Porter County, IN Trash & Recycling: Illegal Dumping (2026)
Key Facts
- Enforcing agency
- Porter County Sheriff's Police
- First offense fine
- $250.00 to $1,000.00
- Second offense fine
- $1,000.00 to $2,500.00
- Third+ offense fine
- Up to $2,500.00
- Exception
- Clean fill dirt, sand or gravel
Summary
It is unlawful in unincorporated Porter County to place or dump garbage, trash or other waste on public or private property outside an authorized dump under Code Sec. 18-2. A first offense draws a fine of $250.00 to $1,000.00, a second offense $1,000.00 to $2,500.00, and a third or later offense up to $2,500.00, enforced by the county sheriff's police.
(a)It is unlawful for any person to place or dump garbage, trash or other waste materials upon any public or private property excepting on public dumps established under the authority of the board of commissioners; provided, however, that nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit dumping or depositing of dirt, sand and gravel, free of all garbage, combustible and noncombustible rubbish, upon any privately owned property, at the request of the owner, for the purpose of properly elevating the grade of such property or the unimproved part of such property. ... Any person that violates any provision of this chapter shall be guilty of an infraction, and on conviction, the violators shall be punished for the first offense by a fine of not less than $250.00 nor more than $1,000.00; for the second offense by a fine of not less than $1,000.00 nor more than $2,500.00; and for the third and each subsequent offense by a fine of not more than $2,500.00
Full Breakdown
Sec. 18-2, in Article I of Chapter 18, Solid Waste, and adopted by Ord. No. 95-13, makes it unlawful for any person to place or dump garbage, trash or other waste materials on public or private property in the county, except at a public dump established by the Board of Commissioners. The section preserves one narrow exception: dumping clean dirt, sand or gravel that is free of garbage and rubbish onto privately owned property, at the property owner's request, to raise the grade of the land, is not prohibited.
Subsection (b) separately defines the offense of dumping as recklessly, knowingly or intentionally leaving refuse on another person's property, or in or along any street, highway, drainageway, easement, or county park within the unincorporated areas. Sec. 18-1 defines 'refuse' broadly to include solid and semi-solid waste, dead animals, offal, appliances, building materials, tires, scrap metal, furniture, trees, concrete, earthen spoil, auto parts, house furnishings, trash and debris, a list the code states is illustrative rather than exclusive. Sec. 00, with each day the condition remains unabated after the correction deadline counted separately.
Sec. 18-4 assigns enforcement to the county sheriff's police, with the county prosecuting attorney responsible for pursuing charges reported by the sheriff's office through to final termination.
Violations & Fines
A first illegal-dumping conviction under Sec. 18-2 draws a fine of $250.00 to $1,000.00 under Sec. 18-3; a second conviction draws $1,000.00 to $2,500.00; and a third or later conviction draws up to $2,500.00. If the dumped material is not cleaned up by the deadline set for abating the violation, each additional day counts as a separate offense, so the fines can multiply quickly for an uncorrected dump site.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as illegal dumping in Porter County?
How much is the fine for dumping trash in Porter County?
Can I dump clean fill dirt on my own property in Porter County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Porter County
Compare Porter County to another location·View the Indiana trash & recycling overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.