What are the key requirements for Bloomington hosts?

Owner-occupancy required: You must live in the property for at least 275 days per year.

What should Bloomington hosts know about heavy fines: operating without a?

Heavy fines: Operating without a permit starts at $2,500.

What should Bloomington hosts know about inspection cycle: permits are often?

Inspection cycle: Permits are often tied to a 3-5 year inspection cycle, but taxes are annual.

Are there rental limits in Bloomington?

Occupancy formula: Strict limit of 2 people per legal bedroom plus 2 additional guests.

Bloomington

Strict

STRs Allowed

IndianaLast updated: February 10, 2026

Baseline Verification

100%

Basic verification complete

Verified: Feb 7, 2026

Summary

Bloomington requires all short-term rentals to obtain a rental occupancy permit and generally mandates owner-occupancy for properties in residential zones.

Restriction Level

⛔

Strict

Score: 73 (lenient)

Why this classification:

•Primary residence required
•Owner-occupied required
•Tenants cannot host
•Permit required
•Reporting required
•No night cap

In Plain English

To host a short-term rental in Bloomington, you must register your property with the HAND department and pass a safety inspection. In most residential areas, you must live in the home for at least 275 days a year to qualify, effectively limiting non-owner occupied rentals to commercial or specific high-density zones.

At a Glance

Permit Required

Yes

Night Limit

None

Primary Residence

Required

Total Tax Rate

0.1%

Permit Fee

$105

Processing Time

2-4 weeks

Max Fine

$7,500

4 Things Hosts Often Miss

Regulation Details

Eligibility(6)

•Bloomington does NOT allow tenants to host STRs. Only property owners may operate short-term rentals.
•Bloomington: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.
•Bloomington: You can have a co-host or property manager help manage your listing.
•Bloomington allows STRs in the following property types: Single Family, Condo, Townhouse, Duplex.

Requirements(11)

•Bloomington STR warning: Inspection cycle: Permits are often tied to a 3-5 year inspection cycle, but taxes are annual.

Application Process(8)

•Bloomington STR permit - Step 1: Register Property with HAND. Submit a Rental Property Registration Form to the Department of Housing and Neighborhood Development (HAND). Required documents: Property Registration Form. Time: 1-2 days.

Fees & Costs(1)

•Bloomington charges a registration fee of $105 (annual). Extended/additional fee: $190 (Fee is $105 for 1-bedroom units and increases up to $190 for 4+ bedrooms.).

Taxes(3)

•Bloomington: Inspection cycle: Permits are often tied to a 3-5 year inspection cycle, but taxes are annual.
•Bloomington charges a Monroe County Innkeeper's Tax of 0.05%. This applies to stays under 30 days. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax. Note: Airbnb and VRBO generally collect and remit the 5% Innkeeper's Tax and 7% State Sales Tax.

Limits & Restrictions(5)

•Bloomington limits STRs to a maximum of 10 guests. Formula: 2 per bedroom plus 2 in common areas
•Bloomington: Occupancy formula: Strict limit of 2 people per legal bedroom plus 2 additional guests.
•Bloomington enforces quiet hours: 10pm - 7am.
•Bloomington occupancy calculation: 2 per bedroom plus 2 in common areas. Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.

Safety Requirements(1)

•Bloomington requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Egress windows in bedrooms, Handrails on stairs, Structural integrity of decks/porches.

Penalties(3)

•Bloomington: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.
•Bloomington: Heavy fines: Operating without a permit starts at $2,500.

Exemptions(2)

•Bloomington exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days), extended stays.
•Bloomington: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).

Step-by-Step Application Guide

Upgrade to Pro

Unlock: 4-Step Application Guide

Get step-by-step application guides and access to all 51+ markets.

Disclaimer

Regulatory information is AI-researched for educational purposes. Details may be outdated or incomplete. Always verify requirements directly with your city/county planning department before operating a short-term rental.

Other Indiana Markets

South Bend

Indiana

Permissive

South Bend requires short-term rentals to register with the city and comply with state-mandated permit fee caps and tax requirements.

Permit required

0.1% total tax

Terre Haute

Indiana

Moderate

Terre Haute requires all short-term rentals to register annually with the city's rental registry and comply with safe and habitable housing standards.

Permit required

0.1% total tax

Evansville

Indiana

Moderate

Evansville requires all short-term rental operators to obtain an annual registration from the Area Plan Commission and adhere to specific occupancy and safety standards.

Permit required

0.1% total tax

Muncie

Indiana

Permissive

Muncie requires short-term rental operators to register with the Building Commissioner, obtain an annual permit, and comply with state-mandated primary residence protections.

Permit required

0.1% total tax

Bloomington

Baseline Verification

Summary

Restriction Level

Why this classification:

In Plain English

At a Glance

4 Things Hosts Often Miss

Create a free account

Regulation Details

Eligibility(6)

Requirements(11)

Application Process(8)

Fees & Costs(1)

Taxes(3)

Limits & Restrictions(5)

Safety Requirements(1)

Penalties(3)

Exemptions(2)

Create a free account

Step-by-Step Application Guide

Upgrade to Pro

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Content

Other Indiana Markets

South Bend

Terre Haute

Evansville

Muncie

Bloomington

Baseline Verification

Summary

Restriction Level

Why this classification:

In Plain English

At a Glance

4 Things Hosts Often Miss

Step-by-Step Application Guide

Upgrade to Pro

Frequently Asked Questions

1Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Bloomington?

2What is the TOT tax rate in Bloomington?

3Are there owner-occupancy rules in Bloomington?

4What are the penalties for non-compliance in Bloomington?

Related Content

Other Indiana Markets

South Bend

Terre Haute

Evansville

Muncie