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Indiana Dead Animal Guide

How to Dispose of a Dead Animal in Indiana

The Indiana answer most sites get wrong: the state carcass statute does not reach pets or wildlife, so there is no state depth or deadline to meet. What that leaves you with — burial, your hauler, the county landfill, and when a rabies-vector species changes the answer.

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Quoted on the call
  • ✓ IC 15-17-11 excludes pets and wildlife
  • ✓ No state burial depth in Indiana
  • ✓ County ordinance and hauler decide
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Quick answer

How do I legally dispose of a dead animal in Indiana?

Indiana has no state law covering it. IC 15-17-11 excludes small animals, and the Board of Animal Health treats wildlife as outside the chapter — so no state depth or deadline applies to a squirrel, raccoon or skunk on your property. Your municipal ordinance and waste hauler decide what is allowed.

The legal path

Step-by-Step Dead Animal Disposal in Indiana

Five steps that cover 95% of Indiana disposal scenarios — small animal, large animal, rabies-vector, burial, and landfill.

  1. Identify the species. Rabies-vector species (raccoon, skunk, fox, and bat) require different handling than non-vector species. If unsure or if you/a pet had contact, contact your physician for rabies post-exposure consultation and call a licensed wildlife operator.
  2. Choose the disposal channel. No Indiana statute settles this, so the answer comes from your hauler and your county solid-waste district — call before you set anything out. Small non-vector species are the ones most often accepted, double-bagged and fully contained, and haulers commonly cap per-bag weight. Medium animals: hauler, county landfill, or a licensed operator. Large animals such as deer: county landfill, which often needs advance approval, or a licensed operator. Rabies-vector species (raccoon, skunk, fox, bat): a licensed operator or county animal control, and some municipalities decline them outright.
  3. For trash disposal: double-bag method. Two heavy contractor-grade (3-mil or thicker) bags. Carcass into first bag with shovel or gloved hands. Tie tightly, remove air. First bag into second bag. Tie tightly. Set out morning of trash collection — don't set out days in advance.
  4. For burial: check your city or town ordinance first — IC 15-17-11-22 prohibits burial inside corporate limits where local law forbids it, and IC 15-17-11 does not apply to pets, small game, or wildlife. No state depth applies. Keep the grave well away from wells and streams. NOT for rabies-vector species (virus viable in soil).
  5. For landfill: call ahead. Some Indiana landfills require advance permits for large carcasses or refuse rabies-vector species. Transport in sealed container/bag, no leaks.
By county

Disposal Rules by Indiana County (Our Service Area)

Disposal jurisdiction in Indiana is county and municipal, not state. Because IC 15-17-11 does not reach pets or wildlife, there is no state rule for a county to sit under here — your county solid-waste district and your city ordinance are the authority, and they differ. 329 IAC 10 is IDEM's rule for permitted landfills and disposal sites, not for householders. Confirm with the district before acting on any of the below.

  • Marion County (Indianapolis): Marion County solid waste. Small-animal double-bag method is common practice for non-vector species (municipal guidance). Large animals via county landfill.
  • Allen County (Fort Wayne): Allen County Solid Waste Management District sets the local guidance. Check the district for large-animal landfill approval.
  • St. Joseph County (South Bend): St. Joseph County Solid Waste District. Double-bag method for small residential animals. County landfill for large carcasses.
  • Vanderburgh County (Evansville): Southwestern Indiana / Vanderburgh County Solid Waste District. Standard solid-waste rules; county landfill for large animals.
  • Monroe County (Bloomington) and Tippecanoe County (Lafayette): County solid-waste districts. Double-bag for small residential animals; county landfill for deer and large carcasses.
FAQ

