Terrebonne Parish, LA Building Safety: Electrical Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit required for
- Erecting, altering, repairing electrical systems
- Issuing official
- Parish Building Official
- Minor-work exemptions
- Listed in Section 105.2(B), e.g. lamp replacement
- Permit expires
- 180 days if work not started or stalls
- Default penalty
- Up to $200 fine and/or 30 days jail
Summary
Anyone in Terrebonne Parish who wants to erect, install, enlarge, repair, remove, convert or replace an electrical system regulated by the parish's Consolidated Building Code must first apply for and obtain a permit under Section 105.1. Skipping the permit or violating the building official's directives is punishable by up to a $200 fine and 30 days in jail per violation.
105.1 Required. ... 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 erect, install, enlarge, repair, remove, convert, or replace any electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing system, the installation of which is regulated by this code, shall first make an application to the Jurisdiction and obtain the required permit. ... 114.4 Violation Penalties. Any person who violates a provision of this code or fails to comply with any of the requirements thereof ... shall be subject to penalties as prescribed by law. Where the law prescribes no specific penalty for an unlawful act under this code, any person found guilty shall be punished by a fine not exceeding two hundred dollars ($200) and/or imprisonment for not more than thirty (30) days in respect of each violation.
Full Breakdown
1. The Building Official, appointed by the Parish President and confirmed by the Parish Council, administers the permit process: the jurisdiction receives and transmits applications, the Building Official reviews construction documents, issues the permit, inspects the work, and can reject an incomplete or noncompliant application in writing. 2(B), including reinstalling attachment plugs (but not the outlets themselves), replacing branch circuit overcurrent devices of the same capacity and design in the same location, wiring or equipment operating below 25 volts and 50 watts, lamp replacement, and connecting listed portable equipment to already-approved permanently installed receptacles.
Once issued, a permit becomes invalid if work does not start within 180 days, or if it is suspended or abandoned for 180 days after starting, though the jurisdiction can grant extensions of up to 180 days each on written request showing justifiable cause. The Building Official can also suspend or revoke a permit issued in error, based on inaccurate information, for failure to pay a required fee, or for violating any code provision. 1's permit requirement is treated the same as any other code violation under Section 114: it is a strict liability offense, and each day of continued noncompliance counts as a separate violation.
Violations & Fines
Doing electrical work without the required permit is an unlawful act under Section 114.1, which the code treats as a strict liability offense regardless of intent. The Building Official can issue a notice of violation ordering the work stopped and the violation abated; a stop-work order under Section 115 requires cited work to cease immediately. Where no other penalty is specified, Section 114.4 sets a fine of up to $200 and/or up to 30 days in jail per violation, with each continuing day a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to replace a light fixture in Terrebonne Parish?
Who issues electrical permits in Terrebonne Parish?
What happens if my Terrebonne Parish electrical permit expires?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Terrebonne Parish
Compare Terrebonne Parish to another location·View the Louisiana building safety overview
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