Porter County, IN Building Safety: Carbon Monoxide Detectors (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Code of Ordinances § 6-340
- Applies to
- New Class 2 residential construction only
- Triggers requirement
- Fireplace, attached garage, or fossil fuel appliance
- Detectors required
- At least one per residential unit
- Alarm standard
- 85 decibels at ten feet, 4-minute minimum
- Adopted
- Ordinance No. 17-23, November 14, 2017
Summary
Porter County requires at least one operational carbon monoxide detector in every new Class 2 residential structure with a fireplace, attached garage, or fossil fuel-burning appliance. The mandate applies to building permits issued for new construction after the ordinance took effect in November 2017.
For all buildings of a Class 2 structure, as defined by IC 22-12-1-5, or any subsequent statue, designed for residential use and having a fireplace, attached garage, or fossil fuel-burning appliance, and for which a building permit is issued for new construction after the date that the ordinance from which this article is derived is in full effect, shall have at least one operational carbon monoxide detector per residential unit. Installation of the carbon monoxide detector shall be in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications and recommendations.
Full Breakdown
Under Section 6-340 of the Porter County Code of Ordinances, any building meeting the state's Class 2 structure definition under IC 22-12-1-5 that is designed for residential use and has a fireplace, attached garage, or fossil fuel-burning appliance must have at least one operational carbon monoxide detector per residential unit once a new-construction building permit is issued after the ordinance's effective date. The county adopted this requirement by Ordinance No. 17-23 on November 14, 2017, and it applies only going forward from that date, not retroactively to existing homes built before the ordinance was in effect.
Installation must follow the manufacturer's specifications and recommendations rather than a county-set placement standard, giving builders flexibility on exact location within the unit as long as the device functions per its instructions. Section 6-339 defines the required device precisely: a carbon monoxide detector must emit an audible alarm of at least 85 decibels measured at ten feet, sustain that alarm for at least four minutes, and conform to the NFPA 720 Standard for the Installation of Carbon Monoxide (CO) Detection and Warning Equipment. That NFPA cross-reference means a detector that merely senses CO but does not meet the decibel, duration, and installation-standard specifications does not satisfy the county's definition, so a compliance inspection can reject an off-spec unit even if it is technically a CO alarm. ), and enforcement of Chapter 6 generally runs through the county building department and its code enforcement officers.
Violations & Fines
The Porter County Code does not set a detector-specific fine in Article IX, so a violation falls to the Code's general penalty clause at Section 1-8: an infraction carries a penalty of up to $2,500 for a first violation and more than $7,500 for a second or subsequent violation, and if elevated to a misdemeanor, up to $2,500 and up to one year imprisonment. Each day a violation continues can count as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Porter County require carbon monoxide detectors in existing homes?
What kind of carbon monoxide detector satisfies the county requirement?
Which homes trigger the carbon monoxide detector mandate?
What happens if a builder skips the required detector?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Porter County
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