Page last updated on April 21, 2025 at 10:29 am
All rental properties (with the exception of Indiana University) located within the City of Bloomington corporate limits must be registered with and inspected by the Department of Housing and Neighborhood Development (HAND). Upon satisfactory completion of the inspection process, as outlined below, a property will be issued a residential rental occupancy permit. Maintaining an unregistered rental carries a penalty fine of up to One Hundred Dollars ($100) per day.
Rental regulations are governed by the Residential Rental and Lodging Establishment Inspection Program, Title 16 of the Bloomington Municipal Code (BMC). The director of HAND has the authority given in BMC 16.01.080(b) to “adopt and promulgate rules and procedures; to interpret and implement the provision of [Title 16]; and to secure the intent thereof.”
How to Obtain a Rental Occupancy Permit
Register your Property & Schedule an Inspection
Complete a Rental Property Registration Form and email it to HAND@bloomington.in.gov.
Within 48 hours of receipt of your registration form, a HAND staff member will call you to schedule an inspection of your property.
Inspection Process
The property manager, maintenance person, tenant, or another authorized individual must be there to accompany the HAND inspector during the inspection. If no one is there to accompany the inspector, a fee will be assessed, and the inspection must be rescheduled.
- An interior and exterior inspection will be conducted. Download the pre-inspection addendum.
- Shortly after the inspection is completed (1-2 weeks) you will receive a report that lists the necessary repairs.
- You have 60 days to complete all repairs, and one year to complete select exterior violations.
- If you wish to appeal any citations on the inspection report, fill out the Board of Housing Quality Appeals (BHQA) application.
Schedule a Reinspection (if necessary)
After making the necessary repairs, as itemized on your inspection report, please call the HAND office to schedule a reinspection. Again, you or an authorized individual must accompany the inspector during the reinspection.
- Referring to the inspection report, the inspector will look at the repairs to the structure and determine if they meet code standards.
- If any items on the inspection report are found to be in out of compliance during the reinspection, the property must be undergo additional reinspections until compliance is obtained.
- A $77 fee will be charged for each additional reinspection beyond the first reinspection.
Billing
If, during the reinspection, all items are found to be in compliance, you will soon receive your bill for the permit/inspection fee. See the fees schedule.
- After payment is received, a residential rental occupancy permit for 3, 4, or 5 years will be issued.
Related Forms
Smoke Detector Compliance Form
Tenants and Owners Rights & Responsibilities (This form is no longer required by HAND, but landlords who wish to provide it to their tenants may continue to do so.)
How to contact HAND
Housing and Neighborhood Development
401 N. Morton St, Room 130 (Showers Building)
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday
812-349-3420
HAND@bloomington.in.gov