The Indiana General Assembly is considering legislation that could significantly limit — or eliminate — the ability of cities such as Fishers to regulate single-family rental properties, prompting concern from local officials and residents.
Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness has issued a public statement opposing language contained in House Bill 1210, specifically Section 3.6, which would restrict local governments from enforcing ordinances related to single-family rental regulations. The proposal is under consideration during the current session of the Indiana General Assembly.
Fadness said Fishers’ rental registry ordinance was not created in a vacuum, noting it followed more than two years of research, analysis, and public engagement. City officials began studying the issue after hearing repeated concerns from residents about the growing number of large, out-of-state investment firms purchasing single-family homes and converting them into long-term rental properties.
According to the mayor, homeowners reported negative impacts on neighborhood stability, including declining property maintenance, disregard for homeowners association rules, and erosion of what is often a family’s largest financial investment — their home.
After extensive public input, the Fishers City Council adopted an ordinance limiting rentals to no more than 10 percent of single-family homes within a subdivision. Existing rental properties were grandfathered until the home is sold, and exemptions were included for circumstances such as military deployment or renting to immediate family members.
City officials say the ordinance received broad community support and was designed to strike a balance between the need for rental housing and preserving neighborhood stability and homeownership opportunities.
Fadness warned that the proposed state legislation could undo that local work, saying it is being driven by special interest groups that prioritize corporate earnings over community concerns.
In his statement, the mayor asked legislators to consider the impact on neighborhoods if 20 to 40 percent of homes were owned by private equity firms and operated as rentals that fail to follow HOA rules or city ordinances — a situation he says already exists in parts of Fishers.
While acknowledging the role rental housing plays in the community, Fadness said balance is necessary to preserve neighborhood stability, residents’ ability to afford homeownership, and the long-term health of communities.
The mayor concluded by urging lawmakers to remove Section 3.6 from House Bill 1210, asking them to respect the voices of Fishers residents and the years of public input that shaped the city’s rental registry policy.
The legislation remains under review at the Statehouse.