Dead Animal Disposal in Indiana — FAQ

Can I throw a dead animal in the trash in Indiana?
No Indiana statute permits it and none bans it. IC 15-17-11 is the state carcass-disposal chapter, and IC 15-17-11-1(3) states it "does not apply to or affect ... any bodies of dead fish, reptiles, or small animals of any kind, including dogs, cats, and small game" — the Board of Animal Health additionally treats wildlife as outside the chapter. So for a squirrel, raccoon or skunk on your property there is no state rule to follow. 329 IAC 10 is sometimes cited here, but that article is titled "Solid Waste Land Disposal Facilities" and governs permitted landfills and disposal sites, not householders. Whether a bagged carcass may go in your bin is decided by your municipal ordinance and your waste hauler — call them rather than assuming.
Will the trash service pick it up?
This is a hauler and municipality question, not a state-law one, so the only reliable answer comes from your own provider. Many services will take a small carcass that is fully contained — no leaks and nothing visible through the bag — and many set a per-bag weight limit that a full-size deer would exceed. Rabies-vector species (raccoon, skunk, bat, fox) are the most common refusal, and some municipalities decline them outright. Call your hauler and your county solid-waste district before setting anything out; both answers vary by city inside Indiana.
How do I double-bag a dead animal correctly?
Use two heavy contractor-grade (3-mil or thicker) trash bags. Place the carcass in the first bag with shovel or gloved hands. Tie the first bag tightly, removing as much air as possible. Place the first bag inside the second bag and tie tightly. Set out with regular trash on collection day — don't set out days in advance (heat accelerates odor + attracts scavengers).
What about burial — can I bury a dead animal on my property in Indiana?
Indiana's disposal statute does not reach pets or wildlife — IC 15-17-11-1(3) excludes dogs, cats, small game, and BOAH treats wildlife as exempt. So backyard burial of a pet is governed by your city or town ordinance, not state code, and IC 15-17-11-22 bars burial inside city or town limits where an ordinance prohibits it. There is no state depth figure to meet. Keep the grave away from wells and streams. Burial is not appropriate for rabies-vector species.
Can the landfill refuse a dead animal?
Some Indiana landfills require advance permits for large carcasses (deer, livestock). Some refuse rabies-vector species. Call ahead to the landfill or county solid-waste district before transport. Licensed wildlife operators have established disposal relationships and handle these calls in advance.
What if it's a deer-vehicle collision in my driveway?
Rules for possessing a vehicle-killed deer are set by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, and you should confirm the current requirement with them before taking one — call the DNR Customer Service Center at 317-232-4200 or 877-463-6367 (8:30 a.m.–4 p.m., Monday to Friday) or email CSCinquiry@dnr.in.gov. If you are not salvaging it, disposal is not governed by a state carcass statute: IC 15-17-11-1(3) excludes small animals and the Board of Animal Health treats wildlife as outside the chapter. The practical routes are a licensed wildlife operator, the county landfill (call ahead — large carcasses often need advance approval), or your trash hauler if size and their policy allow.

Official sources

Every legal statement on this page traces to one of the sources below. Each was retrieved and read on the date shown. Where a source is agency guidance rather than law, it is labelled as such in the text.

  • Indiana Code IC 15-17-11 — State carcass-disposal chapter. IC 15-17-11-1(3) states it does not apply to bodies of dead fish, reptiles, or small animals of any kind, including dogs, cats and small game. No burial depth number appears in the chapterIndiana law / state agencyretrieved 2026-08-11
  • Indiana State Board of Animal Health — BOAH treats wildlife as outside IC 15-17-11 and sets the covering standard for on-premises burialCounty or municipalretrieved 2026-08-11
  • CDC — Rabies — Federal guidance on handling animals that may be rabies vectorsFederalretrieved 2026-08-10

Accuracy and review

Last reviewed
Reviewed against
Indiana Code · Indiana State Board of Animal Health · CDC
Editorial process
See our editorial policy

This page is general information for Indiana homeowners, not legal advice. Statements of law are quoted from the state's own code or administrative rules and linked to the official text. Statements of agency guidance are labelled as guidance, not law. Local ordinances, county health rules and waste-hauler policies vary and can be stricter than state law — confirm locally before acting. Indiana has no state statute governing a homeowner’s disposal of a dead pet or wild animal: IC 15-17-11-1(3) excludes small animals including dogs, cats and small game, and the Board of Animal Health treats wildlife as outside the chapter. Pet burial is therefore governed by municipal ordinance, and IC 15-17-11-22 bars burial inside city or town limits where an ordinance prohibits it.

Think something here is wrong? We would rather be corrected than be cited incorrectly. Tell us what is inaccurate and, if possible, the official source that says otherwise — send a correction or call (317) 451-8385. Corrections to law or agency contact details are reviewed and, where verified, applied and dated.

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