Hendricks County, IN Public Health Rules: Bed-Bug Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Covered facilities
- Hotels, motels, inns
- Bed bug rule
- Close room + contiguous rooms
- Reopening requires
- Licensed pest control + Health Officer OK
- Closure threshold
- >25% rooms infested = whole property
- Penalty per violation
- $250, capped at $5,000
- Appeal deadline
- 15 days to Health Board
Summary
Hendricks County hotels and motels must close and remediate any guest room where bed bugs are found, and every contiguous room, until a licensed pest control professional inspects and treats and the Health Officer approves reopening. Violations carry civil penalties up to $5,000.
(F) If bed bugs are found in a guest room, all contiguous rooms must also be inspected by a licensed pest control professional and treated as necessary. Guest rooms and contiguous rooms may be not be used until approved by the Health Officer.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2025 S-3: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ord. 2024-50, passed 12-10-2024; and State law current through Indiana Legislative Service, 2025 Acts, Pamphlet No. 3).
Full Breakdown
01 defines PEST as "an insect, rodent, or other animal that creates a public health risk or nuisance, including but not limited to, a bed bug, rodent, cockroach, flea, or ant," and applies to any LODGING ESTABLISHMENT, meaning a hotel, motel, or inn in the county (excluding apartments, private homes, bed and breakfasts, dormitories, or boarding houses). 03 requires every lodging establishment to be free of harborage conditions or infestations, requires owners to keep a written policy for staff to handle pest complaints, and requires pest complaint logs and pest control invoices to be kept on-site for at least one year for Health Officer inspection.
04(F): "If bed bugs are found in a guest room, all contiguous rooms must also be inspected by a licensed pest control professional and treated as necessary. 04(H) lets the Health Officer close an entire lodging establishment without notice if an infestation covers more than 25% of guest rooms. 05.
Violations & Fines
Under § 114.99, a civil penalty of $250 per violation may be sought, capped at $5,000 total, multiplied by the number of days the County Health Department has documented the violation. The Health Officer can order immediate closure of affected rooms without notice or hearing under § 114.04(H), and habitual non-compliance can trigger an administrative hearing and additional civil penalties under § 114.04(I).
Frequently Asked Questions
What must a Hendricks County hotel do if bed bugs are found in a room?
Can guests' belongings be moved out of a bed bug room right away?
What happens if bed bugs spread across a hotel?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Hendricks County
Compare Hendricks County to another location·View the Indiana public health rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.