UPDATE 8/20/25: The ordinance passed tonight on second reading. Thank you again to all who joined USARK to educate the Council on the implications of the original draft and helped make this ordinance better.
UPDATE 8/6/25: The Town Council voted, and the latest proposal passed its first reading. There should be a final vote at the next Town meeting in two weeks (August 20). The Council considered the information presented from stakeholders over the past few months, with one Council member stating, “Boy, did we get an education.” The draconian nature of the first draft has greatly evolved into its current version. Thank you to those who joined USARK in providing the Council with the information they needed to write a practical ordinance.
UPDATE 7/16/25: The Council moved to post the current proposal on the town website and accept public comments. The first vote may be at the next Council meeting in three weeks. Watch here and www.newpalestine.in.gov for the draft to be posted. It should be the same as posted on our 7/15/25 update. You can read the proposed ordinance at https://www.newpalestine.in.gov/ordinances (scroll down to “Amending Animal Ordinance”).
Meeting details: 7:00 PM on Wednesday, August 6 at Town Hall, 42 East Main Street, New Palestine, IN
UPDATE 7/15/25: The agenda for the July 16 Council meeting was just posted today. You can read the current animal ordinance proposal at https://newpalestine.in.gov/towncouncil#occdrw (Go to the July 16 agenda and click on agenda item 5.1).
Meeting details: 7:00 PM on Wednesday, July 16 at Town Hall, 42 East Main Street, New Palestine, IN
UPDATE 7/2/25: The latest draft was discussed at tonight’s meeting. The Council decided to table the ordinance for two weeks, with the Council taking a hard look until then for additional changes. It was stated that any reference to “dangerous” animals would be struck. After the next meeting, the proposal will be advertised for input. The next Council meeting will be July 16.
UPDATE: The next meeting will be on Wednesday, July 2. The posted draft will ban “dangerous” animals, with the definition being “able or apt to harm.” You can read the proposal on the town’s website at https://newpalestine.in.gov/towncouncil#occdrw (scroll down and click on the July 2 agenda).
Meeting details: 7:00 PM on June 18 at Town Hall, 42 East Main Street, New Palestine, IN 46163
Excerpt: Keeping dangerous reptiles and animals. It shall be unlawful for any person to keep, maintain, or have in his possession, or under his control within the town, any such dangerous reptiles, exotic animals and birds of prey. It shall be unlawful for any person to display or walk about with any type of snake, birds of prey, dangerous reptiles and exotic animals in a public place.
UPDATE 6/18/25: The ordinance was tabled at tonight’s meeting. The Council reported that they are still working on the language and did not want to move forward with the draft that was posted for tonight’s agenda. USARK’s Phil Goss testified on behalf of responsible animal owners. New Palestine residents should monitor the Town’s website and Facebook page for updates and meeting agendas. USARK will obviously also provide updates.
UPDATE 6/17/25: The Town posted the amended animal ordinance proposal this afternoon (note that the meeting is tomorrow). We have described the changes below, and you can read the proposal on the town’s website at https://newpalestine.in.gov/towncouncil#occdrw (scroll down and click on the June 18 agenda). Changes are displayed as strikethrough, bold, and underlined. The Council made numerous amendments after hearing from stakeholders and experts.
Below are some of the changes:
- There will be a ban on the sale, breeding or transfer of reptiles, arachnids, birds of prey, and exotic animals unless allowed by the Town Council. (NOTE: The proposal likely has an error as it reads to both ban and allow these activities without regulation by the Town for birds of prey, as the title and description are contradictory.)
- The previously proposed term “dangerous animal” has been removed. (Covered by “vicious” animal.)
- The definition for “exotic” animal reads: “Exotic” shall include, but not be limited to, any animal not typically domesticated or native to the State of Indiana and which may pose a risk to public safety or local ecosystem. The Department of Natural Resources and United States Department of Agriculture shall have the authority to regulate the possession, sale, transport, or display of certain reptiles, amphibians, birds of prey, wolves, foxes and exotic cats as provided by §50.06(M) of this Chapter. (NOTE: The animal must be non-native AND pose a risk to public safety or local ecosystem to be considered “exotic.”)
- There will be a ban on beekeeping (per the definition of venomous animal).
- Animal Control Officer has been changed to Animal Management Department, and it is stated that the Animal Management Department of Hancock County shall have the authority to enforce this ordinance.
- It will be illegal to keep “vicious” and “exotic” animals (with exceptions).
- There will be a ban on the public display of reptiles, arachnids, and exotic animals unless permitted by the Town.
- It shall be illegal to possess or control any venomous reptile, arachnid, exotic animal, or any other type of venomous animal within the Town limits. (NOTE: See next.)
- Only if licensed by the Indiana DNR or federal USDA, the following animals will be allowed: (1) Venomous reptiles and any alligator exceeding five feet in length; (2) Turtles, native lizards, and amphibians; (3) Hawks, owls, eagles, falcons and other raptors; (4) Wolves, foxes, and exotic cats, including, but not limited to lions, tigers, jaguars and leopards.
