Porter County, IN Public Conduct: Skateboarding Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- County Code § 24-108
- Maximum fine
- $50.00 per occurrence
- Scope
- County-owned buildings only, not town business districts
- Covered devices
- Skateboards, rollerskates, rollerblades, bikes
- Adopted
- Ord. Nos. 93-24, 96-12, 96-44
Summary
Porter County bans skateboarding, rollerskating, rollerblading, biking or riding any nonauthorized wheeled device on the walks, drives, patios, steps, ramps and parking garages of county-owned buildings. The rule targets government properties, not general business districts, and carries a $50 fine per occurrence.
No person shall skateboard, rollerskate, rollerblade, bike or otherwise use a nonauthorized wheeled vehicle or instrument upon the walks, drives, patios, steps, ramps, parking garages, or other areas or buildings which are a part of the premises of any of the county-owned property located in the county... Violation of this section, upon conviction, shall be punishable by a fine of up to $50.00 per occurrence.
Full Breakdown
County Code Chapter 24, Article V, Section 24-108 ("Prohibited where") makes it unlawful to skateboard, rollerskate, rollerblade, bike or otherwise use a nonauthorized wheeled vehicle or instrument on the walks, drives, patios, steps, ramps, parking garages, or other areas or buildings that are part of the premises of any county-owned property. S. S. Highway 2; and the North County Complex fronting Willowcreek Road in Portage. The section traces to Code 1997, Sec. 010, and Ordinance Nos. 93-24, 96-12 and 96-44, showing the rule has stood since the 1990s and was amended twice after original adoption.
Because the ban is written around named county-owned buildings rather than commercial or business districts generally, it does not reach sidewalks or plazas belonging to private businesses or to the towns within the county (Valparaiso, Portage, Chesterton and Porter each set their own rules for their downtowns). Enforcement falls to the Porter County Sheriff's Department and county code enforcement staff who patrol the listed government campuses.
Violations & Fines
Skateboarding, rollerblading, rollerskating or riding a bike or other nonauthorized wheeled device on the walks, drives, patios, steps, ramps or parking garages of the eight listed county-owned properties is punishable, upon conviction, by a fine of up to $50.00 per occurrence under Section 24-108(b). Each separate instance can be cited individually.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where exactly is skateboarding banned in Porter County?
Does the county ordinance cover downtown Valparaiso business districts?
What is the fine for skateboarding on prohibited county property?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Porter County
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