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Tippecanoe County, IN Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Governing ordinance
Comprehensive Stormwater Mgmt Ordinance, Ord. 2023-02-CM
Administered by
County Surveyor and Drainage Board
Base fee, residential under 1/2 acre
$150 plus inspections
Major subdivision review fee
$3,500 up to $6,000+ per acre
Drainage Board meetings
First Wednesday, 10 a.m., Tippecanoe Room
Records on file at
County Surveyor and County Auditor offices
Default penalty
Up to $2,500 fine per day, § 10.99

Summary

Unincorporated Tippecanoe County requires a stormwater management permit before land-disturbing construction, under the Comprehensive Stormwater Management Ordinance adopted by reference in County Code § 155.01. The County Surveyor and Drainage Board administer review and charge tiered acreage-based fees set out in § 155.18.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Tippecanoe County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

The Comprehensive Stormwater Management Ordinance of Tippecanoe County and the Tippecanoe County Stormwater Technical Standards Manual as adopted by the Board of Commissioners of Tippecanoe pursuant to Ord. 2023-02-CM, passed February 6, 2023, are hereby adopted by reference and made a part of this code the same as if set forth in full herein. The ordinance in its entirety is on file in the Office of the Tippecanoe County Surveyor and two copies of the material are on file in the office of the Tippecanoe County Auditor for public inspection during regular office hours.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2025 S-17: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ord. 2025-25-CM, passed 8-1-25; and State legislation current through 2025 Acts, Pamphlet No. 3).

Full Breakdown

01 adopts the Comprehensive Stormwater Management Ordinance of Tippecanoe County and the Tippecanoe County Stormwater Technical Standards Manual by reference, as approved by the Board of Commissioners under Ord. 2023-02-CM, passed February 6, 2023. The full ordinance text is kept on file in the Office of the County Surveyor, with two copies at the County Auditor's office for public inspection during regular office hours; it is not reprinted in the general code. C. 12). 13). 17). 18 sets Phase II base stormwater permit fees by acreage and land use: a residential site under half an acre pays $150, rising to $500 plus $20 per acre above five acres; commercial and industrial sites run from $250 up to $750 plus $40 per acre.

Those base fees cover three on-site inspections and three post-construction inspections; extra inspections cost $50 each and grading-plan revisions cost $25 each. Separate drainage review base fees apply to subdivisions and developments requiring detention storage, ranging from $3,500 for major subdivisions under eight acres to $6,000 plus $50 per additional acre above 20 acres, with planned developments running $4,200 to $7,000 plus $50 per acre. A utility work annual certification carries a flat $50 processing fee.

Violations & Fines

Chapter 155 carries no separate penalty section, so violations default to the county's general penalty at § 10.99: a fine of up to $2,500, with each day a violation continues charged as a separate offense. The Drainage Board can also sue directly to compel compliance with a regulated drain or stormwater permit condition under § 155.14, independent of any criminal or infraction fine.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Tippecanoe County require a permit for site grading in the unincorporated area?
Yes. Any development disturbing land in unincorporated Tippecanoe County falls under the Comprehensive Stormwater Management Ordinance adopted by reference in § 155.01, and the Phase II base permit fee schedule in § 155.18 applies starting at $150 for a residential parcel under half an acre.
Who reviews stormwater plans in Tippecanoe County?
The County Surveyor's office and the County Drainage Board review drainage submittals and construction plans. The Board, made up of the County Executive under I.C. 36-9-27-4, meets the first Wednesday of each month at 10:00 a.m. in the Tippecanoe Room of the County Office Building.
What happens if a subdivision needs detention storage?
Minor subdivisions or parcelizations requiring detention storage under the Stormwater Ordinance are billed the same drainage review base fee as major subdivisions, starting at $3,500 for under eight acres; without required detention storage, the county reviews the project in-house with no separate review fee.
What is the penalty for violating the county's stormwater rules?
Because Chapter 155 has no chapter-specific penalty section, the county's general penalty in § 10.99 applies: a fine of up to $2,500, with a new violation counted for each day noncompliance continues. The Drainage Board can also sue in its own name under § 155.14 to force compliance.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Tippecanoe County

All Tippecanoe County rules

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