Indiana · Evictions · Updated Oct 2026

Indiana eviction rules for tenants

The notices a landlord in Indiana must give, how long you have to respond in court, why a lockout is illegal and where to get free legal help fast.

Short answer

10-day notice to pay or leave, unless the lease says otherwise; if you pay all the rent before the 10 days run out, the lease cannot be ended for that nonpayment.

Notice for unpaid rent
10 days
Time to respond in court
No written answer is required in a small claims eviction.
Lockouts
Banned

If you get an eviction notice

  1. Read it closely: the kind of notice, the amount, the dates and how it was delivered. Use the timeline below.
  2. Don't move out or stop paying because of a notice alone. Only a court can order an eviction; the notice is the first step.
  3. Get free legal help now. Legal aid and the court's self-help center can check whether the notice is valid.
  4. If you are served with court papers, respond by the deadline and go to every hearing. Missing one can mean losing by default.
  5. Keep copies of the notice, your lease, rent receipts, texts and photos.

Eviction in Indiana

Notice for unpaid rent
10-day notice to pay or leave, unless the lease says otherwise; if you pay all the rent before the 10 days run out, the lease cannot be ended for that nonpayment. If the lease requires rent in advance and you do not pay, the statute allows the landlord to proceed with no notice. IC 32-31-1-6, 32-31-1-8.
Notice for a lease violation
No general statutory cure period for lease violations; the landlord must give notice of the problem and a reasonable time to fix it before suing for damages (IC 32-31-7-7). Check your lease for notice terms.
Ending a month-to-month tenancy
One month's written notice, by landlord or tenant, unless the lease says otherwise. IC 32-31-1-1; Indiana Small Claims Manual.
Time to respond to an eviction lawsuit
No written answer is required in a small claims eviction. Go to the hearing on the date in the Notice of Claim; if you do not, the court can enter a default judgment. If you want a jury trial, you must ask within 10 days after you are served.
Lockouts and utility shutoffs
Yes. Without a court order, the landlord may not lock you out, change locks, remove doors, windows, fixtures or appliances, or cut off electricity, gas, water or other essential services (except for emergencies or good-faith repairs). You can file for an emergency possessory order; the court must hold a hearing within 3 business days and can order the landlord to let you back in. You can also sue for damages, and the courts' manual notes punitive damages are possible. IC 32-31-5-6, 32-31-6.
Court self-help
The court's eviction self-help page
Law
IC 32-31-1-1, 32-31-1-6, 32-31-1-8, 32-31-5-6, 32-31-6

Eviction notice timeline for Indiana

Got a notice from your landlord? Enter the kind of notice and the day you got it to see the dates that follow from your state's rule, what your landlord may not do, and where to get free help fast.

This is not legal advice. Eviction deadlines are short and missing one can cost you your home. Read your notice carefully and contact legal aid or your court's self-help center right away.

Enter the date you got the noticeThe timeline appears when you pick a date.

Dates are estimates from the rule in our data. We skip weekends only where the rule counts business or court days, and we don't skip holidays.

Where to get free help in Indiana

Retaliation in Indiana

Since 2020, a landlord may not raise rent, cut or interfere with services, or file or threaten an eviction because you complained to a housing code agency about a health-or-safety violation, complained to the landlord in writing about repairs or a lockout/utility shutoff, sued the landlord, joined a tenants' organization, or testified against the landlord. The statute sets no presumption period and no specific damages. The landlord may still refuse to renew at the end of the lease, raise rent to market level, or evict for unpaid rent and certain other reasons. Cities may not pass their own retaliation rules. IC 32-31-8.5.

Rent increases and rent control in Indiana

Notice of a rent increase
At least 30 days' written notice before the landlord changes the rental agreement (including rent), unless a written lease says otherwise. IC 32-31-5-4.
Rent control
No statewide rent cap. Cities and counties may not regulate rents, deposits, fees or most lease terms (IC 32-31-1-20).

Questions about eviction in Indiana

How much notice does a landlord have to give for unpaid rent in Indiana?

10-day notice to pay or leave, unless the lease says otherwise; if you pay all the rent before the 10 days run out, the lease cannot be ended for that nonpayment. If the lease requires rent in advance and you do not pay, the statute allows the landlord to proceed with no notice. IC 32-31-1-6, 32-31-1-8.

How much notice for a lease violation in Indiana?

No general statutory cure period for lease violations; the landlord must give notice of the problem and a reasonable time to fix it before suing for damages (IC 32-31-7-7). Check your lease for notice terms.

How much notice is needed to end a month-to-month lease in Indiana?

One month's written notice, by landlord or tenant, unless the lease says otherwise. IC 32-31-1-1; Indiana Small Claims Manual.

How long do I have to respond to an eviction lawsuit in Indiana?

No written answer is required in a small claims eviction. Go to the hearing on the date in the Notice of Claim; if you do not, the court can enter a default judgment. If you want a jury trial, you must ask within 10 days after you are served.

Can my landlord lock me out or shut off utilities in Indiana?

Yes. Without a court order, the landlord may not lock you out, change locks, remove doors, windows, fixtures or appliances, or cut off electricity, gas, water or other essential services (except for emergencies or good-faith repairs). You can file for an emergency possessory order; the court must hold a hearing within 3 business days and can order the landlord to let you back in. You can also sue for damages, and the courts' manual notes punitive damages are possible. IC 32-31-5-6, 32-31-6.

More for Indiana renters

Eviction in nearby states

Sources

Last checked: Oct 2026.