Vigo County is a west-central Indiana county of approximately 108,000 residents anchored by Terre Haute, Indiana’s fourth-largest city and one of its most significant university towns. Indiana State University (ISU), with approximately 10,000 students, is Terre Haute’s most prominent educational institution and a major driver of residential rental demand. Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, a nationally ranked engineering university, is located in the eastern part of Terre Haute and enrolls approximately 2,200 students. Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College adds a third educational institution. Terre Haute’s economy also includes significant healthcare employment (Union Hospital, Terre Haute Regional Hospital), pharmaceutical manufacturing (including large-scale facilities), and I-70 corridor commercial and logistics activity. Vigo County borders Illinois to the west along the Wabash River. All landlord-tenant matters are governed by Indiana Code Title 32, Article 31. The eviction action is called an Eviction and is filed in Vigo Circuit or Superior Court. Indiana has no Fair Rent Commissions and no statewide rent control. The 10-day pay-or-quit notice applies to nonpayment. Security deposits have no statutory cap. Deposit return is required within 45 days after termination of the rental agreement, delivery of possession, and the tenant’s written mailing address.
Indiana State U., Union Hospital, Terre Haute Regional, pharmaceutical mfg., I-70 logistics
Renter Share
~38% of housing units renter-occupied
Fair Rent Commission
None — Indiana has no Fair Rent Commissions
⚖️ Eviction At-a-Glance
Eviction Action
Eviction — filed in Vigo Circuit or Superior Court
Nonpayment Notice
10-day pay or quit (IC 32-31-1-6)
No Grace Period
Indiana has no statutory grace period
Vigo County Courthouse
33 S. 3rd Street, Terre Haute • (812) 462-3211
Court Hours
Mon–Fri 8:00am–4:00pm
Avg Timeline
30–60 days start to finish
Vigo County Local Regulations
Indiana state law governs all landlord-tenant relationships in Vigo County. There are no county-level landlord-tenant ordinances, no Fair Rent Commissions, and no rent control anywhere in Indiana.
Category
Details
No Rent Control
Indiana law prohibits local rent control statewide (IC 32-31-1-20). Neither Terre Haute nor any Vigo County municipality may regulate rental rates. Landlords may raise rents with 30 days written notice for month-to-month tenancies (IC 32-31-5-4).
No Fair Rent Commission
Indiana has no Fair Rent Commissions anywhere in the state. Vigo County and Terre Haute landlords operate under Indiana state law exclusively.
Security Deposit
No statutory cap (IC 32-31-3-12). No escrow or interest requirement. Return within 45 days after: (1) termination of the rental agreement; (2) delivery of possession; and (3) tenant provides written mailing address. Itemized written deduction statement required. Failure forfeits right to retain any portion and triggers attorney’s fee liability (IC 32-31-3-16).
Indiana State University Student Market
Indiana State University, enrolling approximately 10,000 students with a mix of undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs, generates the largest single block of rental demand in Terre Haute. ISU’s on-campus housing accommodates a portion of students; off-campus demand from upperclassmen, graduate students, and students preferring independent living creates robust demand in neighborhoods adjacent to campus on Terre Haute’s near north and west sides. Standard student screening practices apply: parental guarantees or own income sufficient to meet rent multiples, rental history verification for non-first-time renters, and identity verification.
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Rose-Hulman, consistently ranked among the nation’s top undergraduate engineering programs, is located in far eastern Terre Haute. Rose-Hulman enrolls approximately 2,200 undergraduate engineers and generates off-campus demand primarily from upperclassmen. Rose-Hulman’s student profile — rigorous admissions, engineering-focused curriculum, strong career placement — produces a reliable tenant segment whose parental household profiles and post-graduation employment prospects are significantly above the general undergraduate market. Properties near the Rose-Hulman campus command a premium relative to properties near ISU for this reason.
