Ind. Code ch. 8-2-17

in effect

Ind. Code § 8-2-17-1 Application; duration

Sec. 1. No person, company, or corporation shall be permitted to keep, have or maintain any public ferry across any lake, river, or stream running through or bounding any city or town in this state, from the city or town to any points without the limits of this state, without first having obtained a license from the legislative body of the proper city or town for that purpose. The license shall continue in force for five (5) years and application therefor must be in writing. Formerly: Acts 1921, c.137, s.1; Acts 1959, c.235, s.1. As amended by P.L.8-1989, SEC.42.

Ind. Code § 8-2-17-2 Notice of intent to establish; publication

Sec. 2. The legislative body shall not grant a license to the applicant until satisfactory evidence is produced showing that the application has been on file in the office of the city or town clerk for not less than fourteen (14) days and that notice of the filing of the application has been posted for at least two (2) weeks at the door of the city hall of any city or at some public place in any town and published once each week for two (2) consecutive weeks: (1) with each publication of the notice made in a newspaper of general circulation in the city or town or where there is no newspaper, notice by posting is sufficient notice; or (2) with the first publication made in a newspaper described in subdivision (1) and the second publication: (A) in accordance with IC 5-3-5; and (B) on the official website of the city or town. Formerly: Acts 1921, c.137, s.2; Acts 1959, c.235, s.2. As amended by P.L.8-1989, SEC.43; P.L.152-2021, SEC.5; P.L.1-2025, SEC.124.

Ind. Code § 8-2-17-3 Fee

Sec. 3. The legislative body upon being satisfied that the notice required under section 2 of this chapter has been given, and that a ferry is needed at the place, and that the applicant is a suitable person, may grant to the applicant a license to keep and maintain the same for the term of five (5) years on the applicant's paying as a license fee a sum to be fixed by the legislative body, not less than ten dollars ($10) nor more than fifty dollars ($50) per year, payable annually in advance. The payment of such license fee shall not release such person from payment of any lawful charge for wharfage. Formerly: Acts 1921, c.137, s.3; Acts 1959, c.235, s.3. As amended by Acts 1981, P.L.11, SEC.47; P.L.8-1989, SEC.44.

Ind. Code § 8-2-17-4 Recognizance by licensee

Sec. 4. Before the license is granted, the applicant shall enter into a recognizance to the city or town, in a penal sum to be fixed by the legislative body, not less than five hundred dollars ($500) nor more than two thousand dollars ($2,000), with sufficient surety, conditioned faithfully to keep, maintain, and operate the ferry with good and sufficient boats and landing places for the safe conveyance of persons and property, a sufficient number of hands to work and manage the boats, together with sufficient implements and appliances for the ferry, in compliance with the rules for operation, on the schedule fixed by the legislative body and at rates of ferriage that the legislative body shall from time to time fix. The bond shall be kept on file with the city or town clerk. Formerly: Acts 1921, c.137, s.4; Acts 1959, c.235, s.4. As amended by P.L.8-1989, SEC.45.

Ind. Code § 8-2-17-5 Rates and schedules; appeals

Sec. 5. The rates of ferriage, reasonable rules for operation, and the schedule upon which the ferry shall be operated shall be fixed by the legislative body at the time of licensing the ferry, and from time to time thereafter as the body shall think proper. A list of rates, rules, and schedules shall be posted at one (1) or more conspicuous places on each ferryboat and at the place of landing. If the ferrykeeper, or any user of the ferry, is aggrieved by the establishing of the rates, rules, or schedules, the ferrykeeper or user shall have the right to appeal to the circuit court, superior court, or probate court of the proper county upon filing a bond, within thirty (30) days after the fixing of the rates, payable to the state, with security to be approved by the court, and conditioned for the due prosecution of the appeal, and the payment of all costs if judgment is rendered against the appellant. Upon appeal, the circuit court, superior court, or probate court shall have the power to review the rates of ferriage, rules, or schedules and fix the rates, rules, or schedules as may be just and proper. Formerly: Acts 1921, c.137, s.5; Acts 1959, c.235, s.5. As amended by P.L.8-1989, SEC.46; P.L.84-2016, SEC.36.

Ind. Code § 8-2-17-6 Vacation of ferry; appeals

Sec. 6. If any ferry is not faithfully maintained and operated according to the terms of the recognizance provided for in section 4 of this chapter, the legislative body on complaint to them shall cause the proprietor of the ferry to be summoned before the legislative body to show cause why the ferry shall not be discontinued. The legislative body shall vacate the ferry or dismiss the complaint, according to the testimony, and may award costs against the complainant if such complaint is dismissed, or against the proprietor if the ferry be vacated. The vacation of the ferry shall not prevent the city or town, or any interested person, from recovering damages for any breach of the bond provided for in section 4 of this chapter. The ferrykeeper or any user of the ferry shall have the right to appeal from the decision of the legislative body to the circuit court, superior court, or probate court of the proper county upon filing therein a bond, within thirty (30) days thereafter, payable to the state, with security to be approved by the court, and conditioned for the due prosecution of the appeal, and the payment of all costs if judgment be rendered against the appellant. Upon appeal, the circuit court, superior court, or probate court shall have the power to try the question of whether cause for the discontinuance of the ferry has been established. Formerly: Acts 1921, c.137, s.6; Acts 1959, c.235, s.6. As amended by P.L.59-1984, SEC.113; P.L.8-1989, SEC.47; P.L.84-2016, SEC.37.

Ind. Code § 8-2-17-7 Violation of conditions of license

Sec. 7. A person licensed to keep and maintain a ferry under this chapter who does any act in violation of the conditions of his license commits a Class C infraction. Formerly: Acts 1921, c.137, s.7; Acts 1959, c.235, s.7. As amended by Acts 1978, P.L.2, SEC.817.

Ind. Code § 8-2-17-8 Operation without license or authorization

Sec. 8. A person who keeps, maintains, or runs a ferry without being licensed or authorized according to this chapter commits a Class C infraction. Formerly: Acts 1921, c.137, s.8. As amended by Acts 1978, P.L.2, SEC.818.

Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://iga.in.gov/laws/2026/ic/titles/8Fetched: 10/17/2026