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  1. Home
  2. ·
  3. Regulations
  4. ·
  5. Indiana
  6. ·
  7. Evansville

Evansville

Moderate
IndianaUpdated Apr 7, 2026
Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 0 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Feb 8, 2026Sources 0

Summary

Plain-english overview

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.

Restriction level

Severity 21
Classification
Moderate
21
Severity

Why this classification

  • Standard permit fee: $150
  • Tenants cannot host
  • Permit required
  • Reporting required
  • No night cap
  • No primary residence requirement

In plain English

What this means for you

Property owners must register their short-term rentals with the city-county planning department and pay a $150 annual fee. You must provide a local contact person who lives within 50 miles and ensure your listing displays your registration number. Occupancy is strictly limited based on the number of bedrooms, with a maximum of 10 guests total.

At a glance

Key numbers
Permit requiredYes
Night limitNone
Primary residenceNot required
Total tax rate0.1%
Permit fee$150
Processing time1-2 weeks
Max fine$2,500

4 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps
  1. 1Occupancy is strictly limited to 10 people max, regardless of house size.
  2. 2The local contact person must reside within 50 miles of the rental property and be reachable 24/7.
  3. 3Registration number must be clearly displayed in the heading of any online listing (Airbnb, VRBO, etc.).
  4. 4Registration must be renewed annually by the anniversary of the original approval.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code
Eligibility5 rules
  • Evansville does NOT allow tenants to host STRs. Only property owners may operate short-term rentals.
  • Evansville: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.
  • Evansville allows STRs in the following property types: Single Family, Two Family, Multi-Family, Condo, Townhouse.
Requirements12 rules
  • Evansville STR warning: Occupancy is strictly limited to 10 people max, regardless of house size.
  • Evansville STR warning: Registration must be renewed annually by the anniversary of the original approval.
  • Evansville STR warning: The local contact person must reside within 50 miles of the rental property and be reachable 24/7.
Application process7 rules
  • How to set up an STR in Evansville: Property owners must register their short-term rentals with the city-county planning department and pay a $150 annual fee. You must provide a local contact person who lives within 50 miles and ensure your listing displays your registration number. Occupancy is strictly limited based on the number of bedrooms, with a maximum of 10 guests total.
Fees & costs1 rule
  • Evansville charges a registration fee of $150 (annual).
Taxes2 rules
  • Evansville charges a Vanderburgh County Innkeeper's Tax of 0.08%. This applies to stays under 30 days. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax. Note: Airbnb and VRBO remit the Innkeeper's Tax and State Sales tax directly to the Indiana Department of Revenue.
  • Indiana has a state sales tax of 0.07% that applies to STR rentals.
Limits & restrictions5 rules
  • Evansville limits stays to a maximum of 29 nights.
  • Evansville: Occupancy is strictly limited to 10 people max, regardless of house size.
  • Evansville enforces quiet hours: 10pm-7am.
  • Evansville limits STRs to a maximum of 10 guests. Formula: 2 persons per bedroom plus 2, not to exceed 10 total
Safety requirements1 rule
  • Evansville requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Interconnected smoke alarms, Escape plan posted in each bedroom, Functioning CO detectors on every level.
Penalties2 rules
  • Evansville enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: Warning or $50-$500 fine. Second offense: $500 fine. Third offense: Permit revocation. Daily fine: $500 per day for operating without registration. Maximum fine: 2500. Permit may be revoked for violations.
Exemptions2 rules
  • Evansville: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).
  • Evansville exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days), extended stays, Bed and Breakfasts, Hotels/Motels.

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for Evansville

0/4
steps completed
Step 1

Verify Zoning and Ownership

Confirm your property is within the Evansville city limits or Vanderburgh County jurisdiction and complies with local zoning codes through the APC.

1 dayFree
Official resource
Step 2

Prepare Safety and Documentation

Install required smoke and CO detectors, prepare a floor plan showing sleeping areas, and secure a local contact person living within 50 miles.

1 weekFree
Documents needed
  • Floor Plan
  • Proof of Insurance
Step 3

Submit Registration Application

Complete the Short-Term Rental Registration form and submit it to the Area Plan Commission office.

1 week$150
Documents needed
  • Application Form
  • Site Plan
  • Floor Plan
  • Local Contact Affidavit
Official resource
Step 4

Register for Taxes

Register with the Indiana Department of Revenue to collect and remit Innkeeper's and Sales taxes if not handled entirely by your booking platform.

2 weeks$25
Documents needed
  • Business Tax Application (BT-1)
Official resource

Frequently asked questions

4 answered

Disclaimer

Regulatory information is AI-researched from public city/county codes 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.

Researched & verified by Learn STR at GoStudioM

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