Indianapolis, IN Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Parking Rules (2026)

Section 852-105 sets four structure and site standards for a licensed short-term rental. Subsection (1) requires the unit to be a legally built dwelling meeting building code, either inside a primary building as defined in Section 740-202 or inside an accessory building that conforms to the secondary dwelling unit standard in Section 743-306(GG). Subsection (2) flatly rules out recreational vehicles, mobile homes, travel trailers, automobiles, shipping containers, or any similar structure, and bars any motor vehicle or vehicle part from counting as a short-term rental unit.

Subsection (3), the parking rule, doesn't set its own space count; instead it cross-references the Zoning Ordinance's general off-street parking standards in Chapter 744, Articles IV, V, and VII, and Chapter 931 of the Revised Code, the same rules that apply to commercial-area parking. Subsection (4) does the same for signage, pointing to Chapter 744, Article IX. Because a short-term rental permit doesn't require development plan approval under Section 852-106(1), an owner still has to independently confirm the parking that already exists, or that's proposed, on the property satisfies those cross-referenced zoning articles before renting the unit out; the permit application itself, per Section 852-106(2)(b), asks for the advertised occupancy and dwelling type but doesn't separately verify parking.

An inspection may be ordered as part of the annual permit renewal under Section 852-106(2)(d) to confirm the structure, which would include site conditions, meets applicable building codes and is safe and habitable.