Porter County, IN Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)

Article X of the county code, the Unsafe Building Law of Porter County, Indiana, incorporates IC 36-7-9-1 through 36-7-9-28 by reference under Sec. 6-370, applying throughout the unincorporated areas of the county per Sec. 6-369, with state law controlling if the two conflict. Sec. 6-372 declares that all buildings, structures or portions of them determined after inspection by the enforcement authority to be unsafe are a public nuisance and must be abated by repair, rehabilitation, demolition or removal. Sec. 6-373 defines an "unsafe building or structure" to include one in an impaired structural condition, a fire hazard, a hazard to public health, a public nuisance, dangerous because of a code violation, or vacant and not maintained for habitation.

The county building commissioner, or a designee such as the plan commission's code enforcement officer, serves as the enforcement authority under Sec. 6-371, and can issue an order under Sec. 6-374 requiring the remedies and time limits set out in IC 36-7-9-5, with notice to every person holding a fee, life, or substantial property interest. Sec. 6-375 gives the county board of commissioners' designated hearing authority the power to hold hearings on such orders monthly, and to set performance-bond schedules; Sec. 6-376 allows emergency action to abate an immediate danger without prior notice, with cost recovery through the circuit court.

Sec. 6-378 makes every fee, life-estate or contract-purchaser interest holder jointly and severally liable for abatement costs, and Sec. 6-381 lets the enforcement authority obtain an inspection warrant if an owner refuses access.