Melody Hill, IN

Indiana Code 36-1-24 (HEA 1035, 2018) preempts local bans on short-term rentals: an owner-occupied STR is a permitted residential use, and non-owner-occupied STRs cannot be effectively prohibited. Vanderburgh County does not have a county STR-specific permit, but Evansville requires annual residential rental registration with the Building Commission and a certificate of occupancy. Operators must collect the 7% Vanderburgh County innkeeper's tax and the 7% Indiana sales tax on stays under 30 days.

Vanderburgh County has not adopted a parking rule unique to short-term rentals. STR parking is governed by the off-street parking standards in the Evansville-Vanderburgh Unified Development Ordinance (Title 18 City / Title 17 County) - typically two off-street spaces for a single-family dwelling - plus on-street parking restrictions in Evansville Municipal Code Title 12. Front-yard parking on grass and blocked sidewalks are common violation categories.

Vanderburgh County imposes an 8% county innkeeper's tax on lodging rentals under 30 days under IC 6-9-2.5 and Vanderburgh County Code Ch. 3.12, in addition to Indiana's 7% state sales tax. Properties in the City of Evansville must also register annually as residential rentals with the Evansville-Vanderburgh Building Commission ($5 per parcel, $100 max per owner) under Evansville Municipal Code Ch. 8.40 (Ord. G-2014-29).

Neither Vanderburgh County nor the City of Evansville sets a numeric guest cap specific to short-term rentals. Indiana Code 36-1-24-8 makes owner-occupied STRs a permitted residential use, and any local cap on occupants must be reasonable. In practice, occupancy is constrained by the Evansville-Vanderburgh property maintenance code's general dwelling space-per-occupant standards and the building/fire code limits applicable to the specific structure.

Vanderburgh County Code Chapter 17.12 requires a six-foot impassable fence around all swimming pools, accessories, and entries. The fencing rule applies to any pool over two feet in depth at any point - stricter than the 4-foot minimum in the Indiana Residential Code. Swimming pool installations require a building permit through the Evansville-Vanderburgh Building Commission, and the pool barrier provisions of the Indiana Residential Code (IRC 2020, Section R326) also apply.

Indiana has no statewide ADU mandate; the Evansville-Vanderburgh County Area Plan Commission regulates ADUs under the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO). ADUs are allowed only as accessory to a single-family home or duplex on lots of at least 5,000 sq ft, sized 400-800 sq ft (or 40% of the principal structure, whichever is greater), with mandatory owner occupancy of either the principal home or the ADU recorded by deed restriction.

Indiana legalizes consumer fireworks under IC 22-11-14 (Indiana Fireworks Safety Act). Statewide discharge hours under IC 22-11-14-6 are 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. on most days, until midnight on listed holidays and December 31. In unincorporated Vanderburgh County these state hours apply. Within the City of Evansville, discharge is further restricted to June 29-July 9 between 5:00 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. (10:00 a.m.-midnight on July 4). Fireworks are prohibited in all county-maintained parks under Vanderburgh County Code 12.24.010(u).

Vanderburgh County itself has not adopted a countywide noise ordinance for unincorporated areas; only the City of Evansville has a comprehensive noise code (Evansville Municipal Code Chapter 9.30). In unincorporated Vanderburgh County, loud or disruptive noise is handled by the Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Office under Indiana Code 35-45-1-3 (disorderly conduct) and IC 35-45-1-4 (rave parties). Inside Evansville, Chapter 9.30 prohibits unreasonable noise that disrupts ordinary persons, with property-line and amplification limits. Noise complaints in unincorporated areas: VCSO non-emergency at 812-421-6201.

Vanderburgh County regulates fences through Chapter 15.20 of the County Code and through the Evansville-Vanderburgh Unified Development Ordinance (UDO, Title 20). In residential zones, fences are generally limited to 3 feet in required front yards on corner lots, 4 feet in other required front yards, and 6 feet along side or rear lot lines. Electric fences for restraining farm animals are allowed under Chapter 15.20 with conditions. Sight-distance triangles at intersections override these maximums. Permits and zoning questions: Evansville-Vanderburgh Area Plan Commission, 812-435-5226.

Vanderburgh County Code Chapter 6.05 (Animal Control) requires all animals - including dogs - to be on a leash whenever they are off the owner's property. A 'leash' means a cord, chain, rope, strap, or other physical restraint, and a dog 'at large' is any dog not on its owner's property and not adequately confined or under the immediate control of a person physically capable of restraining it. The ordinance was substantively amended in 2018 (CO.04-18-009). Enforcement is by the Evansville-Vanderburgh Department of Animal Care and Control and the Sheriff's Office. Report violations: Animal Care & Control at 812-435-6015.

Vanderburgh County participates in the FEMA National Flood Insurance Program and enforces floodplain rules through Vanderburgh County Code Chapter 18.04 (Flood Hazard Protection). A Floodplain Development Permit is required before any construction in a Special Flood Hazard Area mapped on the FEMA FIRM (effective March 17, 2011). The Flood Protection Grade is BFE plus 2 feet of freeboard. The Ohio River and Pigeon Creek drive significant flood risk. Indiana state oversight is at IC 14-28 (Flood Control Act) administered by the Indiana DNR.