Indiana: Boat Motor Rules by Lake
7 electric-only · 2 all-lake no-wake · 3 zoned lakes in our database
Quick answer
Indiana sets motor rules lake by lake, not statewide. Recreational boating in Indiana is regulated under Indiana Code article 14-15 (Regulation of Water Recreation), with implementing rules adopted by the Natural Resources Commission at 312 IAC 5 and enforced by Indiana DNR conservation officers of the Division of Law Enforcement. Public waters are generally open to motorboats without a horsepower cap unless a statute or rule imposes a water-specific restriction. Statewide defaults still apply everywhere: motorboats may not exceed 10 mph on small lakes of 300 acres or less (IC 14-15-3-10) unless the lake is exempted by rule, and motorboats must stay at idle speed within 200 feet of a lake shoreline (IC 14-15-3-17). On DNR-managed properties, lakes under 300 acres are additionally limited to electric trolling motors under 312 IAC 8-2-8. Every lake below links to the official rule it summarizes, with a verification date.
How Indiana's restricted lakes split
- Electric only 7
- No wake 2
- Zoned 3
Who regulates Indiana lakes
- Indiana Department of Natural Resources
- Indiana DNR Division of Law Enforcement
- Indiana Natural Resources Commission
Water-specific boating restrictions are codified in 312 IAC 5: Rule 6 covers specified public freshwater lakes, Rule 7 specified rivers and streams, Rule 8 Lake Michigan, Rule 9 utility-owned reservoirs (Geist, Morse, Prairie Creek and Sullivan Lake), Rule 10 state or federally funded reservoirs (including Hardy and Summit lakes) and Rule 11 exemptions from the small-lake speed limit. IC 14-15-3-10 prohibits operating a motorboat over 10 mph on a small lake, defined at 312 IAC 5-2-33 as a body of public water of 300 acres or less. IC 14-15-3-17 requires idle speed within 200 feet of the shoreline of any lake or channel. Idle speed is defined at 312 IAC 5-2-17 as the slowest possible speed maintaining steerage, not exceeding 5 mph, whereby the wake or wash created by a boat is minimal. On DNR properties, 312 IAC 8-2-8(g)(4) restricts motorboats on lakes under 300 acres to an electric trolling motor with no more than two 12-volt batteries or one 24-volt battery, except that outboards may operate at idle speed on Loon Lake, Otter Lake and Blue Grass Pit at Blue Grass Fish and Wildlife Area; Indiana state park property maps accordingly state that only electric trolling motors are allowed on park lakes. Personal watercraft are subject to additional statewide operating rules under IC 14-15-12.
Motor restrictions on Indiana lakes
Click a column header to sort. Every row links to a full rules page with the official source.
| Lake | Motor rule | HP limit | Acres | County | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geist Reservoir | Zoned Restrictions | — | — | Hamilton | |
| Hardy Lake | Zoned Restrictions | — | — | Scott | |
| J.C. Murphey Lake | Electric Motors Only | — | 1,200 | Newton | |
| Lake Lenape | Electric Motors Only | — | — | Greene | |
| Loon Lake | Slow-No-Wake Entire Lake | — | — | Warrick | |
| Ogle Lake | Electric Motors Only | — | 17 | Brown | |
| Prairie Creek Reservoir | Zoned Restrictions | — | 1,275 | Delaware | |
| Starve Hollow Lake | Electric Motors Only | — | 145 | Jackson | |
| Strahl Lake | Electric Motors Only | — | 7 | Brown | |
| Summit Lake | Slow-No-Wake Entire Lake | — | 835 | Henry | |
| Whitewater Lake | Electric Motors Only | — | 180 | Union | |
| Worster Lake | Electric Motors Only | — | 327 | St. Joseph |
Browse by restriction type
Frequently asked questions
Who sets lake motor rules in Indiana?
Indiana Department of Natural Resources and Indiana DNR Division of Law Enforcement and Indiana Natural Resources Commission set and publish boating restrictions for Indiana waters, and counties or cities can layer local ordinances on top. In short: Recreational boating in Indiana is regulated under Indiana Code article 14-15 (Regulation of Water Recreation), with implementing rules adopted by the Natural Resources Commission at 312 IAC 5 and enforced by Indiana DNR conservation officers of the Division of Law Enforcement. Public waters are generally open to motorboats without a horsepower cap unless a statute or rule imposes a water-specific restriction. Statewide defaults still apply everywhere: motorboats may not exceed 10 mph on small lakes of 300 acres or less (IC 14-15-3-10) unless the lake is exempted by rule, and motorboats must stay at idle speed within 200 feet of a lake shoreline (IC 14-15-3-17). On DNR-managed properties, lakes under 300 acres are additionally limited to electric trolling motors under 312 IAC 8-2-8.
Are lakes electric-only by default in Indiana?
Not statewide, but many managed lakes are. Our Indiana database currently lists 7 electric-only lakes. Agency-owned fishing lakes are the most common electric-only waters; large reservoirs usually allow gas motors. Each lake page cites the exact rule.
How do I find rules for a lake not listed here?
Go straight to the agency: Indiana Department of Natural Resources (https://www.in.gov/dnr/); Indiana DNR Division of Law Enforcement (https://www.in.gov/dnr/law-enforcement/); Indiana Natural Resources Commission (https://www.in.gov/nrc/). Search the lake name plus "boating regulations", or call the district office for the county. Our guide on who regulates your lake explains which agency to try first.
About this data
Each lake page cites the official regulation it summarizes (agency link and document type) and shows its own verification date. Data vintage: oldest verification .
Boating across state lines? Neighboring pages in our coverage loop: Wisconsin lake motor rules and Kentucky lake motor rules — same format, same official-source standard.