Porter County, IN Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Encroachment Permits (2026)

Section 22-9(a) requires that "anyone cutting into or tunneling under any portion of the county right-of-way must obtain a R/W cut permit before any construction is started," filed in duplicate, with emergency permits allowed to be submitted the next business day. The application must state the date, address and township, type of street surface, and the length, width and depth of the cut, plus a plot plan showing its exact location. Permits are obtained from the county highway department, but construction cannot begin until the county engineer approves it.

Subsection (f) protects newly built roads: no pavement less than five years old, or reconstructed pavement less than three years old, may be cut without executive approval, and if that approval is granted the cost multiplies, from four times standard cost for pavement 12 months old or less down to standard cost for pavement over 36 months old. Each length of trench in one surface type between roads counts as one cut, a change in surface type creates another cut, a perpendicular lateral is an additional cut, and any non-continuous cut, such as one crossing six separate utility joints, counts as six cuts.

An inspection fee is layered on top, and can grow if extended full-time inspection is required for hazardous conditions. This permit sits alongside, and separate from, Section 22-7's rule that a sidewalk permit is not required to install or replace sidewalks (though the contractor must still call for a pre-pour inspection) and Section 22-8's driveway/road-cut permit required before a building permit issues.