Vermilion Parish, LA Code Violation Reporting: How to Report (2026)

Sec. 20-34 of the Vermilion Parish Code is the complaint procedure for the drinking water protection article in Chapter 20. It covers violations of that article only, not every parish code violation. The protected zone is the drinking water protection critical area that Sec. 20-30 defines as the area within a 1,000 foot radial boundary from any drinking water well that the state department of environmental quality has identified and mapped under the source water assessment program. The maps are available for viewing at the parish police jury office.

Anyone can start the process. Sec. 20-34(a) allows a verbal or written complaint alleging a violation, so no form or sworn statement is required by the text. Upon receipt, the code requires a brief investigation of the substance of the complaint, including a meeting with the landowner involved. The article calls the acting body simply the jurisdiction.

If the investigation finds a violation, the first step is informal reconciliation. The jurisdiction must notify the violator by mail of the violation and of its wish to correct it informally, with a statement that if the violator refuses to implement corrective action within the time set, action can be taken and the violator will be billed for the cost. It must also make a good faith effort to meet the violator and resolve the violation.

The clock runs in two 30 day steps. After 30 days from mailing the notice of violation, if the jurisdiction in good faith finds the violator unwilling to take the prescribed corrective actions, it mails a notice ending informal reconciliation. Thirty days after that notice, the jurisdiction can take the corrective actions it deems necessary and bill the violator the reasonable cost.

What gets reported: Sec. 20-31 prohibits uses in the critical area unless granted a special exception, including sanitary landfills, car washes, salvage yards, above-ground storage tanks other than water storage tanks, and underground storage tanks other than brine storage tanks. Under Sec. 20-32, uses lawfully in existence on December 6, 2004 can continue, and the Police Jury issues special permits, with written appeals filed within 30 days of a denial.