Not necessarily. Which vehicle? Generally speaking, the light should come on when the park brake is engaged, or if there is a malfunction in the brake system. If neither is the case, suspect a faulty indicator bulb or some type of connection fault in the gauge/indicator cluster circuitry.
Check the pin switch in the e-brake pedal assembly. Looks like a door jamb switch. They have a way of failing over the last 30 years. If you ground that wire, the light should come on assuming everything else is in good shape.