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Evansville, IN Rental Property Rules: Repairs & Habitability (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Required registration fee
$100 per dwelling unit
Voluntary registration fee
$10 per dwelling unit
First violation penalty
$100 civil penalty
Enforcing agency
Building Commission / Code Official
Local agent required
if owner is outside Vanderburgh area

Summary

Evansville registers rental dwellings cited as 'substandard' under the Property Maintenance Code, and every registered rental is subject to inspection by the Code Official under Chapter 15.16 of the city code.

Each substandard building located within the City used for the purpose of erecting or maintaining a rental dwelling thereon is required to be registered with the Building Commission. ... Each rental dwelling and premises within the City that is registered in accordance with this chapter is subject to inspection by the Code Official.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance G-2026-12, passed June 22, 2026).

Full Breakdown

Under Evansville Municipal Code Chapter 15.16, a rental building the Building Commission finds in ongoing violation of the Property Maintenance Code must register as a substandard rental dwelling and pay a $100 per-unit fee; owners can also voluntarily register for $10 per unit. Once registered, the dwelling is subject to inspection by the Code Official, and the Board of Public Safety sets inspection fees, including separate charges for each re-inspection needed to confirm violations are corrected. Owners outside Vanderburgh County or a contiguous Indiana county must designate a local agent to receive notices and legal service.

Violations & Fines

Failing to register a substandard rental, ignoring a notice, or blocking a code inspection can trigger progressive Property Maintenance Code penalties: $100 first violation, $250 second, $500 third, plus court-ordered fines up to $5,000.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Evansville inspect all rental properties?
No. Routine inspection applies to dwellings registered under Chapter 15.16: either required because a building was cited as substandard, or voluntarily registered by the owner; the Code Official can also inspect on probable cause of a violation.
What triggers required registration?
A rental building becomes 'substandard' and must register when the owner or agent has been nonresponsive to Building Commission requests to fix Property Maintenance Code violations, per EMC 15.16.010 and 15.16.040.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Evansville

Fence Regulations: Height LimitsSome RestrictionsParking Rules: RV & Boat ParkingSome RestrictionsRental RegistrationSignificant RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Aircraft NoiseSignificant RestrictionsParking Rules: Towing & Impound RightsSignificant RestrictionsParking Rules: EV ChargingFew RestrictionsFence Regulations: Fence Permit RequirementsSome Restrictions

All Evansville rules

Compare Evansville to another location·View the Indiana rental property rules overview

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