St. Tammany Parish, LA Building Safety: Building Inspections (2026)

The Director of Permits and Inspections controls the pace of every project. Under Sec. 300-5.1, the permit holder or an authorized agent must notify the Director when work is ready, and construction cannot proceed past the point covered by each inspection until the Director approves it; anything that fails must be corrected before it is covered or concealed. Before a permit is even issued, the Director can conduct a preliminary inspection of the site under Sec. 300-5.1.D.

Sec. 300-5.3 lays out the specific inspection points. The footing or foundation inspection happens after excavation is complete and reinforcing steel is set, but before concrete is poured, and it must follow an approved preliminary grade inspection and any underground plumbing inspection. The concrete slab or under-floor inspection follows, checked after in-slab or under-floor steel, conduit, piping, and equipment are placed but before concrete or floor sheathing goes down. Rough-in and framing inspections are listed as reserved in this volume. Fire-resistance-rated commercial construction between dwelling units is inspected by the State Fire Marshal after lathing or wallboard is up but before plaster or taping, and fire-resistant penetrations cannot be concealed until inspected.

The final inspection comes last: electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and gas systems are checked once complete, the final grade inspection precedes the final building inspection, and the building inspection itself happens only after the structure is finished and ready for occupancy. A municipal address must be posted and visible from the street, and the construction test meter must be energized before any final inspection can be scheduled. The Director can also accept reports from outside approved agencies that meet the parish's qualification and reliability standards under Sec. 300-5.1.H.