Indiana Code

Ind. Code § 36-1-3-9 (2026)

Territorial jurisdiction; exception; petition

✓ current as of May 2026
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     Sec. 9. (a) The area inside the boundaries of a county comprises its territorial jurisdiction. However, a municipality has exclusive jurisdiction over bridges (subject to IC 8-16-3-1), streets, alleys, sidewalks, watercourses, sewers, drains, and public grounds inside its corporate boundaries, unless a statute provides otherwise.

     (b) The area inside the corporate boundaries of a municipality comprises its territorial jurisdiction, except to the extent that a statute expressly authorizes the municipality to exercise a power in areas outside its corporate boundaries.

     (c) Whenever a statute authorizes a municipality to exercise a power in areas outside its corporate boundaries, the power may be exercised:

(1) inside the corporate boundaries of another municipality, only if both municipalities, by ordinance, enter into an agreement under IC 36-1-7; or

(2) in a county other than the county in which the municipal hall is located, but not inside the corporate boundaries of another municipality, only if both the municipality and the other county, by ordinance, enter into an agreement under IC 36-1-7.

     (d) If the two (2) units involved under subsection (c) cannot reach an agreement, either unit may petition the circuit or superior court of the county to hear and determine the matters at issue. The clerk of the court shall issue notice to the other unit as in other civil actions, and the court shall hold the hearing without a jury. There may be a change of venue from the judge but not from the county. The petitioning unit shall pay the costs of the action.

[Pre-Local Government Recodification Citations: subsection (a) formerly 17-2-2.5-4 part; 18-5-10-4 part; subsection (b) formerly 18-1-1.5-1 part; subsections (c) and (d) formerly 18-1-1.5-21.]

As added by Acts 1980, P.L.211, SEC.1. Amended by P.L.169-2015, SEC.169; P.L.149-2016, SEC.91.

 

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 8 cases, 1986–2005 · leading case: City of Gary v. Indiana Bell Tel. Co., 732 N.E.2d 149 (Ind. 2000).
City of Gary v. Indiana Bell Tel. Co., 732 N.E.2d 149 (Ind. 2000). · cites it 8× “A local government's specified power to manage the "public grounds" falling within its borders, see Ind.Code § 36-1-3-9(a), includes the unspecified power to operate in a proprietary capacity to charge fair and reasonable compensation for the private, commercial use of these…”
Town of Plainfield v. Town of Avon, 757 N.E.2d 705 (Ind. Ct. App. 2001). · cites it 4× “Indiana Code section 36-1-3-9 provides in pertinent part that: (a) The area inside the boundaries of a county comprises its territorial jurisdiction.”
City of Gary Ex Rel. King v. Smith & Wesson Corp., 801 N.E.2d 1222 (Ind. 2003). · cites it 2× “It is true that Indiana Code section 36-1-3-9(b) defines the jurisdiction of a City as its corporate boundary, and Indiana Code seetion 36-1-3-8 expressly prohibits a City from imposing duties upon other political subdivisions.”
City of North Vernon v. Jennings Nw. Reg'l Utils., 829 N.E.2d 1 (Ind. 2005). · cites it 2× “(providing for interlocal cooperation agreements) and Indiana Code section 36-1-3-9(d) (detailing the use of such agreements).”
Spranger v. State, 498 N.E.2d 931 (Ind. 1986). · cites it 2× “See I.C. § 36-1-3-9 and I.C. § 36-1-2-11. It is an unreasonable construction to conclude that an officer of a particular local governmental unit has the power to act outside that unit in the absence of express *958 statutory authorization.”
City of North Vernon v. Jennings Nw. Reg'l Utils., 799 N.E.2d 1068 (Ind. Ct. App. 2003). · cites it 3× “§ 36-1-3-9 (concerning boundaries of municipality); Ind.”
Beta Steel Corp. v. Porter Cnty., 695 N.E.2d 979 (Ind. Ct. App. 1998). · cites it 4× “Cities and counties are each granted the broad authority to regulate conduct that might endanger the public health, safety, or welfare.”
City of Gary v. Indiana Bell Tel. Co., 711 N.E.2d 79 (Ind. Ct. App. 1999). · cites it 2× “Ind Code § 36-1-3-9 (1993). . The City further argues that, even if IC 8—1—2— 101 as amended in March 1998 does apply to its ordinances, IC 8-1-2-101 only proscribes rental fees for a public utility's occupancy of its rights-of-way, not for the utility's use of its rights-of-way.”
— Ind. Code § 36-1-3-9(a) — 1 case
City of Gary v. Indiana Bell Tel. Co., 732 N.E.2d 149 (Ind. 2000). “A local government's specified power to manage the "public grounds" falling within its borders, see Ind.Code § 36-1-3-9(a), includes the unspecified power to operate in a proprietary capacity to charge fair and reasonable compensation for the private, commercial use of these…”
— Ind. Code § 36-1-3-9(b) — 1 case
City of Gary Ex Rel. King v. Smith & Wesson Corp., 801 N.E.2d 1222 (Ind. 2003). “It is true that Indiana Code section 36-1-3-9(b) defines the jurisdiction of a City as its corporate boundary, and Indiana Code seetion 36-1-3-8 expressly prohibits a City from imposing duties upon other political subdivisions.”
— Ind. Code § 36-1-3-9(c)(1) — 1 case
Town of Plainfield v. Town of Avon, 757 N.E.2d 705 (Ind. Ct. App. 2001). “Indiana Code section 36-1-3-9 provides in pertinent part that: (a) The area inside the boundaries of a county comprises its territorial jurisdiction.”
— Ind. Code § 36-1-3-9(d) — 1 case
City of North Vernon v. Jennings Nw. Reg'l Utils., 829 N.E.2d 1 (Ind. 2005). “(providing for interlocal cooperation agreements) and Indiana Code section 36-1-3-9(d) (detailing the use of such agreements).”
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