Environmental Rules in Rapides Parish, LA (2026)
5 rules for unincorporated Rapides Parish, Louisiana.
Verified from official government sources
Stormwater Management
Unincorporated Rapides Parish bans dumping anything but storm water into its MS4 storm sewer system under Sec. 24-6, with sixteen narrow exceptions like residential car washing and lawn irrigation. Sec. 24-7 separately forbids used oil, sewage, construction sediment and commercial wash water from reaching the system. The director of public works enforces with cease-and-desist orders and fines starting at $250 per day.
Rapides Parish MS4 Stormwater Discharge Rules
Some RestrictionsRapides Parish Code § 24-6
(a)No person shall introduce or cause to be introduced into the municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) any discharge that is not composed entirely of storm water. ... (b)It is an affirmative defense to any enforcement action for violation of subsection (a) of this section that the discharge was composed entirely of one (1) or more of the following categories of discharges: ... (13)A discha...
Erosion Control
Anyone clearing, grading or excavating an acre or more in unincorporated Rapides Parish, or building on a smaller residential lot, needs a grading or building permit from the Rapides Area Planning Commission under Secs. 24-12 and 24-15. Sec. 24-20 requires erosion and sediment controls that keep runoff from crossing onto neighboring land, a right-of-way or a stream.
Rapides Parish Erosion and Sedimentation Control
Some RestrictionsRapides Parish Code §§ 24-12, 24-15, 24-20
Construction activity, including clearing, grading, and excavation activities, that result in the disturbance of one (1) or more acres of total land area shall comply with the requirements of this chapter. This also applies to building construction (including residential) on lots less than one (1) acre. ... Unless otherwise stated, no person(s) shall perform any clearing, excavation, or earthwo...
Flood Zones
Chapter 10½ of the parish code applies to every area of special flood hazard in unincorporated Rapides Parish and sets construction standards for anything built there. Structures must be anchored, built with flood-resistant materials, and designed so utilities and sewage systems keep floodwater out.
Rapides Parish Floodplain Development Standards
Some RestrictionsRapides Parish Code §§ 10½-5, 10½-16
This chapter shall apply to all areas of special flood hazard within the jurisdiction of Rapides Parish outside incorporated municipalities. ... In all areas of special flood hazards the following provisions are required for all new construction and substantial improvements;(1)All new construction or substantial improvements shall be designed (or modified) and adequately anchored to prevent flo...
Boat Dock Permits
Rapides Parish Code § 19½-1(B)(2) requires Police Jury approval before a houseboat can moor at Cotile Lake, Indian Creek Reservoir or Kincaid Reservoir. The owner must show the boat meets EPA and Rapides Parish Chief Sanitarian sanitation requirements and produce the waterfront owner's written mooring permission, kept aboard the houseboat at all times.
Rapides Parish Houseboat Mooring Approval
Significant RestrictionsRapides Parish Code § 19½-1(B)(2), (C)
(2)Houseboats shall be permitted only upon prior approval of the Rapides Parish Police Jury. Approval shall be granted only upon proof that the subject boat meets sanitation requirements of the EPA and the Rapides Parish Chief Sanitarian. Approval is also subject to the owner producing written permission from a waterfront owner for mooring and docking privileges. Such written approval from the ...
Flood Elevation Requirements
The Police Jury has formally adopted the FEMA base flood elevations for unincorporated Rapides Parish, Community No. 220145, by reference into the parish code. Those adopted elevations, not a locally invented number, are the benchmark every development permit in the mapped flood zones must meet.
Rapides Parish Adopted Base Flood Elevations
Some RestrictionsRapides Parish Code § 10½-6(b)
(b)The police jury hereby adopts by the reference, as recommended by the Rapides Area Planning Commission, those certain base flood elevations (BFEs) for Community No. 220145 Map Nos. 0250C (Revised 3/3/97), 0325C (Revised 3/3/97) 0045C, 0130C, 0135C, 140D, 0145D, 0200C, 0235D, 0255C, 0275C, and 0350C.
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