Storm Water Ordinance Revisions

Update (August 27, 2024):

The proposed ordinance revisions were adopted on Tuesday,  August 27, 2024.  The adopted ordinances are listed below. 

Ordinance No. 24-07 IDDE Revision

Ordinance No. 24-08 Flood Damage Revision

Ordinance No. 24-09 UDO Revision

Ordinance No. 24-10 Construction Standards Revision

Plan Commission Meeting July 24, 2024 at 5:30pm:

The proposed ordinance revisions will be presented this evening in the Porter County Administrative Center, 155 Indiana Avenue, Suite 205, Valparaiso, Indiana.  The presentation slides are available for viewing at the link below. 

Presentation: Porter County Storm Water Ordinance Revisions 2024

Notice posted on July 3rd, 2024:

The Department is updating portions of the Porter County Unified Development Ordinance, Storm Water Program Ordinances, and Supplemental Design and Construction Standards, as required under the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit program as administered by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM).  To comply with the new IDEM Construction Stormwater General Permit (CSGP) and MS4 General Permit, these revisions will not fundamentally change the storm water program function, yet many include new operations for construction sites, material management, and modernize requirements. 

Please see the documents below for the proposed changes that will be brought before the Porter County Plan Commission on Wednesday, July 24 at 5:30 p.m. for recommendation and will be heard by the Board of Commissioners on Tuesday, August 6, and Tuesday, August 27, 2024 at 10:00 a.m.    

Proposed revisions to the Porter County UDO: 

View Document: Chapters 5.14, 7.15, 7.28, 8 & 10.15

Chapter 5.14

The proposed revisions for this section include extended requirements for waste disposal, proper storage and handling of hazardous materials, dewatering operation requirements, concrete and cementitious washout areas, fertilizer application, flocculant and polymer use, restoration and clean up requirements, and requirements for new retail gasoline outlets and replacement tanks. 

Chapter 7.15

The proposed revisions for this section include language to establish the one (1) acre of land-disturbing activity requirements through the IDEM CSGP, redefine the Erosion and Sediment Control Plan requirements for applications, and establish concrete washout requirements on the site plan for applicable projects. 

Chapter 7.28

The proposed revisions for this section include updated requirements for drainage plans on single- and two- family dwelling sites to represent properly the Department’s processes and expectations for application submittals. 

Chapter 8

The proposed revisions for this section include an updated outline for the cross-reference to the Porter County Supplemental Design and Construction Standards to represent properly the contents of the document. 

Chapter 10.15

The proposed revisions for this section include updated requirements for the posting of the permit on construction sites and site plan requirements to represent properly the Department’s processes and expectations.

Proposed revisions to Porter County Ordinances:

View Document: Ordinances 13-05, 13-15, & 22-14

Ord. 13-05

The proposed revisions to the Illicit Discharge and Stormwater Connection Ordinance include an updated phone number for reporting illicit discharges and proper notification of spills in unincorporated Porter County. 

Ord. 13-15

The proposed revisions to the Supplemental Design and Construction Standards include additions to Section 8.04 for sediment controls in detention basins, Section 8.05 for topsoil stripping and stockpiling, Section 8.09 to establish downspout and sump pump requirements, and Section 8.16 to update IDEM language. These revisions are good practice updates that were required by the IDEM permit updates and/or best management practices for site function.  In addition to these narrative revisions, construction details II-16 Dewatering System Requirements and II-17 Concrete Washout System Requirements have been added to the document to provide guidance and enforcement for these common construction practices. 

View Document: Construction Details II-16 & II-17

Ord. 22-14

The proposed revisions to the Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance include the addition of missing language regarding the construction of nonresidential structures in the flood zone.

A hard copy of these revisions is available in the Department office for review for convenience. If you have questions, please contact us.