Noblesville's Animal Ordinances: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles animal ordinances a little differently. In Noblesville, Indiana, there are 7 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Dog Leash Laws

Section 90.12 of the Noblesville Code ('Restraint of Animals/Animals at Large') makes it unlawful for any owner or custodian to allow an animal to run at large within the city. Dogs must be on a leash and under the direct control of a competent person when on public property or property open to the public. Dogs may be off-leash only on the owner's own property under direct voice command, or inside designated dog parks. Section 90.03 imposes a general duty of care, and the City's tethering rule prohibits chaining a dog between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. or tethering at a vacant property unattended, with a 12-foot minimum tether length and operable swivels on both ends.

Key details: Governing Code: Noblesville Code Sec. 90.12 + Sec. 90.03. Leash Required: Yes - on public property or property open to the public. Off-Leash Allowed: Owner's property under voice command + designated dog parks. Tether Curfew: No tethering 11:00 p.m. - 6:00 a.m.. Tether Specs: 12-ft minimum length, operational swivels on both ends.

Allowing an animal to run at large within Noblesville, or walking a dog off-leash on public property outside a designated dog park, is a violation of Sec. 90.12. Tethering a dog between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., tethering at a vacant property without supervision, or using a tether less than 12 feet long or without operational swivels violates the Sec. 90.12 tethering rules. Failure to maintain rabies vaccination violates IC 15-17-6-2 and 345 IAC 1-5. Ordinance violations are punishable by civil penalty under the Code's general penalty (Title I, Sec. 10.99), with escalating fines for repeat offenses; serious cruelty cases involving tethering can be charged criminally under IC 35-46-3. Field response is by Hamilton County Animal Services (317-773-1282).

Chickens & Livestock

Noblesville is one of the most restrictive Hamilton County cities on backyard chickens. Section 90.27 of the Noblesville Code of Ordinances (Title IX, Chapter 90 - Animals) flatly prohibits keeping, raising, confining or feeding hogs, chickens, ducks, goats, sheep or cows within the corporate limits unless the parcel is in an area zoned agricultural. There is no residential hen permit, no numeric hen cap, and no setback alternative - chickens are simply not allowed on residentially zoned lots inside Noblesville. This puts Noblesville in contrast to neighboring Carmel, Westfield and Fishers, which permit limited backyard hens under various local rules.

Key details: Governing Code: Noblesville Code Sec. 90.27 (Title IX, Ch. 90 - Animals). Backyard Hens: PROHIBITED on residentially zoned lots (no permit available). Allowed Zoning: Agricultural-zoned parcels only. Other Prohibited Species (Sec. 90.27): Hogs, ducks, goats, sheep, cows. State Preemption: None - IC Title 36 leaves animal-keeping to municipalities.

Keeping chickens, ducks, hogs, goats, sheep or cows on a non-agriculturally-zoned parcel inside the corporate limits of Noblesville is a violation of Section 90.27 of Chapter 90 of the Code of Ordinances. Ordinance violations under Title IX are enforceable by civil penalty under the Code's general penalty section (Title I, Sec. 10.99), with daily-recurring fines until the animals are removed. Hamilton County Animal Services (317-773-1282) handles field investigations and animal seizure; the Noblesville Code Enforcement officer at City Hall (16 S. 10th St., Noblesville, 317-776-6324) issues the underlying ordinance citation. There is no internal permit pathway to cure a Sec. 90.27 violation - the animals must be relocated to an agriculturally zoned parcel or outside Noblesville.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Noblesville actively enforces its chickens & livestock requirements.

Breed Restrictions

The City of Noblesville does not have a breed-specific dog ban. Pit bulls, Rottweilers, Doberman Pinschers, German Shepherds, and other commonly-restricted breeds are legal to own in Noblesville without breed-specific permits, muzzle, insurance, or enclosure requirements. Indiana has NO statewide preemption of breed-specific legislation - the Indiana Court of Appeals struck down Indianapolis' attempt at a pit-bull ordinance on procedural grounds in 2009, and some Indiana cities do have BSL - but Noblesville and Hamilton County rely on the conduct-based Indiana Dangerous Dog statute (IC 15-20-1) and Chapter 90 of the City Code instead.

