Drone Laws in Indiana (2024)
A list of drone regulations and links for people flying drones in Indiana.
Indiana Drone Regulations
Indiana Drone Regulations
Federal Drone Laws in Indiana
These are drone laws that apply to every state in the U.S., including Indiana, and were created by the federal government.
To fly a drone as a commercial pilot in the state of Indiana (i.e. for work / business purposes) you are required to follow the requirements of the FAA’s Part 107 Small UAS Rule (Part 107), which includes passing the FAA’s Aeronautical Knowledge Test to obtain a Remote Pilot Certificate.
To fly a drone as a hobbyist in the state of Indiana (i.e. for fun / pleasure) you are required by the FAA to take The Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST). You are also required to follow the FAA’s recreational model aircraft rules. One of those rules is that if your drone weighs more than 0.55 lbs (250g), you’ll need to pay $5 to get it registered. There are additional rules when it comes to airspace and altitude, keeping your drone within line-of-sight while you’re flying, and more.
To fly a drone as a government employee in the state of Indiana (i.e., for a police or fire department) you may either operate under the FAA’s Part 107 rule or obtain a federal Certificate of Authorization (COA).
Note: The content on this page is meant for informational purposes only, and is not meant to take the place of legal counsel.
State Drone Laws in Indiana
These are drone laws that apply to the entire state of Indiana, and were created by the Indiana General Assembly.
According to the Indiana Department of Transportation and the Indiana General Assembly, Indiana has five state-wide laws concerning the use of drones in the state.
This law creates new criminal offenses related to the use of drones, which include:
- The “sex offender unmanned aerial vehicle offense” occurs when a sex offender uses a UAV to follow, contact, or capture images or recordings of someone and the sex offender is subject to conditions that prohibit them from doing so.
- The “public safety remote aerial interference offense” occurs when someone operates a UAV in a way that is intended to obstruct or interfere with a public safety official in the course of their duties.
All offenses created by this law are class A misdemeanors. However, if the guilty party has a prior conviction under the same section, it becomes a level 6 felony.
This law allows the use of drones to photograph or take video of a traffic crash site.
This law prohibits the use of UAS to scout game during hunting season.
This law creates warrant requirements and exceptions for the police use of drones and real time geo-location tracking devices. This law also creates the crime of “Unlawful Photography and Surveillance on Private Property,” making it a Class A misdemeanor, defined as knowingly and intentionally conducting electronic surveillance of the private property of another without permission.
This law prohibits the use of drones on Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) property such as state parks, natural and recreational areas. Licenses to launch and film may occasionally be granted by DNR or by specific DNR divisions.
All drone pilots operating commercially in the state of Indiana are subject to the FAA’s Part 107 rules. Learn more about the FAA’s certification process to obtain a commercial drone license in this free guide.
Know something we don’t about drone laws in Indiana? Send us an email at support[at]horizonap[dot]com. We do our best to keep this list up-to-date, but the reality is that given the pace of the small unmanned aerial system (sUAS) industry and how municipal governments are responding, drone regulations in Indiana can change throughout the year, and changes can be hard to track. If we missed something, please reach out to let us know.
Why fly a drone in Indiana? To get great shots like these!
Local Drone Laws in Indiana
These are drone laws that apply only to certain regions, cities, or counties within the state of Indiana, and were created by various authorities within the state.
Fort Wayne City Ordinance § 96.30 Regulation of Unmanned Aircraft Systems // 2019
This ordinance makes it mandatory for UAS operators to notify the city before flying anywhere above the Downtown Aerial District or within a five hundred yard horizontal radius of, or anywhere above, a public event. The notice must include:
(1) Name, address and telephone number of UAS the operator, any assisting persons during the flight, and any affiliated company name, if applicable;
(2) Purpose of the UAS operation as either noncommercial recreational or commercial use;
(3) FAA-issued Registration Certificate Number(s) of any UAS to be operated;
(4) UAS operator’s FAA-issued Remote Pilot Certificate Number(s) and date(s) of issue authorized under 14 CFR 5107, if applicable;
(5) Document numbers and dates of issue and expiration for FAA-issued certificate(s), waiver(s), or authorization, or Section 333 Exemption, applicable to the operation of the UAS;
(6) Policy information with dates of issue and expiry of any certificate(s) of liability insurance, if applicable;
(7) Proposed area and time of UAS operation;
(8) Location where the UAS will be operated from; and
(9) Name, address and telephone number of any owner(s) granting permission for UAS operation over any private space.
Looking to get in more practice flying your drone? You can scout out safe and legal places to fly using our guide to the Best Places to Fly a Drone in Indianapolis.
Want to get a feel for the kind of footage you could get flying a drone in Indiana? Here you go:
