Protection of birds; exception.
Indianapolis-Marion County Revised Code § 531-410
in effectSec. 531-410. - Protection of birds; exception.
(a) Unless acting pursuant to a valid permit issued by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and/or the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, it shall be unlawful for a person willfully to injure, molest, attack or disturb in any way a bird, or the nests, eggs, young or brood of birds, in the city other than birds not protected by state or federal law.
(b) Whenever it appears, on complaint of residents, merchants, persons in business, owners or operators of structures or buildings, or citizens generally, or otherwise, that nonmigratory pigeons, starlings, or other birds not protected by state or federal law, constitute a public nuisance in any part of the city, the board shall be authorized to use all necessary means to destroy the birds creating such nuisance, as follows:
(1) The board is authorized to eradicate pests under subsection (a) of this section with firearms and otherwise; where firearms are used for such purpose, it shall not constitute a violation of the Code which pertains to the discharge of firearms in the city or county; and
(2) The board is authorized to issue permits to persons in such instances and under such terms and conditions as it finds necessary for the public safety to dispose of any birds not protected by state or federal law, upon the payment of one dollar ($1.00) by each person to the city controller, and any permit so issued shall be revocable at the will of the board.
(G.O. 30, 1998, § 1; G.O. 169, 1999, § 3; G.O. 46, 2009, § 1; G.O. 13, 2016, § 34)
Source: Consolidated City of Indianapolis and Marion County, Revised Code (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/in/indianapolis_-_marion_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TITIIIPUHEWE_CH531AN_ARTIVCATR_S531-410PRBIEXFetched: 10/27/2026