Healthcare and Professional Employment
Union Hospital and Terre Haute Regional Hospital, together with affiliated medical offices and clinics, provide significant healthcare employment in Terre Haute. Healthcare workers represent one of the most financially stable professional tenant segments in the Terre Haute market. Pharmaceutical manufacturing (including major facilities in Terre Haute) provides additional well-compensated industrial employment. These professional and manufacturing tenant segments are reliable income performers who often prefer quality housing within commuting distance of employers on Terre Haute’s east and south sides.
Lead Paint Compliance
Federal law requires lead paint disclosure and the EPA pamphlet for all pre-1978 rental properties. Terre Haute’s extensive older housing stock — particularly in neighborhoods near ISU and downtown — requires disclosure documentation for qualifying tenancies. Maintain signed acknowledgment for every qualifying tenancy.
Required Disclosures
At or before lease commencement: (1) property manager and agent for service of process, both Indiana residents (IC 32-31-3-18); (2) smoke detector acknowledgment (IC 32-31-5-7); (3) lead paint disclosure for pre-1978 properties; (4) water/sewage itemization if landlord passes through utility charges (IC 8-1-2-1.2).
Self-Help Eviction Prohibited
Indiana law expressly prohibits self-help eviction (IC 32-31-5-6). Lock changes, utility shutoffs, or removal of tenant property without a court order is illegal. Vigo County landlords must file through Vigo Circuit or Superior Court in Terre Haute.
Last verified: 2026-04-01
🏛️ Vigo County Courthouse
33 S. 3rd Street, Terre Haute, IN 47807 • (812) 462-3211
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Reasonable (typically 14-30 days); 45 days for illegal activity
Days Notice (Violation)
21-60
Avg Total Days
$$35-160
Filing Fee (Approx)
💰 Nonpayment of Rent
Notice Type10-Day Notice to Pay Rent or Quit
Notice Period10 days
Tenant Can Cure?Yes - tenant can pay all rent within 10 days to stop eviction
Days to Hearing10-21 days
Days to WritImmediate after judgment; 24 hours to vacate days
Total Estimated Timeline21-60 days
Total Estimated Cost$100-400
⚠️ Watch Out
10-day notice must use specific statutory language per IC § 32-31-1-6: 'You are notified to vacate the following property not more than ten (10) days after you receive this notice unless you pay the rent due...' No state-mandated grace period - rent is late the day after due date. Accepting partial payment during eviction can jeopardize case unless written partial payment agreement exists. Emergency/expedited eviction available within 3 days for waste/severe property damage (IC § 32-31-6-5). 45-day unconditional quit for illegal activity. No cure required for waste or holdover tenants (IC § 32-31-1-8). Senate Enrolled Act 142 (2025): allows sealing/nondisclosure of dismissed/favorable eviction records.
Serve the required notice based on the eviction reason (nonpayment or lease violation).
Wait for the notice period to expire. If tenant cures the issue (where allowed), the process stops.
File an eviction case with the Small Claims Court (under $6000) or Circuit/Superior Court. Pay the filing fee (~$$35-160).
Tenant is served with a summons and has the opportunity to respond.
Attend the court hearing and present your case.
If you prevail, obtain a writ of possession from the court.
Law enforcement executes the writ and removes the tenant if necessary.
⚠️ Disclaimer: This page provides general information about Indiana eviction laws and does not constitute legal advice.
Eviction procedures can vary by county and may change over time. Local jurisdictions may have additional requirements or tenant protections.
For specific legal guidance, consult a qualified Indiana attorney or local legal aid organization.
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⚠️ Disclaimer: These calculations are estimates based on state statutes and typical court timelines. Actual results vary by county, court backlog, and case specifics. Always verify current requirements with your local courthouse. This is not legal advice.
Underground Landlord
🏙️ Communities in Vigo County
Cities and towns
Terre Haute West Terre Haute Seelyville Riley
Vigo County
Terre Haute — Indiana State University, Rose-Hulman, Healthcare Hub, I-70
No rent control. No deposit cap. 10-day pay-or-quit. 45-day deposit return. ISU (~10K students) • Rose-Hulman (~2,200). Union Hospital & Terre Haute Regional. Pharmaceutical manufacturing. High renter share (~38%). Lead paint in campus-adjacent older housing. File Vigo Circuit or Superior Court, Terre Haute.
