Short-term rental permit rules in Hamilton County, IN — also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration — list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
The county sets no STR permit rule—your city does. In Fishers, an owner-occupied short-term rental needs no permit; a non-owner rental needs a Special Exception. Carmel requires Board of Zoning Appeals approval for STRs of 30 days or less.
Hamilton County's most-incorporated cities zone their own land under IC 36-7-4, so permitting is a city question. Fishers UDO § 5.4.6.D treats an owner-occupied STR as a permitted use with no permit, while a non-owner STR requires a Special Exception. Carmel (Ordinance Z-629-17) requires a Board of Zoning Appeals Special Exception for any rental of 30 days or less. State law IC 36-1-24 bars cities from banning STRs outright and, under IC 36-1-24-13, caps permit fees at $150. The county Plan Commission zones only unincorporated land.
Fishers may revoke a permit if three or more citations issue within a calendar year; cities also pursue zoning enforcement and daily fines.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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See how Hamilton County's permit requirements rules stack up against other locations.
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