Animal Ordinances in Indianapolis, IN (2026)
10 verified animal ordinances for Indianapolis, Indiana, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Indianapolis-Marion County's updated zoning code (Consolidated Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance) permits backyard hens in single-family residential (RS) and urban development districts. A maximum of six hens is allowed, roosters are prohibited, hens must be kept in a fenced rear yard, and coops must be set back 3 feet from any building on the property and 25 feet from any neighboring residence. Miniature goats and miniature horses are allowed in limited numbers on larger lots.
Backyard hens allowed (no roosters) under zoning
Some RestrictionsMarion County Consolidated Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance (backyard hens / urban livestock provisions)
A maximum of six (6) hens is allowed and roosters are prohibited; hens may be kept only in a fenced rear yard in a single-family residential (RS) or urban development district, and chicken coops must be set back 3 feet from any building on the property and 25 feet from any residence on a neighboring property.
Dog Leash Laws
Indianapolis bans letting any animal run at large under Sec. 531-102, defined as loose and not on a leash under a competent handler's control or fully confined. Fines escalate from a first-offense civil penalty to at least $100 per repeat violation, and at least $250 if the loose animal attacks or menaces someone.
Indianapolis At-Large and Leash Law for Animals
Some RestrictionsRevised Code of the Consolidated City and County (Indianapolis - Marion County), Sec. 531-102 (Animals at large prohibited; penalties)
(a)An owner or keeper of an animal commits a violation of the Code if that animal is at large in the city.(b)Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, section 531-501 or section 531-727, the first violation in any twelve-month period shall be subject to an admission of violation and payment of the designated civil penalty through the ordinance violations bureau in accordance with Ch...
Breed Restrictions
Indianapolis does not have any breed-specific ban or restriction; pit bulls and other breeds are legal to own. Dangerous and vicious dogs are regulated by behavior under Chapter 531 of the Revised Code and under Indiana Code Title 15, Article 20, not by breed. Indiana does not preempt local breed laws, but Indianapolis-Marion County has chosen a behavior-based approach.
No breed ban; dangerous-dog rules are behavior-based
Few RestrictionsIndiana Code 15-20-1-1 and 15-20-1-3 (political subdivision powers; dog bite liability)
Sec. 1. This chapter does not limit the power of an agency of the state or a political subdivision to adopt a rule or an ordinance that does not conflict with this chapter. ... Sec. 3. (a) If a dog, without provocation, bites a person: (1) who is acting peaceably; and (2) who is in a location where the person may be required to be in order to discharge a duty imposed upon the person by: (A) the...
Beekeeping
Indianapolis zoning permits personal beekeeping of domesticated honeybees in every zoning district under Sec. 743-306.V, no rezoning or use variance needed. Without a Chapter 838 personal livestock license, a property is capped at eight hives, each no larger than 16 cubic feet, and any ground-level hive that opens toward a walkway, patio or other activity area needs a barrier that redirects the bees' flight path at least six feet up.
Indianapolis Allows Backyard Beekeeping, Capped at 8 Hives
Some RestrictionsZoning Ordinance of Indianapolis-Marion County, Chapter 743, Sec. 743-306.V.1-2 (Personal garden - beekeeping)
V.Personal garden.1.Personal beekeeping of domesticated honeybees is permitted in all Districts. Without a personal livestock license, the number of bee hives on a site shall be limited to eight hives. No bee hive shall be larger than 16 cubic feet.2.Bee hives may be located on the ground or on the roof of a building with a permanent foundation.3.If the opening of any bee hive located on the gr...
Exotic Pets
Owning a wild or dangerous animal in Indianapolis requires registering it with animal care services first, and no one may keep more than two dangerous animals.
Wild/Dangerous Animals Need Registration, Capped at 2
Significant RestrictionsRevised Code of the Consolidated City and County (Indianapolis - Marion County), Sec. 531-502 (Wild animal and dangerous animal; registration required; limitation on ownership)
(a)It shall be unlawful for a person to own a wild animal or dangerous animal in the city without first having registered the animal with the animal care services agency under this article; however, this section shall not apply to zoological parks or bona fide circuses or carnivals.(b)It shall be unlawful for any person to own more than two (2) dangerous animals at any time in the city. This su...
