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.

Terms Used In Indiana Code 36-1-3-9

  • Clerk: means the clerk of the court or a person authorized to perform the clerk's duties. See Indiana Code 1-1-4-5
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
  • Venue: The geographical location in which a case is tried.
     (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.