Porter County, IN Solar Energy: Panel Permits (2026)

Porter County's Unified Development Ordinance, last updated with an effective date of June 15, 2007, contains no solar-specific zoning article, so solar installations are permitted through Chapter 6's general building-permit process. Section 6-209 provides that within the county building department's jurisdiction 'no structure shall be built, altered, changed, placed, removed or erected' without a building permit issued by the building commissioner, and construction may not commence until that permit issues. Section 6-210 requires a written application accompanied by a plat or sketch showing lot boundaries, dimensions and distances between lot lines and the proposed structure, and plans and specifications showing the work to be done; the commissioner can also require staking of building lines when a structure sits within 15 feet of a lot line.

00 reverts to that fund. Once issued, a permit lapses under section 6-211 if work is not commenced within 180 days or completed within 24 months; the commissioner may extend that deadline up to 90 days for good cause, and any further extension must be appealed to the county board of commissioners. Section 6-213 lets the commissioner revoke a permit for any violation of its terms, with revocation appealable to the board of commissioners at its next regular meeting. Appendix B fees are reviewed annually by department staff and the county commissioners before June 1 of each year under section 6-240.