Key details: Noblesville BSL: None - no breed-specific ban or permit. Hamilton County BSL: None. Indiana State Preemption: None - cities/counties may enact BSL under IC 36-1-3 Home Rule. Indianapolis Precedent: Pit-bull ordinance struck on procedural grounds (2009). Dangerous Dog Statute: IC 15-20-1 - conduct-based statewide framework.

Noblesville has no breed-specific permit, registration, muzzle, or enclosure requirement to violate. A dog determined to be dangerous under IC 15-20-1 must be restrained, confined, and registered as required by the statute; failure to comply is a Class B misdemeanor, escalating to a Class A misdemeanor or Level 6 felony depending on injury severity under IC 15-20-1-7 and related provisions. Allowing a dangerous dog to attack a person can also be charged as criminal recklessness or battery under Title 35. City-level enforcement of Sec. 90.04 (bites/quarantine) and Sec. 90.05 (owner responsibility for attacks) is by Hamilton County Animal Services (317-773-1282) in coordination with the Noblesville Police Department.

The rules around breed restrictions in Noblesville lean permissive, but that does not mean anything goes.

Wildlife Feeding

The City of Noblesville does not have a specific wildlife-feeding ordinance in Chapter 90 of the Code, and Hamilton County does not impose a county-wide feeding ban. Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Division of Fish & Wildlife rules govern statewide. Indiana prohibits feeding or baiting of deer for hunting on public land, and the DNR strongly discourages residential deer feeding for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) management reasons. Bear feeding is not a routine issue in central Indiana (Hamilton County is outside established black-bear range). Residential bird feeders are unregulated. Feeding that creates a public-safety nuisance can be addressed under general Noblesville Code nuisance provisions.

Key details: City Wildlife-Feeding Ordinance: None - Indiana DNR rules apply. Deer Feeding/Baiting (Public Land): Prohibited for hunting purposes (IC 14-22). Deer Feeding (Residential): Strongly discouraged for CWD - check current DNR rules. Hamilton County CWD Zone: Not historically designated (verify at on.IN.gov/cwd). Bear Feeding: Prohibited statewide; central IN outside bear range.

Noblesville has no city-specific wildlife-feeding fine. Feeding or baiting deer for the purpose of hunting on public land is a wildlife violation enforceable by Indiana DNR Conservation Officers under IC 14-22 and 312 IAC, with Class C infraction or Class A misdemeanor exposure depending on severity. Feeding deer inside an Indiana DNR-designated CWD Surveillance Area is also a wildlife violation - verify current Hamilton County status at on.IN.gov/cwd. Feeding bears is prohibited statewide. Wildlife-feeding that creates a sanitation nuisance or attracts predators to residential properties may be cited by Hamilton County Animal Services or Noblesville Code Enforcement under general nuisance provisions, with abatement orders and civil penalties under the Code's general penalty section.

The rules around wildlife feeding in Noblesville lean permissive, but that does not mean anything goes.

Beekeeping

Backyard beekeeping is permissive in Noblesville. Indiana Code 36-1-28-1 (Public Law 193-2019, effective July 1, 2019) preempts any Indiana city, county, town, or township from adopting or continuing an ordinance, rule, regulation or resolution that prohibits a person from beekeeping on property the person owns, rents, or leases. Municipalities may still regulate the NUMBER and LOCATION of hives, but only in conformity with standards established by the Apiary Inspectors of America. Noblesville Code Sec. 90.27 (which prohibits residential keeping of hogs, chickens, ducks, goats, sheep and cows) does NOT list bees, and the City has not enacted a hive-count cap.

Key details: Indiana Preemption Statute: IC 36-1-28-1 (PL 193-2019; effective July 1, 2019). Noblesville Beekeeping Ordinance: None - bees not listed in Sec. 90.27. Hive Count Cap: No city cap (state allows local caps but Noblesville has none). Allowed Local Rules: Number/location only, must conform to Apiary Inspectors of America. State Regulator: Indiana DNR - Division of Entomology & Plant Pathology.

Because Indiana Code 36-1-28-1 preempts any local ban on beekeeping and Noblesville has not enacted a hive-count or location ordinance, there is no city-level violation for backyard beekeeping in Noblesville. An apiary that creates a public-safety nuisance - aggressive bees repeatedly stinging neighbors, swarming onto adjoining property in numbers - could potentially be subject to abatement under general nuisance provisions of the City Code, but any such enforcement must be consistent with IC 36-1-28-1's preemption (i.e., it cannot be a de facto ban). Diseased or abandoned hives are subject to inspection and quarantine by the Indiana State Apiarist under IC 14-24-9, with a regulated-disease enforcement action available for American foulbrood and other listed diseases.

