01/06/2026
Terre Haute — A new city ordinance requiring the registration of rental properties is now in effect for property owners within Terre Haute city limits.
The ordinance, adopted as General Ordinance 4, 2025, establishes the Rental Registration and Inspection Program of the City of Terre Haute, Indiana and went into effect on January 1.
Under the new code provisions, owners of rental properties must complete an annual registration for each parcel of real property containing a rental unit. The registration includes a $5 annual fee per parcel, which must be paid by January 31 of each year.
City code defines a rental unit broadly, including single-family homes, multi-family dwellings, apartments, boarding houses, and other residential properties used for rental purposes.
The ordinance authorizes city building inspectors to administer and enforce the program.
Inspections may be conducted to ensure compliance with applicable building, housing, and safety standards. The program is codified under Chapter 4, Registries and Registration, of the Terre Haute City Code.
City officials state the purpose of the program is to protect public health and safety, ensure minimum housing standards, and maintain property conditions throughout the city.
The ordinance also coincides with updates to the city’s Property Maintenance Code, which requires existing structures and premises to meet minimum health and safety standards and to be repaired or altered when deficiencies are identified.
The city has not publicly released detailed penalty language associated with noncompliance within the ordinance notice itself. Enforcement provisions are expected to be handled through the city’s existing code enforcement process.
Rental property owners can complete registration and payments through the city’s online portal, and the full city code is available for public review through the City of Terre Haute’s official website.
