Ouachita Parish, LA Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)

The Parish's adopted construction code, codified at Sec. 3½-123 of the Ouachita Parish Code (Chapter 3½, Article V, Division 2), requires any owner or authorized agent who intends to "construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish or change the occupancy of a building or structure," or to work on a regulated electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system, to first apply to the building official and obtain a permit. This mirrors the older Sec. 3½-61 permit mandate, which separately requires a building permit for any structure or house trailer placed within the parish outside its municipalities, and bars utility hookups until the builder shows proof of a parish permit.

Sec. 3½-123(b) then lists specific work that does NOT need a permit: one-story detached accessory buildings (tool sheds, playhouses) under 120 square feet, fences no taller than six feet, retaining walls up to four feet high (measured footing to top) unless supporting a surcharge, water tanks on grade holding up to 5,000 gallons with a height-to-diameter ratio no greater than 2:1, sidewalks and driveways, interior finish work such as painting and cabinets, prefabricated pools shallower than 24 inches, playground equipment, window awnings projecting no more than 54 inches without added support, and residential additions/repairs whose combined work area stays under 50 percent of the dwelling's floor area.

Applications under the parallel Sec. 3½-107 process must include the owner's and contractors' names and phone numbers, the construction location and description, and a sworn certification of code compliance. The building official (appointed by the Police Jury under Sec. 3½-121) reviews plans, issues the permit, inspects the work, and can enjoin unpermitted construction through the parish attorney under Sec. 3½-109.