- “Emotional support animals” that are otherwise banned must be approved by the Town.
- There remains a ban on owning more than four dogs and/or cats in Town without a $100 non-commercial kennel license.
- Other changes can be read at https://newpalestine.in.gov/towncouncil#occdrw.
Any concerns or approval may be emailed to the Council members via this email list: EMaple@newpalestine.in.gov, CMolinder@newpalestine.in.gov, RHartley@newpalestine.in.gov, bniemier@newpalestine.in.gov, TReed@newpalestine.in.gov, SMorris@newpalestine.in.gov
UPDATE 4/16/25: The town meeting was tonight, and the Council voted no to the proposed language. The Council mentioned several times that they appreciated hearing concerns from New Palestine residents and receiving education from local animal owners and USARK. Several people spoke in opposition (none in support), including town residents, representatives from the Hoosier Herpetological Society (Holly and Roger Carter in person and Jim Horton previously spoke to the Town Council President), Bird Fever (Indianapolis bird store), USARK’s Phil Goss, and others.
The Council stated that the current ordinance (which bans all animals not native to Indiana and dates back 80 years) needs to be amended, and that work would continue. The Council expressed how much they had learned and made it clear that they would work to make good changes. Thank you to everyone who spoke tonight and all those who worked on this issue over the last two weeks.
The city of New Palestine, Indiana (just east of Indianapolis) has proposed a ban on ALL reptiles in rental properties, a ban on ALL reptile breeding, a ban on falconry, an arbitrary pet limit of four animals, and more. The city currently has a definition of “exotic animal” that bans all animals not native to Indiana, meaning hamsters, parakeets, all tropical fish, and almost all other pets are banned. While the city is amending that definition and allowing ownership of some animals (although the current ordinance is not enforced), the proposal remains unjust and baseless.
USARK’s Phil Goss was the only person who spoke on the ordinance at the first hearing (which was April 2). The proposal did pass the first vote, but it must pass a second vote to become law. That meeting will be on Wednesday, April 16. The City Council was clear that they are open to amendments if local residents speak up.
This language will pass unless New Palestine residents, other organizations, and experts oppose it. Local residents must contact City Council members ASAP! If you are a non-resident (such as another organization, veterinarian, herpetologist, educator, professor, zoologist, relevant professional, etc.), please compose a letter and include your title and credentials.
The city currently has a ban on owning more than four dogs and/or cats without a $100 kennel license.
The next meeting and scheduled second vote (final passage): Wednesday, April 16 @ 7:00 PM EST at 42 East Main Street
What is proposed:
A ban on ALL breeding of reptiles, arachnids, birds of prey, and exotic animals.A ban on all reptiles, arachnids, birds of prey, and exotic animals in apartments and multi-family dwellings (dictating what property owners do with their rental properties).Pet limit of four. Specifically, illegal to own “More than four (4), individually or in any combination, of reptiles, arachnids, birds of prey or exotic animals.”A ban on any animal longer or taller than 5′.A ban on sales and transfers of all reptiles, arachnids, birds of prey, and exotic animals.A ban on “dangerous” reptiles, arachnids, birds of prey, and exotic animals… Specifically, “Dangerous” shall include, but not be limited to, any reptile, arachnid, bird of prey or exotic animal that due to its size, venom, strength, training, temperament or behavior constitutes a significant or serious risk of physical harm to human beings or other animals.No grandfathering provision (with the City’s rationale that all animals not native to Indiana are labeled as “exotic animals” and currently banned, so they should not be grandfathered).Ban on venomous animals.Ban on public displays and walking around town with your reptiles, arachnids, birds of prey, and exotic animals unless permitted. (An acceptable proposal.)
You can read the full proposal at https://usark.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/25-new-palestine.pdf.
Sample Letter (Please be civil and professional!)
Town Council names, emails, and numbers: https://newpalestine.in.gov/towncouncil, phone number 317-861-4727
Email list: EMaple@newpalestine.in.gov, CMolinder@newpalestine.in.gov, RHartley@newpalestine.in.gov, bniemier@newpalestine.in.gov, TReed@newpalestine.in.gov, SMorris@newpalestine.in.gov
New Palestine City Council Members,
I am a New Palestine resident who opposes many of the proposed changes to the city’s animal ordinance. I appreciate that the Council is making changes to the current ban on “exotic animals,” but I do not support the proposal. While I understand that there is an outdated and irrational ban on “exotic animals” that includes all aquarium fish, pet birds like parakeets, hamsters, ferrets, most pet reptiles, most pet amphibians, and more, the new proposal is almost as overreaching and unjust as the current ordinance. Obviously, hundreds of people in New Palestine are unknowingly breaking the current law. Every aquarium and bird owner is in violation, as are most reptile and amphibian owners and many mammal owners.
Specifically, I oppose: the pet limit of four, the ban on these animals in apartments and some other rental properties (that should be up to the property owner), the ban on breeding, the ban on reptiles longer than 5′, and the sales/transfer ban.
Please reconsider the proposal and make rational changes. Thank you, and have a good day.
Sincerely,
your name or initials
