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Lebanon is the county seat of Boone County, Indiana, a fast-growing community situated about 25 miles northwest of Indianapolis along I-65. As the region's housing market has expanded, more residents are renting apartments, houses, and condominiums in Lebanon — and understanding the rules that govern those rental relationships is increasingly important for tenants navigating lease agreements, deposits, and maintenance issues.
Indiana's landlord-tenant framework is governed primarily by the Indiana Code, particularly Title 32, Article 31. The state does not permit rent control, and local governments — including the City of Lebanon — have no authority to enact their own rent stabilization measures. Renters in Lebanon do, however, have meaningful protections related to security deposits, habitability, eviction procedures, and retaliation. This guide explains each of those protections with specific statutory citations so you know exactly where the rules come from.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws can change, and every situation is different. If you are facing an eviction, a disputed deposit, or another serious housing issue, contact a qualified attorney or a free legal aid organization such as Indiana Legal Services.
Lebanon has no rent control, and Indiana state law expressly prohibits any municipality from enacting one. Under Ind. Code § 32-31-1-20, local units of government in Indiana are barred from adopting any ordinance, resolution, or rule that would control the amount of rent charged for private residential property. This statewide preemption means that neither the City of Lebanon nor Boone County can pass a rent stabilization or rent control law — even if local lawmakers wanted to do so.
In practical terms, this means your landlord in Lebanon may raise your rent by any dollar amount, at any time, as long as proper notice is given before the change takes effect. For a month-to-month tenancy, a landlord must provide at least 30 days' written notice before increasing rent or changing other lease terms (Ind. Code § 32-31-1-1). For a fixed-term lease, the rent cannot be raised until the lease expires and a new agreement is negotiated, unless the existing lease expressly allows mid-term increases.
Tenants who receive a rent increase notice should review their lease carefully to confirm the timing and any notice requirements spelled out in the contract. Because there is no cap on the amount of an increase, the most effective protection is understanding your lease terms and your right to refuse a new rental agreement at expiration.
Indiana's landlord-tenant statutes (Ind. Code Title 32, Article 31) establish baseline protections that apply to every residential rental in Lebanon.
Implied Warranty of Habitability. Indiana courts recognize an implied warranty of habitability, requiring landlords to maintain rental units in a safe and livable condition. If your unit has serious deficiencies — such as a broken heating system in winter, significant water leaks, or structural hazards — you should provide your landlord with written notice of the problem. Once notified, the landlord is obligated to make repairs within a reasonable time. Indiana's tenant remedies for a landlord's failure to maintain habitability are more limited than in some states, so documenting everything in writing and keeping copies is essential.
Security Deposit Rules (Ind. Code § 32-31-3-9 through § 32-31-3-14). Indiana law limits what a landlord may deduct from a security deposit to unpaid rent, damage beyond normal wear and tear, and certain unpaid utility charges. Landlords must return the deposit — along with an itemized written statement of any deductions — within 45 days of the tenant vacating the unit. Failure to do so entitles the tenant to recover the wrongfully withheld amount plus reasonable attorney's fees (Ind. Code § 32-31-3-12).
Notice to Terminate (Ind. Code § 32-31-1-1). A landlord must give a month-to-month tenant at least 30 days' written notice before terminating the tenancy. Tenants on a fixed-term lease are entitled to remain through the end of the lease term unless they have violated its terms.
Anti-Retaliation Protection (Ind. Code § 32-31-8-6). A landlord may not retaliate against a tenant for complaining to a government agency about housing code violations, for exercising any legal right under the lease or Indiana law, or for organizing with other tenants. Prohibited retaliatory acts include raising rent, decreasing services, or filing an eviction action in response to protected tenant conduct. If a landlord retaliates, the tenant may raise retaliation as a defense in eviction proceedings and may pursue damages.
Prohibition on Self-Help Eviction (Ind. Code § 32-31-1-8). A landlord in Indiana may not remove a tenant from the premises by any means other than a court-ordered eviction. Specifically, a landlord cannot change the locks, remove doors or windows, shut off utilities, or remove the tenant's belongings in order to force a move-out. Doing so is illegal regardless of whether the tenant owes rent or has violated the lease.
