St. Joseph County, IN Rental Property Rules: Rental Registration (2026)
Key Facts
- South Bend
- Register by September 1
- Fee cap
- $5 per unit
- Non-registration penalty
- $300 per unit
- Inspection
- RSVP in South Bend
- Unincorporated county
- No registration
Summary
South Bend requires every non-occupant landlord to register rentals annually by September 1. Indiana Code 36-1-20-5 caps the fee at five dollars. Unincorporated St. Joseph County has no registration program.
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).
Full Breakdown
South Bend runs a Landlord Registration Program under City Code Chapter 6, Article 10: any owner of residential rental property they do not occupy must register with the city each year by September 1. State law caps the charge, IC 36-1-20-5(c) limits the annual registration fee to five dollars per rental unit, so South Bend's fee is $5 per owner, and failing to register draws a $300 civil penalty per unit. South Bend separately requires a safety inspection under its Rental Safety Verification Program. These survive Indiana's landlord-tenant preemption because IC 36-1-20 expressly authorizes registration. Unincorporated St. Joseph County and Mishawaka impose no such registry.
Violations & Fines
In South Bend, failing to register a rental by September 1 is a $300 civil penalty per rental unit or community. Renting an uninspected unit violates the Rental Safety Verification ordinance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to register my South Bend rental?
Does unincorporated St. Joseph County require registration?
Sources & Official References
- [1]Indiana Code
Other rules in St. Joseph County
Compare St. Joseph County to another location·View the Indiana rental property rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.