records can sometimes help identify the current owner of a rental property. Tenants who have questions about local registration requirements or how those programs may relate to their housing situation can reach out to a local tenant-rights organization or their municipality's housing office for general information.
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.
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