Lake County, IN Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)
Short-term rental permit rules in Lake County, IN, also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration, list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Key Facts
- Governing law
- IC 36-1-24 (statewide)
- Permit scope
- One per property
- Issuance deadline
- Within 30 days
- County zoning body
- Lake County Plan Commission
- County STR ordinance
- None; zoning use only
Summary
Under Indiana's statewide STR law (IC 36-1-24), a local unit may require a permit for each short-term-rental property, but the ordinance may impose only the requirements that state law allows. In unincorporated Lake County the Plan Commission handles zoning; the county has no separate STR permit ordinance.
A unit may require an owner to obtain a permit for each property by adopting an ordinance that sets forth only the requirements of this chapter for obtaining a permit.
Full Breakdown
Indiana Code 36-1-24-11 lets a city, town, or county require an owner to obtain a permit for each STR property, but only by adopting an ordinance that 'sets forth only the requirements of this chapter.' One permit covers all dwelling units and detached accessory structures on the property. The unit must issue the permit within thirty (30) days of a complete application. Lake County proper (unincorporated land, administered by the Lake County Plan Commission in Crown Point) regulates STRs through zoning use, not a stand-alone permit program; municipalities such as Gary, Hammond, and Merrillville may adopt their own permits within these state limits.
Violations & Fines
Operating without a required permit is an ordinance violation; the unit may issue citations and, per IC 36-1-24-14, revoke a permit after three or more citations in a calendar year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does unincorporated Lake County require an STR permit?
How long can a unit take to issue a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lake County
How Lake County compares: Most Airbnb-Friendly Cities in America·Compare Lake County to another location·View the Indiana short-term rentals overview
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