On Monday, April 21, 2025, the Fishers City Council voted unanimously to implement the Home Rental Registration & Permitting Program. Rental registration opens June 2025, with enforcement beginning January 1, 2026.

How to Register Your Rental Property

The City of Fishers uses an online software system called Slate by Tolemi to register single-family, long-term rental properties.

For a visual step-by-step guide on how to register your rental property, click here.

How to register:

Step 1: Click here to access the registration software site
Step 2: Create an account by clicking “Start” or use existing credentials to log in by clicking “Sign In.”
Step 3: Once logged in, select the blue “Start New” button and select “Rental Registration.”
Step 4: Search for your property address using the street address or parcel ID of your rental property. Select the address you want to register and select “Next.”
- To add multiple properties, search for additional addresses and follow the prompts to complete. Once all addresses have been added, select “Next.”
- To add units to your property address, select “Add Unit” and follow the prompts to complete.
Step 5: Complete the prompts in the following “Property Information” step
Step 6: Add or Assign Property Owner. Select “Create New” from the drop-down box to add a property owner or agent to act on behalf of the owner associated with the property or properties. Complete the form(s) and follow the prompts to assign the property owner to the related properties.
Step 7: Review submission and select “Submit.”

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the rental registration and permitting ordinance?

The ordinance enacts:
1. Registration & Permitting Requirement for all single-family, long-term rentals in Fishers.
2. Rental Permit Cap that limits available permits to be issued to less than 10% of long-term rentals per subdivision. Legacy rentals (prior to the ordinance’s effective date of January 1, 2026) will not be subject to, nor counted toward, the 10% cap.

I need to register my rental property. Where do I go to register?

The City of Fishers uses an online software system called Slate by Tolemi. Property owners may register rental properties by clicking here. Visual step-by-step instructions for registering your property can be found here.

I believe I qualify for an exemption. Where do I go to claim an exception?

Exemptions will be processed via this form. Property owners who believe their property is exempt from the ordinance must complete the form. The property owner will be notified of the exemption approval or denial via the email provided on the form.

What are the exemptions included in the ordinance?

An extensive list of exemptions is included in Ordinance 022425A.

General exceptions include: renting to a dependent or parent, if you have been relocated for a job in the last year, if selling the property would cause an undue burden on the property owner (i.e. situations of death and divorce), if the property had been listed on the market for 6 months and failed to sell, if the owner is deployed military and must rent out of the home while deployed.

If the property exemption is not covered in the ordinance or is denied by staff, the property owner may file an appeal.

I received a letter incorrectly identifying my property as a rental. How do I fix this?

Property owners may complete the Correction & Exemption form. After the form is submitted, the owner will receive an email follow-up to confirm whether their correction is approved, and the property will be removed from our records.

When do I need to be registered by?

Enforcement of the ordinance begins on January 1, 2026. All rental properties must be registered by December 31, 2025.

I am in a subdivision with over 10% rentals. Can I keep my current rental?

Yes. Any rental existing before December 31st, 2025, will be grandfathered into the rental ordinance and permitted, even if the rental is in a subdivision with over 10% rentals.

I am an unincorporated property. Do I need to register?

No. Only incorporated single-family rentals, townhomes, or individually platted condominiums must register.

Do I have to pay for this permit?

No. There is no fee for the application or permit.

Do I need to renew my permit annually?

No permits are valid until the ownership of the property changes.

Do I need to register all of my rental properties in Fishers?

Yes. All rental properties, even if under the same ownership, must be registered and permitted to operate.

About the Program

In 2022, the City of Fishers released a public report that found it imperative to the City’s long-term vibrancy to maintain high-quality rental stock as many older homes that are currently owner-occupied enter the rental market.

Considering this trend and the increasing numbers of out-of-state ownership (47% of all SF rentals) and institutional investor ownership (25% of all SF rentals), the City Council passed an ordinance that requires registration of every single-family rental property within Fishers City limits as well as enforce a 10% maximum cap of single-family rental properties.

What are the goals of this Ordinance?

GOAL #1: Protecting Homeownership & Vibrant Neighborhoods

Homeowners have a vested interest in the vibrancy of their community and in building equity in their homes by investing in and improving their properties.
Investors are primarily focused on generating income from rental properties. While landlords may invest in maintenance and safety costs, their main priority is maintaining a profitable rental revenue stream, which does not include investments in vibrancy or quality of life improvements.