The rules around beekeeping in Noblesville lean permissive, but that does not mean anything goes.

Exotic Pets

Indiana regulates private possession of wild and exotic animals through a state Wild Animal Possession Permit administered by the Indiana DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife under IC 14-22-26 and 312 IAC 9-11. Animals are classified into Class I (raccoons, opossums, squirrels - permit required), Class II (beavers, coyotes, foxes, mink, bobcats, smaller wild cats - permit required), and Class III (potentially dangerous - bears, big cats, wolves, venomous reptiles, large constrictors and crocodilians - strict permit required). Noblesville Code Chapter 90 (notably Sec. 90.10) provides a city overlay for wild or exotic animals; Sec. 90.27 separately bars residential keeping of traditional livestock. The federal Big Cat Public Safety Act of 2022 also prohibits private big-cat ownership nationwide.

Key details: Indiana State Statute: IC 14-22-26 (Wild Animal Possession Permit). Administrative Rule: 312 IAC 9-11 (Indiana DNR Fish & Wildlife). Class Structure: Class I (nuisance natives), II (furbearers/small cats), III (dangerous). Class III Examples: Bears, big cats, wolves, crocodilians, venomous reptiles, large constrictors. Permit Term: 1 year (renewable); must be obtained BEFORE possession (Class III).

Possession of a Class I, Class II, or Class III wild animal in Noblesville without a current Indiana DNR Wild Animal Possession Permit issued under IC 14-22-26 and 312 IAC 9-11 is a violation of state law enforceable by DNR Law Enforcement, with seizure of the animal and Class B misdemeanor or Class A misdemeanor exposure under IC 14-22-38 depending on the violation. Private ownership of a big cat (lion, tiger, leopard, jaguar, cougar, cheetah, snow leopard, clouded leopard, or hybrid) is a federal violation under the Big Cat Public Safety Act of 2022 regardless of state permit status. City violations of Noblesville Code Sec. 90.10 are enforceable by Hamilton County Animal Services (317-773-1282), with civil penalties under the general penalty section of the Code and animal seizure available.

Livestock

Section 90.27 of the Noblesville Code of Ordinances (Title IX, Chapter 90 - Animals) prohibits keeping, raising, confining or feeding hogs, chickens, ducks, goats, sheep or cows within the corporate limits of the city unless the parcel is in an area zoned agricultural. Horses are not on the Sec. 90.27 list, but the Noblesville Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) accessory-use and zoning-district provisions effectively limit large-animal keeping to rural-zoned acreage. Indiana has no statewide preemption that would override the City's choice, and Sec. 90.27 has no residential permit or setback alternative. Hamilton County's Title 15 Agriculture and Animals Ordinance governs the unincorporated balance of the county.

Key details: Governing Code: Noblesville Code Sec. 90.27 (Title IX, Ch. 90 - Animals). Hogs / Goats / Sheep / Cows: PROHIBITED on residentially zoned lots. Chickens / Ducks: PROHIBITED on residentially zoned lots. Horses: Not in Sec. 90.27 list; UDO zoning effectively limits to rural. Permit Pathway: None - agricultural zoning is the only avenue.

Keeping hogs, chickens, ducks, goats, sheep, or cows on a non-agriculturally-zoned parcel within Noblesville corporate limits is a violation of Section 90.27. Ordinance violations under Title IX are enforceable by civil penalty under the Code's general penalty (Title I, Sec. 10.99), with daily-recurring fines until the animals are removed. There is no permit pathway to cure a Sec. 90.27 violation - the animals must be relocated to an agriculturally zoned parcel or outside Noblesville. Field response is by Hamilton County Animal Services (317-773-1282), which may seize animals being kept in non-compliant locations and hold them at 18100 Cumberland Road, Noblesville. Cruelty involving livestock can be charged separately under IC 35-46-3 (Class A misdemeanor base, Level 6 felony with prior conviction or torture).

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Noblesville actively enforces its livestock requirements.

The Bottom Line

Compared to many U.S. cities, Noblesville gives residents more room on animal ordinances. 3 of the 7 rules here are rated permissive. But permissive does not mean unregulated. There are still requirements, and the city does enforce them when violations are reported.

Keep in mind that Noblesville can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.