Indiana has no state drone license. Recreational pilots need the free FAA TRUST certificate and commercial pilots need a Part 107 certificate, plus FAA registration for drones of 250 g or more. Indiana's own rules are strict about land and privacy: drones are banned on DNR properties except at designated sites, flying near an occupied home to capture images can be voyeurism, and drone scouting for hunting is illegal in season.
Do you need a drone license in Indiana?
Not from the state. FAA rules apply:
- Recreational: pass the free TRUST test. Register with the FAA ($5, 3 years) if your drone weighs 250 g or more.
- Commercial: a Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate and a registered drone.
- Airspace: Indianapolis International is Class C, and Fort Wayne, South Bend and Evansville have controlled airspace. Northwest Indiana sits near Chicago's Class B. Use LAANC where needed and stay at or below 400 ft.
Indiana state drone laws
- Voyeurism (IC 35-45-4-5): using a drone to enter the space around an occupied home to capture images of the person inside without consent is a misdemeanor. It becomes a felony if the images are published or shared, or the operator has a prior voyeurism conviction.
- Public safety interference: using a drone to interfere with police, firefighters or other public safety officials is a crime under a 2017 law.
- Hunting (IC 14-22-6-16): you can't use a drone to search for, scout, locate or detect wild animals to help take them during the open season or the 14 days before it. Since 2024, a drone may be used to recover a legally harvested animal if no one in the party is actively hunting.
- Police drones (IC 35-33-5-9): law enforcement generally needs a warrant to use a drone to search or record private property.
Where you can fly in Indiana
- DNR properties: under 312 IAC 8-2-8, drones are prohibited on DNR land, including state parks, forests, recreation areas, nature preserves, and fish and wildlife areas, except at sites designated for them. Narrow exceptions exist for journalists, researchers and tourism agencies with written permission from the property manager.
- National park: banned at Indiana Dunes National Park and other NPS sites.
- National forest: Hoosier National Forest generally allows drones outside wilderness areas and TFRs.
- City and county parks: check local park rules before launching.
- Military sites: keep clear of restricted areas such as Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane.
Before you fly in Indiana
- Check airspace and TFRs in B4UFLY or Aloft. Big events at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and college stadiums bring flight restrictions.
- Don't launch on DNR property unless it's a designated site.
- Keep away from homes and people's windows.
- Carry your TRUST certificate or Part 107 card.
Most legal flying in Indiana happens from private land with permission or at club fields. The DJI Mini 5 Pro and Mini 4 Pro weigh under 250 g, so recreational pilots don't need to register them. Read the rules at the Indiana General Assembly, and compare neighbors in drone laws by state.
Rules current as of October 2026. This is general information, not legal advice.
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