UNMANNED AIRCRAFT VEHICLES

Indianapolis-Marion County Revised Code tit. II, ch. 407, art. IV

in effect

Indianapolis-Marion County Revised Code § 407-401 Definitions.

Sec. 407-401. - Definitions. As used in this article, the following terms are as defined as follows: Law enforcement agency means an established state authorized local and/or county agency, including a campus law enforcement agency, which is responsible for the prevention and detection of crime and/or the enforcement of state, local, and traffic laws. Public event means any event, game, practice, contest, parade, rally, celebration or other gathering, in either private space or public space, to which the public is invited or attends. Private space means any indoor or outdoor property owned or controlled by a private individual or entity. Public space means any indoor or outdoor property (including streets and sidewalks) owned or controlled by federal, state or local government, or an instrumentality of federal, state or local government, or any privately owned, operated or controlled venue hosting events to which the public is invited or attends, including Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Lucas Oil Stadium, the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center, Victory Field, the Indiana Convention Center, the White River State Park, the Indianapolis Zoo, the Indiana State Fair Grounds and Event Center, the Indiana Farmers Coliseum, the Michael A. Carroll Track & Soccer Stadium, the Children's Museum of Indianapolis, the Indianapolis Museum of Art or Clowes Hall, and the Marion County Fairgrounds. Unmanned Aircraft Vehicle (UAV) means an aircraft that does not carry a human operator and that is capable of flight under remote control or autonomous programming. The term includes the following: (1) An unmanned aircraft and an unmanned aircraft system (both as defined in the Federal Aviation Administration Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (P.L. 112-95, 126 Stat. 11). (2) A small unmanned aircraft and a small unmanned aircraft system (both as defined in 14 CFR 107.3). (G.O. No. 37, 2017, § 1)

Indianapolis-Marion County Revised Code § 407-402 Territorial application.

Sec. 407-402. - Territorial application. This article applies throughout the Consolidated City of Indianapolis and Marion County, including the excluded cities, to the extent to which such air space can legally be regulated by local ordinance. This article shall not interfere with the authority of the Federal Aviation Administration. The air space subject to this ordinance shall include all properties in the Consolidated City of Indianapolis and Marion County, including the excluded cities; there shall be no exemptions. (G.O. No. 37, 2017, § 1)

Indianapolis-Marion County Revised Code § 407-403 Prohibited unmanned aircraft vehicle (UAV) activities.

Sec. 407-403. - Prohibited unmanned aircraft vehicle (UAV) activities. In order to protect against potential crashes into crowded outdoor stadiums, as well as to inhibit commercial piracy and other potential threats to public safety, it shall be unlawful without proper registration, operator licensure and approval as determined by applicable state and federal laws, rules, and regulations, for a person to use or operate an Unmanned Aircraft Vehicle (UAV) within a five hundred-yard horizontal radius of, or anywhere above: (1) Any public event, including a public event of the National Football League (NFL), National Basketball Association (NBA), National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), North American Soccer League (NASL), Minor League Baseball (MiLB), Indiana High School Athletic Association (ISHAA) or any other sanctioned amateur or professional sports league. (2) Any official auto car race or public event held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) or held or hosted by the 500 Festival. In addition, if law enforcement has reasonable suspicion to believe there is immediate danger of death or serious injury to any person, it may immediately prohibit any UAV use. Within twenty-four (24) hours of prohibiting such use, law enforcement shall document the basis for the reasonable suspicion. (G.O. No. 37, 2017, § 1)

Indianapolis-Marion County Revised Code § 407-404 Nonapplicability.

Sec. 407-404. - Nonapplicability. (a) It is lawful to use an unmanned aircraft vehicle (UAV) within the City of Indianapolis/Marion County to photograph, film, audiotape, or otherwise record an individual or individuals acting in a public event: (1) If such use or operation is approved or authorized in writing by the owner of the private space or public space in which the public event is being held, or their assignee(s) having legal control over such private space or public space during such public event; (2) If the recording is captured for the purpose of mapping; (3) If the recording is captured by a City of Indianapolis/Marion County official in the course of their employment or an individual or entity under contract with the City of Indianapolis/Marion County for the purposes of resource management, operation and maintenance of utilities to determine integrity of the utility or to determine repairs; (4) If law enforcement is using the unmanned aircraft vehicle to execute a valid search warrant or if law enforcement is acting under circumstances in which an exception to the warrant requirement is applicable; (5) If law enforcement is conducting a search for a missing or abducted person. (6) Subject to section 407-403, any other purpose not in violation of federal, state or local laws. (b) If a commercial operator approved under 14 CFR Part 107 is granted approval by federal authorities to use a UAV under circumstances where such use would otherwise be prohibited under section 407-403, the operator shall provide the following information to IMPD at least forty-eight (48) hours prior to the event: (1) FAA registration numbers of any UAV intended to be used; (2) FAA certificate number(s) of the Remote Pilots participating in the operation; and (3) A copy of any required airspace authorizations, certificates of waiver, or transportation security administration security waivers (if applicable). Failure to timely provide this information constitutes a violation under section 407-405. (G.O. No. 37, 2017, § 1)

Indianapolis-Marion County Revised Code § 407-405 Violations.

Sec. 407-405. - Violations. (a) Any person who violates the provisions of this article is punishable by a maximum civil penalty of five hundred dollars ($500.00), plus the costs of enforcement, including reasonable attorney fees. (b) Except where otherwise expressly provided, a person who violates any provision of section 407-403 of this Code shall be subject to the penalties and procedures provided in section 103-3 of this Code. (c) In addition to the civil penalty specified under this article, any UAV and control box operated in violation of this article may be temporarily impounded in the interest of public safety until the owner or operator of such UAV and control box are able to demonstrate nonapplicability of this article under section 407-404. The owner of the UAV may appeal any impoundment to a court having jurisdiction in Marion County. (G.O. No. 37, 2017, § 1)

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=TITIIPUORSA_CH407OFAGPUORSA_ARTIVUNAIVEFetched: 10/27/2026