Homeowners, on average, spend $4,900 per year on home improvements (2015-2023). Investment and improvements in owner-occupied homes have continued to increase. In 2023, homeowners spent over $9,500 on average on home improvement projects alone. Furthermore, neighborhoods with high concentrations of rentals have less building permit activity, suggesting less investment overall
*Source: Improving America’s Housing 2025, Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University
The Social Spillovers of Homeownership, University of Colorado + Clemson University, 2025

GOAL #2: Addresses current and future risks of oversaturation of single-family rentals in a small number of neighborhoods.

While rental housing options are critical to a diverse housing inventory, certain subdivisions within Fishers are oversaturated with rental units, which may contribute to decreased property values and a lack of neighborhood vibrancy.

– The city has 50 subdivisions with over 10% rentals.
– 17 subdivisions between 20-29% rentals
– 9 neighborhoods with +30% rentals

While institutional investors originally brought attention to this topic, they are just a fragment of the broader challenge. The proposed ordinance addresses the challenge of oversaturation of rentals in neighborhoods.

Policy Launch Timeline (June 2025 – January 2026)

Communication and outreach will occur with homeowners and HOAs in June 2025.
- An initial notice will be mailed to suspected long-term rental property owners.
120 days prior to enforcement date, a second notice will be mailed to property owners of suspected long-term rental properties.
90 days prior to enforcement date, a notice will be sent to long-term rental property owners
60 days prior to enforcement date, a notice will be sent to long-term rental property owners
30 days prior to enforcement date, a final notice will be sent to long-term rental property owners
An estimated implementation date of January 1, 2026, will coincide with enforcement beginning and all long-term rentals being registered.

Ordinance Resources

Proposed Ordinance

1/13/25 – City Council Work Session Presentation (PDF)

2/24/25 – City Council First Reading Presentation (PDF) | Video

3/10/25 – Public Webinar Town Hall Recording (YouTube) | Q&A (PDF)

Ordinance FAQ’s

Why can’t HOAs manage this at the subdivision level?

HOA covenant changes can be difficult to modify due to strict voting requirements. Additionally, many HOAs lack the resources to enforce these regulations.

Would this ordinance prevent my HOA from implementing more stringent regulations?

No, this serves as a baseline. HOAs may choose to implement stricter regulations.

How much will it cost to register a long-term rental property?

There will be no cost to register a long-term rental property through this program.

Does this include long-term rentals for condos and townhouses?

Yes, the rental registration and permitting will apply to any single-family home as well as condos and townhouses.

Does this ordinance apply to short-term rentals?

No, short term rentals are not regulated by the proposed Chapter 163 of the Fishers Code of Ordinances. Please refer to City of Fishers Unified Development Ordinance Section 5.4.6(D) for short term rentals.

What are Legacy Rentals?

Under the proposed ordinance, Legacy Rentals are rental properties existing prior to the enforcement date of January 1st, 2026. Legacy Rentals registering prior to January 1st, 2026 will be issued a permit, regardless of whether they are in a subdivision with over 10% rentals. Subdivisions over 10% rentals will not be issued any additional rental permits, until the rental percentage drops below 10% in that neighborhood. Permits of Legacy Rentals are valid until ownership changeover of the property occurs, or until a violation warranting permit revocation occurs. See more on permit revocation in the FAQ.

Can permits be revoked?

Yes. Under the proposed ordinance, permits may be revoked for violations to the Title XV of the Fishers Municipal Code, delinquency of Fishers Utilities invoices, or provisions of city ordinances that place undue burden on public safety resources (i.e. more than seven (7) calls for service to public safety). Permit revocation will be handled by the City of Fishers City Court. See permit criteria for more information.

Do permits expire?

Per state statute, rental permits may not expire until there is a changeover of ownership or there is a violation of the City’s enforceable ordinance or codes. See ‘Can permits be revoked?’ for more information.

Does the ordinance include fines for non-compliance?

Yes. The proposed ordinance includes the following:

Failing to Register: $250 Fine

Operating above 10% cap without a permit:
First Violation: $1000 Fine
Second & Subsequent Violation: Not Less than $5,000 nor more than $7,500

Will this ordinance eliminate existing single-family rentals in Fishers?

NO. Existing family rental units will be grandfathered into the proposed ordinance, exempting existing rentals from the 10% cap (until there is a change over of ownership). See Legacy Rentals FAQ. Furthermore, the proposed ordinance allows for growth in single family rental units. Single family rental units currently make up 8% of the single family housing stock in Fishers. The proposed ordinance allows for 10% single family rentals per subdivision in Fishers.