Vigo County Landlord Guide: Terre Haute, Indiana State University, Rose-Hulman, and Operating West-Central Indiana’s University City Market
Terre Haute is one of Indiana’s most genuinely interesting mid-sized cities for landlords, and the reason is the remarkable concentration of higher education institutions that gives the city a student population and an institutional employment base unusually large for a city of its size. Indiana State University, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, and Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College together create a multi-university city that generates diverse and overlapping rental demand across different geographic zones of Terre Haute. Each institution has its own character, its own student profile, and its own catchment area within the city, and understanding the differences between them is central to effective property positioning in Terre Haute’s rental market.
Indiana State University: The Large State University Market
Indiana State University, the city’s largest institution, enrolls approximately 10,000 students across undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs including a range of liberal arts, education, healthcare, and professional fields. ISU’s student body is drawn heavily from Indiana, with significant representation from communities across the state and a meaningful nontraditional student segment including adult learners and commuter students. The ISU campus is located on Terre Haute’s near north and west side, and the neighborhoods within walking and biking distance of campus are the primary zone for student off-campus rental demand. Standard ISU student screening includes income documentation — parental guarantees or own income sufficient to meet rent multiples — rental history for non-first-time renters, and identity verification. The ISU market is competitive, with higher vacancy during summer break when many students return home.
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology: The Premium Engineering Market
Rose-Hulman, consistently ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the nation’s top undergraduate engineering programs, is located in far eastern Terre Haute near the Vigo-Clay county line. Rose-Hulman enrolls approximately 2,200 undergraduate engineers and has a residential campus that houses most students for at least the first year. Upperclassmen who move off campus create demand in the residential neighborhoods near the campus’s eastern Terre Haute location. Rose-Hulman’s student profile — highly selective admissions, rigorous engineering curriculum, starting salaries well above the general liberal arts graduate average — produces a tenant segment whose parental household financial profiles and post-graduation employment prospects are substantially above the general undergraduate average. Properties positioned for the Rose-Hulman market command a meaningful quality premium and reward landlords who invest in property condition and modern amenities.
Healthcare, Pharmaceutical, and Professional Employment
Terre Haute’s non-university employment sector is anchored by two hospital systems: Union Hospital and Terre Haute Regional Hospital. Together these healthcare employers provide significant nursing, technician, administrative, and support employment that generates reliable professional tenant demand. Terre Haute also hosts major pharmaceutical manufacturing operations that provide well-compensated industrial employment for a skilled manufacturing workforce. These professional and manufacturing sectors produce a non-student rental market that is more stable year-round than the student segments, with less summer attrition and more predictable lease terms. I-70’s east-west path through Terre Haute gives the city logistics and distribution employment as well.
The Eviction Process in Vigo County
All Vigo County evictions file in Vigo Circuit Court or Vigo Superior Court at 33 S. 3rd Street, Terre Haute, IN 47807, phone (812) 462-3211. The 10-day pay-or-quit notice must be properly served before filing any nonpayment eviction. Uncontested cases proceed in 30 to 60 days from notice service through sheriff execution of a Writ of Possession. Indiana’s prohibition on self-help eviction (IC 32-31-5-6) applies fully. Lead paint disclosure is required for all pre-1978 rental properties, which encompasses the bulk of Terre Haute’s near-campus housing stock. Maintain documentation for every qualifying tenancy.
Vigo County’s multi-university rental market rewards landlords who understand which institution drives demand in their specific property location, who screen appropriately for each tenant segment, and who maintain property condition consistent with the expectations of the ISU, Rose-Hulman, and professional markets they serve. Indiana’s landlord-favorable framework applies consistently throughout. For the landlord who engages seriously with Terre Haute’s genuine university-city character, Vigo County is one of west-central Indiana’s most dynamic and rewarding rental markets.
Disclaimer: This page provides general information about landlord-tenant law in Vigo County, Indiana and is not legal advice. Always verify current requirements with Vigo Circuit or Superior Court or a licensed Indiana attorney before taking legal action. Last updated: April 2026.
