Elkhart County, IN Public Conduct: Loitering Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Curfew hours
- 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.
- Covers
- Goshen & Elkhart courthouse grounds
- Max fine
- $1,000 (courthouse), per day
- Exception
- Commissioners' prior written consent
- Similar rule
- Six Span Bridge boat launch, § 93.071
- Boat launch penalty
- Up to $500/day
Summary
Section 131.03 bans loitering, as defined by state law, on the Goshen or Elkhart courthouse grounds between 10:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. without the Commissioners' prior written consent, and separately bans damaging the buildings, throwing objects in the courthouse fountain, and littering. A similar 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. loitering ban applies at the Six Span Bridge boat launch under § 93.071.
(A) No person shall loiter, as defined by state law, on the Goshen Courthouse Lawn or the Elkhart Courthouse Property later than 10:00 p.m. or earlier than 5:00 a.m. without the prior written consent of the Board. (B) No person shall destroy, deface, or economically or aesthetically damage the Goshen Courthouse Building, Goshen Courthouse Lawn, Elkhart Courthouse Building, or the Elkhart Courthouse Property. (C) No person shall throw, drop, or place any tangible object in the fountain located on the Goshen Courthouse Lawn. (D) No person shall put, throw, drop, or leave any refuse or litter upon the Goshen Courthouse Lawn or the Elkhart Courthouse Property.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2025 S-23: Supplement contains: Current through local legislation passed on or before July 31, 2025; and State Legislation current through 2025 Indiana Legislative Service, Pamphlet #3).
Full Breakdown
, unless the County Commissioners have given prior written consent. The same section folds in three more prohibitions covering the same properties: subsection (B) bars destroying, defacing or otherwise damaging the courthouse buildings or grounds; subsection (C) bars throwing, dropping or placing any object in the fountain on the Goshen Courthouse Lawn; and subsection (D) bars putting, throwing, dropping or leaving refuse or litter on either property. This sits inside Chapter 131's broader courthouse-grounds rules, which elsewhere require a permit for organized activity on the lawn and forbid sound amplification devices during business hours or while court is in session.
daily,' showing the county's loitering restrictions are tied to specific properties and set hours rather than a general public loitering law covering the whole unincorporated area.
Violations & Fines
Violating any part of § 131.03 is punishable under § 131.99 by a fine of not more than $1,000, plus court costs, and each day a violation continues counts as a separate violation. Loitering at the Six Span Bridge boat launch under § 93.071 is enforced separately: under § 93.999(B)(2), a boat-launch violation not otherwise penalized by state law draws a civil penalty of up to $500 per violation, with each day counted separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is loitering illegal everywhere in Elkhart County?
Can I get permission to be on courthouse grounds after 10 p.m.?
What is the penalty for loitering at the courthouse after hours?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Elkhart County
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