Wildlife Feeding
Feeding, scattering or leaving food for birds or fowl in Indianapolis parks, playgrounds, parkways and streets is unlawful without city permission.
No Feeding Birds in Parks and Streets
Some RestrictionsRevised Code of the Consolidated City and County (Indianapolis - Marion County), Sec. 531-411 (Feeding birds)
It shall be unlawful for a person, except an employee of the city department of parks and recreation in the course of his or her employment, or with his or her express permission, to feed, scatter food or leave food of any type or kind in the parks, playgrounds, play fields, parkways, boulevards and streets of the city for any birds or fowl.
Pet Limits
The Revised Code of the Consolidated City and County does not impose a flat numerical limit on the number of dogs or cats a household may keep; instead, every dog and cat must carry permanent identification (microchip or permanent tag) under Sec. 531-202, and keeping animals in numbers that create a nuisance or that meet the kennel threshold triggers additional regulation. Indiana state law does not cap household pet numbers, so the local code controls.
No fixed dog/cat cap; permanent ID required
Few RestrictionsRevised Code of the Consolidated City and County, Sec. 531-202 (Permanent identification of dogs and cats required)
A person who owns a dog or cat in the consolidated city and county shall ensure that each dog or cat owned by that person bears a permanent means of identification at all times, such that the animal's owner can be ascertained accurately, quickly, and easily.(b)The identification required by this section shall be in addition to any tags required to be worn by dogs or cats by state law or other p...
Cat Rules
Indianapolis authorizes trap-neuter-return for free-roaming cats under Sec. 531-209: anyone may humanely trap a stray cat, have it evaluated, sterilized, ear-tipped and vaccinated by a licensed veterinarian, then return it to where it was caught or hand it off to a registered community cat caretaker instead.
Indianapolis Community Cat Trap-Neuter-Return Program
Light RestrictionsRevised Code of the Consolidated City and County (Indianapolis - Marion County), Sec. 531-209 (Community cat program)
(a)A community cat program is established in order to encourage the stabilization of the free-roaming cat population in the city by utilizing a trap, neuter, and return methodology.(b)A person may trap any free-roaming cat in a humane manner, utilizing a live release trap that does not injure the animal, and in accordance with the requirements of section 531-407 in order to have the free-roamin...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Marion County requires the owner of any unaltered dog over six months old to register on the Marion County Unaltered Animal Registry under Sec. 531-413, submit to annual vet exams and litter reporting, and cap breeding at one litter per 18 months. It is a registry mandate, not a blanket spay/neuter law, but repeat non-registration draws a civil fine of at least $150 per animal.
Marion County Unaltered Dog Registry Mandate
Significant RestrictionsRevised Code of the Consolidated City and County (Indianapolis - Marion County), Sec. 531-413 (Marion County Unaltered Animal Registry)
(b)The owner or keeper of any unaltered dog older than six (6) months of age in Marion County shall register on the Marion County Unaltered Animal Registry. Registration shall be valid for one (1) year and must be updated annually. ... (d)Violations.(1)An unregistered breeder commits a violation of this Code if they are the owner or keeper of any unaltered dog older than six (6) months of age i...
Pet Store Rules
Indianapolis pet shops cannot sell a dog, cat, or rabbit unless it came from an animal care services shelter or a qualifying nonprofit rescue. Section 836-6(a) caps the total sale price at $500 per animal and requires shops to post the source shelter or rescue's name, city, and state on every cage.
Indianapolis Pet Shops: Shelter or Rescue Dogs Only
Significant RestrictionsCode of Indianapolis & Marion County Sec. 836-6(a), (d) (Prohibition on the retail sale of dogs, cats, or rabbits by pet shops)
(a)It shall be unlawful for a pet shop to sell or offer for sale a dog, cat, or rabbit unless the animal was obtained by the pet shop from either an animal services shelter described in section 288-103 of this Code or an animal rescue organization, as defined in section 836-1 and all of the following conditions are met:(1)All fees or other charges for the sale of a dog, cat or rabbit shall not ...