Jefferson Parish, LA Environmental Rules: Erosion Control (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing code
- UDC § 33-7.4.2(2)
- Trigger
- During and after new construction
- Design standard
- Subdivision Public Improvements Standards Manual
- Exceptions
- Public works director approval, in writing only
- Large-site runoff cap
- 10-yr post-dev rate at or below pre-dev rate
Summary
Jefferson Parish requires erosion and sediment controls on every development its stormwater rules cover, not just a single high-risk category. Section 33-7.4.2(2) of the Unified Development Code's adequate-public-facilities article makes controls mandatory during and after new construction whenever they are needed to keep erosion or downstream sediment deposits from increasing.
(1)On-site stormwater detention or retention basins shall be required where needed to protect public or private property from increased volumes or velocity of stormwater runoff.(2)Erosion and sedimentation controls shall be required during and after new construction as needed to prevent increased erosion or increased deposits of material downstream from the development.(3)Stormwater systems shall be designed to minimize future operational and maintenance expenses.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 20 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
Article 7 of Jefferson Parish's Unified Development Code, Adequate Public Facilities, ties every development approval to the parish's stormwater design standards. 1 requires development to be laid out for proper drainage using curb and gutter, catch basins, canals, culverts, bridges, natural waterways, and stormwater best management practices sized to accommodate runoff from the entire upstream drainage area, not merely the parcel being developed. 2 builds the erosion-specific mandate on top of that design standard: on-site detention or retention basins are required wherever needed to protect public or private property from increased stormwater volume or velocity, and erosion and sedimentation controls are required both during and after new construction whenever needed to prevent increased erosion or increased sediment deposits downstream of the site.
The design itself must follow the Jefferson Parish Subdivision Public Improvements Standards Manual, and only the public works director can grant an exception, and only in writing. 4 requires non-residential developments of ten thousand square feet or more, and single-family developments of five acres or more, to hold their ten-year-storm post-development runoff rate at or below the pre-development rate, typically through on-site detention. 13.
Violations & Fines
Erosion and sedimentation control is a condition of development approval, not an afterthought: the public works director must approve any deviation from the Subdivision Public Improvements Standards Manual in writing before construction, and Section 33-7.1.13 blocks a building permit until the parish or its authorized agent inspects and accepts the required public improvements, including drainage and erosion-control work built to the manual's specifications.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Jefferson Parish require erosion control during construction?
Who can approve a different erosion-control design than the parish manual requires?
Do small residential lots face a runoff limit too?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Jefferson Parish
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