Title 36, LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Sec. 3.5. (a) If any territory in any county is not included in one (1) of the districts established under section 3 of this chapter, the territory is included in the district that: (1) is contiguous to that territory; and (2) contains the least population of all districts contig…

Sec. 4. The city-county legislative body may: (1) expel any member for violation of an official duty; (2) declare the seat of any member vacant if the member is unable or fails to perform the duties of the member's office; and (3) adopt its own rules to govern proceedings under t…

Sec. 5. (a) Each special service district of the consolidated city has a special service district council, which is the legislative body of the special service district, but only for the purposes prescribed by section 18(b) of this chapter. (b) A special service district legislat…

Sec. 6. (a) The city-county legislative body shall hold regular meetings at least once a month, at times and places prescribed by its rules or established by resolution. A special service district legislative body shall meet as required by IC 36-3-6. (b) A special meeting of a le…

Sec. 7. At its regular meeting in January each year, the city-county legislative body shall elect a president and other officers as it sees fit. [Pre-Local Government Recodification Citation: 18-4-5-1(h).] As added by Acts 1980, P.L.212, SEC.2.

Sec. 8. (a) The city-county legislative body shall appoint a clerk for a term of one (1) year. The clerk serves at the pleasure of the legislative body and continues in office until the clerk's successor is appointed and qualified. (b) The clerk is the clerk of the consolidated c…

Sec. 8.5. (a) A clerk may hire or contract with competent attorneys or legal research assistants on terms the clerk considers appropriate. (b) Appropriations for the salaries of attorneys and legal research assistants employed under this section shall be approved in the annual bu…

Sec. 9. A majority of all the elected members of a legislative body constitutes a quorum. [Pre-Local Government Recodification Citation: 18-4-5-1(f) part.] As added by Acts 1980, P.L.212, SEC.2.

Sec. 1. This chapter applies to all cities. [Local Government Recodification Citation: New.] As added by Acts 1980, P.L.212, SEC.3.

Sec. 2. (a) The powers of a city are divided between the executive and legislative branches of its government. A power belonging to one (1) branch of a city's government may not be exercised by the other branch. (b) Subject to IC 3-5-9, a city employee other than an elected or ap…

Sec. 3. (a) All powers and duties of a city that are executive or administrative in nature shall be exercised or performed by the city executive, another city officer, or a city department. (b) An ordinance of the city legislative body requiring an executive or administrative fun…

Sec. 4. (a) The legislative power of a city is vested in its legislative body. All powers and duties of a city that are legislative in nature shall be exercised or performed by its legislative body. The legislative body of a city may not elect or appoint a person to any office or…

Sec. 5. (a) If uncertainty exists or a dispute arises concerning the executive or legislative nature of a power or duty exercised or proposed to be exercised by a branch, officer, department, or agency of the government of a municipality, a petition may be filed in the circuit co…

Sec. 1. This chapter applies to all towns. [Local Government Recodification Citation: New.] As added by Acts 1980, P.L.212, SEC.4.

Sec. 10. Each town officer shall deliver town records and property in the town officer's custody to the town officer's successor in office when that successor qualifies. [Pre-Local Government Recodification Citation: 18-3-1-29.] As added by Acts 1980, P.L.212, SEC.4. Amended by P…

Sec. 11. The town executive may revoke or suspend any license issued by the town if the person holding the license has violated the terms or conditions of the license or of the law under which it was issued. [Pre-Local Government Recodification Citation: 18-1-20-3 part.] As added…

Sec. 12. (a) The legislative body of a town may adopt an ordinance allowing money to be disbursed under this section for lawful town purposes. (b) Notwithstanding IC 5-11-10, with the prior written approval of the board having jurisdiction over allowance of the claim, a town fisc…

Sec. 13. (a) Except as provided in subsection (c), this subsection applies to a town with a population of five hundred (500) or less. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other statute, a town may transfer money from any town fund to another town fund after the passage of an ord…

Sec. 14. Each town agency, board, commission, district, or other town entity shall file one (1) copy of that agency's, board's, commission's, district's, or entity's financial records with the town fiscal officer. As added by P.L.98-2000, SEC.23.

Sec. 2. Unless a statute provides otherwise, town monies may be disbursed only after an appropriation made by ordinance of the town legislative body and recorded in a book kept for that purpose by the legislative body. Each appropriation must be made from the fund against which t…

Sec. 3. (a) The town legislative body or a board of the town may order the issuance of warrants for payment of money by the town only at a meeting of the legislative body or board. (b) A town officer who violates this section forfeits the town officer's office. [Pre-Local Governm…

Sec. 4. (a) Except as provided in section 12 of this chapter, the town legislative body or a board of the town may allow a claim: (1) only at a meeting of the legislative body or board; and (2) only if the claim was filed in the manner prescribed by IC 5-11-10-2 at least five (5)…

Sec. 6. (a) As used in this section, "claim" means a bill or an invoice submitted for goods or services. (b) Except as provided in section 12 of this chapter, a warrant for payment of a claim against a town may be issued only if the claim is: (1) supported by a fully itemized inv…

Sec. 7. One (1) to three (3) days before the vacation leave period of a town officer or employee begins, the town may pay the officer or employee the amount of compensation the officer or employee will earn while on vacation leave. [Pre-Local Government Recodification Citation: 5…

Sec. 1. This chapter applies to all townships. [Local Government Recodification Citation: New.] As added by Acts 1980, P.L.212, SEC.5.

