New Law Allows Dearborn Co. Sheriff's Office to Patrol in Hidden Valley

The three-year trial is effective July 1

(Hidden Valley) - A new Indiana state law (effective July 1st, 2026) enables local law enforcement to fully enforce state laws within private communities over 1,500 acres or with more than 15 miles of road.

Hidden Valley Lake is one of two communities in the state that qualify. 

The legislation is a three-year trial. State representatives and local law enforcement, some of whom live in Hidden Valley Lake, have assisted in drafting this legislation. 

Below are key details:

• Beginning in July 2026, Dearborn County Sheriff's deputies will patrol the Hidden Valley Lake community on scheduled shifts. Citations issued will be official Dearborn County Sherriff's Office citations affecting the recipient's driving and/or criminal record, not internal HVL bylaw citations.
• A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for formal law enforcement patrols is in active development with DCSO and the HVL POA attorney.
• Enforcement priorities will be: (1) speeding, (2) drinking and driving, and (3) underage operation of golf carts (with an initial grace period for parents to retrieve golf carts before impoundment). 
• While working inside the Hidden Valley Lake community, DCSO officers are on duty and have all standard law enforcement powers.
• Funding for this service is being expensed into the 2026 Hidden Valley Lake Safety and Security budget, and no additional assessment is required to fund it.
• Deputies carry full Dearborn County insurance coverage, providing an additional liability protection layer for the POA.
• Deputies will enforce state laws only, not HVL internal bylaws. HVL rangers and lake patrol will continue to handle internal rule enforcement (ID checks, noise complaints, etc.).
• Hidden Valley Lake rangers and lake patrol will continue handle internal access control (ID checks) and can call DCSO to trespass non-compliant individuals.