Who issues permits in Shorewood Forest?

Porter County — the community is unincorporated Union Township, not the City of Valparaiso. County zoning and building review apply, and the POA architectural review runs alongside it.

Can I add a deck or dock on Lake Louise?

Generally yes, subject to the association's standards and shoreline setbacks. We confirm both the covenant requirements and the drainage conditions before drawing it.

Does the POA review count as the permit?

No. Association approval is a private covenant matter; you still need county zoning compliance and a building permit, and the county cannot waive a covenant.

Shorewood Forest · Valparaiso, IN

Lake Louise lakefront living under a managed POA

Shorewood Forest is a wooded, lake-centered community in Union Township with roughly three thousand residents, its own property owners association, and its own utility. It is unincorporated Porter County, so the county ordinance governs the zoning while the association governs the design — and on a man-made lake, the shoreline and drainage rules govern the rest.

Get a consultation All of Valparaiso

Rendering of a backyard patio with a covered outdoor kitchen, fire pit seating circle, and lit garden path, designed by Fabl Design

History & architecture

How Shorewood Forest was built

Shorewood Forest was developed as a planned lake community in Union Township around Lake Louise, an artificial lake built as the community's centerpiece.

It has grown into a census-designated place with a population of about 3,033 as of the 2020 census, making it one of the larger unincorporated communities in Porter County.

The community is governed by the Shorewood Forest Property Owners' Association, which markets it as lakefront living in a managed community near Valparaiso.

Sewer service is provided by Shorewood Forest Utilities, a community utility rather than a municipal one — a direct consequence of its unincorporated status.

Homes span several decades of building, so the community mixes original lake houses with substantially rebuilt and newer custom construction.

Typical era: 1970s–present
Lot sizes: Wooded lots commonly 0.25–0.5 acre, larger on the water
Common types: Ranches and split-levels from the early phases, plus two-story and walkout custom homes
Design review: Yes — POA architectural review, plus Porter County zoning and building permits

Landmarks & shared spaces

Places that anchor Shorewood Forest

Lake Louise

The man-made lake at the center of the community and the reason for its layout.

POA clubhouse and beach

Association-run common facilities serving residents.

Community pool and courts

Recreation amenities maintained by the association.

Wooded common areas

The tree cover that gives the community its name and shapes buildable areas on many lots.

Businesses & districts

Where Shorewood Forest gathers

US 30 corridor

The nearest retail and service concentration, a short drive away.

Downtown Valparaiso

Restaurants, the plaza, and civic offices roughly fifteen minutes east.

Hebron and Union Township services

Local everyday services south of the community.

Zoning & overlays

Common zoning codes in Shorewood Forest

These are the base districts and overlays we see most often on Shorewood Forest lots. Always confirm your parcel's district and overlays on the Metro zoning map before design decisions get expensive.

County RPorter County residential districts

Unincorporated parcels are zoned under the Porter County Unified Development Ordinance, whose district and development standards are administered by the county Plan Commission — not the City of Valparaiso.

PUDPlanned Unit Development

A development-specific ordinance that replaces the base district table. Setbacks, height, and coverage come from the approved PUD plan and its amendments rather than the standard district.

Overlays that apply here

POA

Shorewood Forest POA covenants

The association's recorded covenants and architectural review govern exterior work, additions, accessory structures, and materials.

LAKE

Lake Louise shoreline standards

Shoreline setbacks, seawall and dock rules, and lot drainage toward the lake constrain rear-yard construction.

UTIL

Shorewood Forest Utilities

Sewer service is provided by the community utility; capacity, connection, and billing questions go to the utility rather than a city department.

Permitting path

1These addresses carry Valparaiso mail but sit in unincorporated Porter County, so the county Plan Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals, and Unified Development Ordinance govern — not the City of Valparaiso.
2Confirm jurisdiction on Porter County GIS before design. The county's zoning layer explicitly maps unincorporated parcels only, which makes it the fastest way to answer the question.
3County zoning review and the building permit run through the county, and the Development Review Committee coordinates highway, health, surveyor, and engineering comments on larger projects.
4Almost every subdivision of this type is covenant-governed, so the property owners association's architectural review runs in parallel with the county process and should be submitted first.
5Parcels not served by municipal sewer need Porter County Health Department review for septic — an inspector visit and, frequently, a certified soil scientist's test before a permit is issued.
6Floodplain and drainage are administered separately for unincorporated areas, which are their own NFIP community. Check the county stormwater GIS layer and the Indiana Floodplain Information Portal early.

Why it matters

Shorewood Forest's place in Valparaiso

It is the largest lake community in the Valparaiso area and functions much like a small town without being incorporated.

Waterfront and wooded lots support design-driven projects — glazing toward the lake, screened porches, and lower-level walkouts — that flat subdivision lots do not.

The three-layer structure of county zoning, POA review, and a private utility makes early coordination the difference between a smooth project and a stalled one.

Events & festivals

What happens in Shorewood Forest

Fourth of July on the lake

July

The community's largest annual gathering.

Beach and pool season

Memorial Day–Labor Day

Association swim and beach programming.

POA meetings

Year-round

Board meetings where covenants, standards, and assessments are set.

Designing here

What this means for your Shorewood Forest project

Design toward the water. On lakefront lots the rear elevation is the main elevation, and the plan should put living space, glazing, and outdoor rooms on that side.
Shoreline setbacks and drainage decide the buildable rear yard before the covenants do. Get a current survey with topography rather than working from the plat.
Tree cover is the community's identity and an asset on resale. Siting an addition to keep the mature canopy usually costs less than the removal and replanting would.
Walkout and daylight lower levels work well on the sloped lots here, but egress, drainage, and the sewer connection to the community utility have to be resolved together.
Submit to the POA architectural review before the county submittal. Reworking a set after an association comment is the most avoidable delay in this community.
Original 1970s houses often have low ceilings and dated framing. A conditions assessment early decides whether the budget goes to renovation or to replacement.

FAQ

Questions about Shorewood Forest

Keep exploring

Other Valparaiso neighborhoods

Downtown Valparaiso / Central Business District Banta / Jefferson Street Neighborhood Forest Park area Aberdeen Hawthorne Cherry Hill Arbor Lakes Estates The Brooks at Vale Park

Sources

Start your project

Planning an addition or ADU in Shorewood Forest?

Tell us about your lot and what you're hoping to do. We'll write back within one business day.

Start your project (615) 241-0860