St. Martin Parish, LA Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit required for
- Any structure (Sec. 8-1)
- Issued by
- Parish building permit agent
- Residential rate
- $3.50 per $1,000.00 of the greater valuation
- Minimum permit
- $100.00
- Commercial rate
- $5.00 per $1,000.00
- Penalty for no permit
- Permit fee doubled
- Excluded from state code
- Farm structures and recreational camps
Summary
In unincorporated St. Martin Parish, Louisiana, Sec. 8-1 forbids constructing any structure without a permit from the parish building permit agent. Residential new construction, renovation, addition and demolition permits cost $3.50 per $1,000.00 of the greater valuation, with a $100.00 minimum, and starting work without a permit and paying the fee doubles the permit fee.
No person shall construct or cause to be constructed any structure without a permit to construct same from the parish building permit agent. ... (a)The fees set forth below shall be imposed and collected by the duly designated agent of St. Martin Parish Government prior to the issuance of any building permit. ... RESIDENTIAL PERMITS New/Renovation/Addition/Demolition $3.50 per $1,000.00 for the greater of: a.Fair market value as declared by the owner; orb.ICC Building Valuation Data for 2019 and adjusted for the Region by a cost modifier of 0.87 which computes to $105.05 per square foot under roof; orc.$100.00 minimum. ... (d)In the event that any person, firm, or juridical entity commences any construction activities without first obtaining a permit and making the payment of fees which is required, then any permit fee(s) due shall be double the amount which would otherwise be due under the provisions of this chapter.
Full Breakdown
Sec. 8-1 of the St. Martin Parish Code is the permit trigger: no person shall construct or cause to be constructed any structure without a permit to construct same from the parish building permit agent. Sec. 8-2(a) adopts the Louisiana State Uniform Construction Code, as adopted and amended by the Louisiana State Uniform Construction Code Council, and makes it controlling within the unincorporated areas of the parish, excluding farm structures and recreational camps. Under Sec. 8-3 the parish inspector is the employee designated by the parish president, must be certified under the state council's requirements, and enforces only the codes the article adopts. Sec. 8-4 lets the parish president contract with certified third party providers for plan review and inspection.
Sec. 8-5(a) requires the fees to be collected by the designated agent of St. Martin Parish Government before any building permit issues, and the applicant must present plans, specifications and/or blueprints with the total square footage of the proposed building. The residential schedule charges $3.50 per $1,000.00 for the greater of the owner's declared fair market value, the ICC Building Valuation Data for 2019 adjusted by a cost modifier of 0.87 which computes to $105.05 per square foot under roof, or a $100.00 minimum. New wood storage buildings are valued at $39.44 per square foot under roof and metal storage buildings at $59.33, each with a $100.00 minimum. House moving is $150.00 and residential plan review is $70.00.
Commercial work is charged $5.00 per $1,000.00, with plan review at $10.00 per sheet and a $100.00 minimum. Signs are $5.00 per $1,000.00 with a $100.00 minimum. Movable and modular homes are $100.00 each, and inspections, re-inspections and extra or partial inspections are $50.00, while an out of town inspection is $150.00. Under Sec. 8-5(b), outbuildings such as unattached garages, workshops, sheds and pool houses are permitted on a square footage basis, and towers and pylon signs are $5.00 per $1,000.00 with a $75.00 minimum fee.
Violations & Fines
Sec. 8-5(d) is the penalty for building first and paying later: if any person, firm or juridical entity commences construction activities without first obtaining a required permit and paying the required fees, the permit fee due is double the amount otherwise due under Chapter 8. Sec. 8-3(b) limits the building official's enforcement to the codes the article adopts, and the Louisiana State Uniform Construction Code stays controlling in the unincorporated areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to build a shed in unincorporated St. Martin Parish?
What happens if I start building before I get the permit?
What do I have to submit with a building permit application?
Do farm buildings need the same permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in St. Martin Parish
Compare St. Martin Parish to another location·View the Louisiana building safety overview
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