Indiana's security deposit statute (Ind. Code §§ 32-31-3-9 through 32-31-3-14) governs how landlords in Lebanon must handle deposits from move-in to move-out.
No Statutory Cap. Indiana law does not limit the amount a landlord may charge as a security deposit, so the figure is set by the individual lease agreement. Before signing, tenants should confirm the deposit amount and document the condition of the unit in writing — ideally with dated photographs — to protect against improper deductions at move-out.
Allowable Deductions (Ind. Code § 32-31-3-9). A landlord may only deduct from the deposit for: (1) unpaid rent; (2) damage to the property beyond normal wear and tear; and (3) unpaid utility or sewer charges that the tenant was obligated to pay under the lease. Routine maintenance, carpet cleaning required by normal use, and general aging of the unit are examples of normal wear and tear that cannot be charged to the tenant.
Return Deadline and Itemized Statement (Ind. Code § 32-31-3-12). The landlord must return the remaining deposit balance — together with a written, itemized statement of any deductions — within 45 days after the tenant vacates the unit. The statement must describe each item withheld and the dollar amount attributed to it.
Penalty for Non-Compliance (Ind. Code § 32-31-3-12). If the landlord fails to return the deposit and provide the itemized statement within 45 days without a legitimate basis for the withholding, the tenant is entitled to recover the wrongfully withheld amount plus reasonable attorney's fees in a civil action. There is no double- or triple-damages multiplier under Indiana law, but the attorney's fee award can make pursuing a small claim financially worthwhile.
Practical Tip. To start the 45-day clock, tenants should provide their landlord with a written forwarding address at the time of move-out. Keep a copy of any notice you provide and send it via a method that creates a record, such as email or certified mail.
Landlords in Lebanon must follow Indiana's statutory eviction process — commonly called a forcible entry and detainer (FED) action — to legally remove a tenant. There are no shortcut procedures, and no Lebanon-specific ordinances modify the state process.
Step 1 — Written Notice. Before filing in court, a landlord must serve the tenant with written notice. The required notice period depends on the reason for eviction:
Step 2 — Filing in Court. If the tenant does not vacate after proper notice, the landlord may file a complaint in the Boone County Superior Court or Boone County Circuit Court. The tenant will be served with a summons and a hearing date. Tenants should respond promptly and attend the hearing — failing to appear almost always results in a default judgment in the landlord's favor.
Step 3 — Court Hearing. At the hearing, both parties may present evidence. Tenants may raise defenses including improper notice, retaliation (Ind. Code § 32-31-8-6), uninhabitable conditions, or full payment of rent. The court will issue a judgment for possession if it rules in the landlord's favor.
Step 4 — Writ of Possession. If the landlord wins, the court issues a writ of possession. A law enforcement officer — not the landlord — will execute the writ and oversee the tenant's removal if the tenant has not left voluntarily.
Self-Help Eviction Is Illegal (Ind. Code § 32-31-1-8). A landlord in Lebanon may not change locks, remove doors, shut off electricity or water, or remove a tenant's belongings to force the tenant out. These acts are illegal regardless of how much rent is owed. A tenant subjected to self-help eviction should contact law enforcement and a legal aid organization immediately.
Just Cause. Indiana does not require a landlord to have just cause to terminate a month-to-month tenancy. A landlord may choose not to renew at the end of a lease term for any reason that is not unlawfully discriminatory, provided proper notice is given.
This article is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The information on this page reflects Indiana law and publicly available sources as of April 2026, but laws and local regulations can change at any time. Every rental situation is different, and the general information here may not apply to your specific circumstances. If you are facing an eviction, a security deposit dispute, or any other serious housing matter, you should consult a licensed Indiana attorney or contact a free legal aid organization such as Indiana Legal Services. RentCheckMe is not a law firm and no attorney-client relationship is created by reading or relying on this content.
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