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Carmel delays rental-registration deadline to Feb. 1, 2026 as registration site launches
Summary
City staff launched the new rental-registration website and the council approved an ordinance postponing the registration deadline and related provisions to Feb. 1, 2026 to allow time for HOAs and landlords to comply.
Corporation Counsel Samantha Carn told the council the council is being asked to amend Chapter 4, Article 6 of the Carmel City Code to postpone the registration deadline and related effects for the residential rental dwelling registration and permit program by one month to Feb. 1, 2026. Carn said the change responds to concerns about obtaining HOA affirmations required by the ordinance and corrects the definition of a legacy dwelling so the effective date aligns with Jan. 1 amended to Feb. 1.
Mike Hollabaugh, Director of Community Services, confirmed the registration portal went live that day and acknowledged some initial user issues; he said staff have an FAQ on the website, will provide outreach and will begin automated outreach in early January to properties suspected to be rentals. Hollabaugh noted duplexes are not covered by the current registration software and that staff will follow up on edge cases. Councilors asked staff to provide periodic counts of registrations received so the council can monitor compliance.
Why it matters: The registration program creates a city-level permitting and enforcement process for rental units, including outreach and, ultimately, notice-of-violation steps if properties fail to register. The one-month postponement is intended to give landlords and HOAs additional time to comply during the software rollout.
What's next: Staff will monitor registration counts, run automated outreach in January and escalate enforcement per the ordinance after the 60-day notice period and the legal steps described in the FAQ.
