LaPorte County, IN Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)
Key Facts
- Trigger threshold
- 1 acre or more of land disturbance
- Permit reviewer
- MS4 Coordinator
- Application review time
- 20 business days
- Minimum civil penalty
- $2,500 per violation
- Appeal window
- 15 days from notice of violation
- Fee-in-lieu basis
- Cubic feet of required stormwater storage
Summary
LaPorte County's Chapter 52 Stormwater Management ordinance requires a permit and an approved Stormwater Management Plan for any subdivision or site plan disturbing an acre or more, with waivers available and a $2,500-per-day civil penalty backing enforcement.
In addition to or as an alternative to any penalty provided herein or by law, any person who violates the provisions of this subchapter shall be punished by a fine of not less than $2,500 for each violation. Such person shall be guilty of a separate offense for each day during which the violation occurs or continues.
Full Breakdown
03 makes the stormwater subchapter applicable to all subdivision or site plan applications with land disturbances affecting one acre or more, and it also reaches smaller phases of a larger common development plan even when built on separate schedules. 06 requires any developer to file a permit application with the MS4 Coordinator accompanied by a Stormwater Management Plan and a maintenance agreement before commencing land disturbance activity; the MS4 Coordinator has 20 business days to approve or disapprove a complete application, and five more business days to act on resubmitted material.
08 then requires a fee in lieu of on-site controls, set by the county based on the cubic feet of stormwater storage the site would otherwise need, paid before any building permit issues. 10 sets the underlying performance standard: site designs must control peak flow rates for design storms, use pervious areas and infiltration for driveways, sidewalks, rooftops and parking lots to the maximum extent practical, and may not discharge new development runoff directly into a jurisdictional wetland or water body without adequate treatment. 10(A)(5).
Violations & Fines
Section 52.16 lets the MS4 Coordinator issue a written notice of violation naming the property, describing the violation, stating the penalty, and giving 15 days to appeal. Noncompliance triggers a Stop Work order that stays in effect until the MS4 Coordinator confirms compliance. Civil penalties run at least $2,500 per violation, with each day a violation continues counted as a separate offense, and occupation permits are withheld until stormwater violations are corrected and accepted by the MS4 Coordinator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size project triggers LaPorte County's stormwater permit requirement?
How long does the county take to review a Stormwater Management Plan?
Can a developer avoid building on-site stormwater controls?
What is the penalty for a stormwater violation in LaPorte County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in LaPorte County
Compare LaPorte County to another location·View the Indiana environmental rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.