Sec. 10. On the first Monday of each August the executive shall post, in a conspicuous place near the executive's office, a verified statement showing the indebtedness of the township in detail and giving the number and total amount of outstanding orders, warrants, and accounts. …

amounts Sec. 11. (a) At the township legislative body's annual meeting under IC 36-6-6-11, the executive shall: (1) present an itemized written statement of the estimated expenditures for which appropriations are requested, specifying: (A) the number of teachers employed; (B) the…

Sec. 12. (a) At the annual meeting of the township legislative body under IC 36-6-6-9 the executive shall present a complete report of all receipts and expenditures of the preceding calendar year, including the balance to the credit of each fund controlled by the executive. If th…

Sec. 13. (a) When the executive prepares the annual report required by section 12 of this chapter, the executive shall also prepare, on forms prescribed by the state board of accounts, an abstract of receipts and expenditures: (1) showing the sum of money in each fund of the town…

Sec. 14. When the executive's term of office expires, the former executive shall: (1) immediately deliver to the new executive custody of all funds and property of the township, except records necessary in the preparation of the former executive's annual report; (2) deliver to th…

Sec. 15. (a) If the executive resigns or dies, the former executive or the former executive's personal representative shall immediately deliver to the new executive custody of all funds and property of the township. The new executive shall then issue a call for a special meeting …

Sec. 16. (a) When twenty-five (25) or more resident freeholders of a township file a petition with the circuit court, superior court, or probate court of the county, alleging that the township executive is incapable of performing the executive's duties due to mental or physical i…

Sec. 17. (a) Except as provided in IC 5-11, an executive who fails to perform a duty imposed by section 3(1), 3(2), 3(3), 3(4), 3(5), 3(7), 3(8), 5, or 14(1) of this chapter is liable to the township in a sum of not more than one hundred dollars ($100), to be recovered in a civil…

Sec. 18. (a) Within thirty (30) days after taking office, the executive shall designate a person who shall perform the executive's duties whenever the executive is incapable of performing the executive's functions because the executive: (1) is absent from the township; or (2) bec…

Sec. 19. The township executive may pay township funds for the purpose of supporting a drug awareness program that is implemented in schools. As added by P.L.2-1997, SEC.83.

Sec. 2. (a) A township trustee shall be elected under IC 3-10-2-13 by the voters of each township. The trustee is the township executive. (b) The township trustee must reside within the township as provided in Article 6, Section 6 of the Constitution of the State of Indiana. The …

Sec. 20. (a) As used in this section, "training courses" refers to training courses, workshops, training institutes authorized by IC 5-11-14, formal academies, special seminars, and other in-service training related to an office described in section 2 of this chapter that are dev…

Sec. 21. (a) As used in this section, "department" refers to the department of local government finance. (b) Beginning in 2026, and each year thereafter, each township trustee shall submit, using the department's computer gateway established under IC 5-14-3.8-3, the following inf…

Sec. 3. The executive shall do the following: (1) Keep a written record of official proceedings. (2) Manage all township property interests. (3) Keep township records open for public inspection. (4) Attend all meetings of the township legislative body. (5) Receive and pay out tow…

Sec. 4. The executive may do the following: (1) Administer oaths when necessary in the discharge of official duties. (2) Appoint an attorney to represent the township in any proceeding in which the township is interested. (3) Enter into certain oil and gas leases of township prop…

Sec. 5. The executive shall maintain: (1) a general account showing the total of all township receipts and expenditures; and (2) the financial and appropriation record of the township, which must include an itemized and accurate account of the township's financial affairs. [Pre-L…

Sec. 6. (a) For each sum of money received by the executive, the financial and appropriation record must show: (1) the date it was received; (2) from whom it was received; and (3) to what account it was credited. (b) For each sum of money paid by the executive, the financial and …

Sec. 7. (a) Each purchase for the township by the executive must be made on written order of the executive, certifying that sufficient funds have been appropriated to pay the full price of the purchase. The executive shall issue a warrant and pay for the purchase not later than r…

Sec. 8. (a) The executive may use the township's share of state, county, and township tax revenues and federal revenue sharing funds for all categories of community services, if these funds are appropriated for these services by the township legislative body. The executive may us…

Sec. 0.1. The following amendments to this chapter apply as follows: (1) The amendments made to sections 501, 502, 503, 504, 505, 506, 507, 508, 509, 510, 511, 512, 601, 602, 603, 604, 605, 606, 607, 608, 609, 610, 611, 612, and 701 of this chapter by P.L.335-1985 do not affect a…

Sec. 0.2. Notwithstanding any other law, the amendments and additions made to this chapter by SEA 425-2025 shall not be construed to impair or invalidate a comprehensive plan or zoning ordinance adopted by a local authority (as defined in section 1109 of this chapter). As added b…