Indiana Drone Laws

State Drone Laws

These laws are applicable only within the state of Indiana. All the cities, counties and towns in the state are required to follow these laws. These laws were created by Indiana General Assembly and Indiana Department of Transportation. Presently, there are five state drone laws in Indiana.

HB 1013 // 2016

According to this law, a law enforcement officer is required to have a warrant if they wish to use an unmanned aircraft system [1]. However, the warrant can be exempted in the following situations:

In case of a terrorist attack
For search and rescue operations
In case of a natural disaster or any other disasters
For taking photographs or videos of car crash or other traffic crash sites

HB 1246 // 2016

This law is primarily regarding the conservation and protection of wildlife. The following rules must be obeyed for using unmanned aircraft systems [2]:

A person is allowed to make use of unmanned aerial vehicles for the purpose of providing veterinary treatment to injured wild animals.
The use of unmanned aircraft systems is also allowed for monitoring certain wild animal, and also for monitoring agricultural areas.
It is prohibited to use unmanned aerial vehicles during hunting season for the purpose of assisting oneself in locating suitable wild animals.

IAC 312 8-2-8 (i) // 2018

According to this law, it is strictly prohibited to use unmanned aircraft systems in any property owned by Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) [3]. This includes all the state owned parks, and other natural areas. This law can be exempted if a license is obtained from the Department of Natural Resources for the purposes of filming using a drone in the areas mentioned above.

HB 1009 // 2014

According to this law, it is compulsory for all law enforcement officers to have a search warrant if they wish to operate an unmanned aircraft system in the state if Indiana. This law also states that it is illegal to take photographs or surveillance footage of anyone’s private property using unmanned aerial vehicles without the permission of the owner. This act is considered a Class A misdemeanor, which is punishable by up to one year in jail [4].

SB 299 // 2017

According to this law, the following acts are considered to be criminal offenses [5]:

If a sex offender uses a drone for following, contacting, and filming/photographing another person, it is also considered a crime.
Operating an unmanned aircraft system in a way that disrupts the duties of a public safety worker is also a crime.

Local Drone Laws

These laws are only applicable in certain cities, regions, or counties. There is only one local drone law in Indiana.

Fort Wayne City Ordinance § 96.30 Regulation of Unmanned Aircraft Systems // 2019

This law is applicable only in the city Fort Wayne, Indiana. According to this law, it is essential for people to inform the city officials before operating their drone above the Downtown Aerial District. This intimation is also necessary if a person wishes to operate their drone near an event. The name and contact information of the pilot, the purpose and duration of the operation, and all the necessary FAA documents must be included in the notice.

Federal Drone Laws

Federal drone laws are enforced by the Federal Government and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the US. It is mandatory for all states, including Indiana, to obey these laws. These laws can be further be divided into three types. [6]

For commercial use of a drone

There are three main steps that must be followed if a person wants to operate their drone for commercial use.

Firstly, it is important to learn the Part 107 rules enforced by the Federal Aviation Administration. These rules give a detailed guide about how a person can fly their drone for work/business purpose.
Getting a remote pilot certification from the Federal Aviation Administration is also a requirement for operating an unmanned aircraft system commercially. An Aeronautical Knowledge Test which is conducted by the Federal Aviation Administration has to be cleared in order to obtain this certification. This test covers topics like applicable regulations for unmanned aircraft systems, impact of weather on UAS, loading and performance, radio communication, emergency operation, maintenance etc.
In order to fly a drone commercially, it is necessary that the drone is registered with the Federal Aviation Administration. The registration costs around $5, and it valid for 3 years. It is also recommended to display the registration number on the drone so that it becomes easier to identify and locate it.

For Government Operators

Government employees who wish to operate unmanned aircraft systems have two options. They can either obtain a Federal Certificate of Authorization (COA) which is given by the Federal Aviation Administration, or they can follow the same process as commercial drone pilots by following FAA’s Part 107 rules. Some of the rules included in Part 107 are:

Obtaining a remote pilot certification by passing the Aeronautical Knowledge Test.
Operating only in Class G airspace. Obtaining a permit for and airspace that is not Class G
Never exceeding the altitude of 400 feet.
Getting your drone registered with the Federal Aviation Administration.
Operating only during day time.

For Flying a Drone as a Recreational Hobby

Federal Aviation Administration’s “Recreational Model Aircraft” laws have to be followed if a person wishes to fly their drone for recreational purposes. The “FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018” is also a guide for drone hobbyists as it provides detailed instructions about the when, where and how a drone can be operated for recreational purposes. Some recreational flying rules include:

It is essential to get your drone registered with the Federal Aviation Administration if it weighs more than 0.55 lbs.
Recreational flying can only be done in Class G airspace without a permit. A special permit has to be obtained for operating in any airspace that is not Class G.
The drone should be kept below 400 feet altitude.
The drone should always be within the pilot’s line of sight.
A person is not allowed to fly their drone directly over a person without their consent