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Ascension Parish, LA Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Shed permit rules in Ascension Parish, LA, also referred to as storage shed, backyard shed, or accessory building regulations, set size limits, setbacks, and when a building permit is required.

Key Facts

Permit-exempt shed size
one story, up to 400 sq ft
Accessory structure permit fee
$125.00 flat, if required
Fine for unpermitted structure
$200.00 to $500.00
Enforcing agency
Ascension Parish Building Official

Summary

A detached tool shed, storage building or similar accessory structure in unincorporated Ascension Parish can go up without a building permit only if it is one story and its floor area does not exceed 400 square feet. Ascension Parish Code § 6-5(501)(1)(a) sets that threshold; anything larger, or with a second story, needs Building Official approval before construction.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Ascension Parish. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

Permits shall not be required for the following: ... (1)Building.a.One-story detached accessory structures used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses and similar uses, provided the floor area is not greater than four hundred (400) square feet (thirty-seven (37) meters squared).

Full Breakdown

Section 6-5(501)(1) lists categories of work exempt from the parish's building permit requirement, and item (a) covers accessory buildings: one-story detached accessory structures used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses and similar uses, provided the floor area is not greater than four hundred square feet. The exemption is narrow: it covers only detached, one-story structures used for storage or similar accessory purposes, at or under 400 square feet. A shed built with a loft or second story, or one that exceeds 400 square feet, does not qualify and needs a permit under the general rule in section 6-5(500).

00 residential rate, the same fee charged for additions, renovations, modular units and reroofs. Exemption from the permit itself does not excuse the shed from every other rule: section 6-5(501)'s opening sentence warns that exemptions from permit requirements shall not be deemed to grant authorization for any work done in violation of the provisions of the title or any other laws or ordinances of the jurisdiction, so an exempt shed can still be cited if it violates a separate ordinance.

Violations & Fines

A shed or accessory building over 400 square feet, or one built with more than one story, built without first obtaining a permit is treated the same as any other unpermitted construction: section 6-8(802) sets a fine of $200.00 to $500.00, on top of the $125.00 permit fee still due, and the Building Official can order the work stopped.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit for a backyard shed in Ascension Parish?
Not if it is one story, detached, and its floor area is 400 square feet or less: § 6-5(501)(1)(a) exempts sheds, storage buildings and playhouses at or under that size. Bigger or multi-story structures need a Building Official permit.
How big can my shed be before Ascension Parish requires a permit?
The cutoff is 400 square feet of floor area for a one-story detached structure under § 6-5(501)(1)(a). Once you cross that line, or add a second story, the shed needs the same permit as any other accessory building.
Does an exempt shed still have to follow other Ascension Parish rules?
Yes. Section 6-5(501) makes clear the permit exemption does not authorize work that violates any other provision of the parish code, so an exempt shed can still be cited under a separate ordinance.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Ascension Parish

All Ascension Parish rules

How Ascension Parish compares: Shed Permit Requirements by City·Compare Ascension Parish to another location·View the Louisiana accessory structures overview

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