Hammond, IN Rental Property Rules: Rental Registration (2026)

152 of Hammond's rental housing subchapter requires any owner of real property used as rental housing, for all or part of a year, to register every such property on an annual basis by April 15. Registration forms are available from the Inspections Department, in person or online, and the office will not accept a registration or renewal without proof of full liability, fire or other insurance equal to the value of the property, including demolition costs, or alternatively a bond or letter of credit equal to that value or $25,000, whichever is greater.

152(C) sets an $80 annual fee for each apartment, rental dwelling or rental unit, though an owner-occupant with a homestead exemption in their own name pays a discounted $20 per unit for up to 20 additional rental units in the same building, with units above 20 billed at the regular $80 rate. 152(F). 152(D) sets a fine of up to $2,500 per unit per day for a first offense and up to $7,500 per unit per day for a second or subsequent offense, with a court-imposed minimum of $300 for a first offense and $500 for later offenses, and each day of noncompliance counted as a separate offense.

New owners must register within 30 days of taking title, and an owner who stops renting, sells, or transfers the property must notify the Inspections Department within 30 days of the change.