No, sleeping on a refrigerator in your Indiana backyard isn’t explicitly illegal statewide, but it likely violates local nuisance ordinances, zoning codes, or safety rules as an unsafe or unsanitary setup. Municipal laws target hazardous sleeping conditions and abandoned appliances, treating them as public nuisances that attract complaints from neighbors or code enforcement.​
Nuisance Ordinances
Many Indiana towns define public nuisances as property used for sleeping that’s dangerous due to lacking water, drainage, heating, plumbing, or ventilation—like an outdoor appliance. Appliances such as refrigerators can’t be left outdoors unattended without door removal to prevent entrapment, and using one for habitation would compound violations. Enforcement involves notices to abate, fines, or removal orders from local officials.​
Zoning and Temporary Use
Backyard living structures, even unconventional ones, fall under zoning that prohibits permanent residences outside approved dwellings; temporary sleeping (e.g., in RVs) is often limited to 15 days yearly in places like Indianapolis. Rural areas may be laxer, but HOAs or covenants can ban such uses entirely, leading to lawsuits. No statewide law singles out refrigerators, but health codes deem them unfit for habitation.​
Safety and Practical Risks
Beyond legality, refrigerators pose entrapment, electrical, and hygiene hazards outdoors, violating building safety standards effective July 2026 for public property analogs. Check your city or county code (e.g., Valparaiso bans abandoned appliances) and survey boundaries first. Consult local planning departments to avoid citations.
SOURCES
[1](https://suhrelawindianapolis.com/blog/is-it-legal-to-live-in-a-camper-in-your-backyard-in-indiana/)
[2](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/libertyin/latest/liberty_in/0-0-0-2233)
[3](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/valparaiso/latest/valparaiso_in/0-0-0-6337)
[4](https://www.fnsb.gov/DocumentCenter/View/879/Fences-and-Corner-Visibility—Information-Handout-PDF)
[5](https://boonecounty.in.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Housing-Ordinance.pdf)
