Terrebonne Parish, LA Environmental Rules: Erosion Control (2026)

Section 22-354 governs erosion and sediment control for land disturbing activities across Terrebonne Parish, defined broadly as any manmade change to the land surface including clearing, excavating, filling, transporting and grading. Before disturbing a site, an owner must install appropriate erosion control measures, and keep them in place afterward whenever necessary; sediment-laden water leaving the site must be detained so it does not cause erosion at or downstream of the discharge point. The ordinance sets specific site rules: any crossing of a natural watercourse, ditch, drainage easement or swale by site access must use a properly sized culvert or low-water crossing that does not block water flow; storm drain inlets must be protected against sedimentation; streets must be kept clean, with a stone construction entrance installed to keep mud from being tracked and washed into storm drains; and erosion control measures must stay in place for the entire disturbance period until the site is fully stabilized.

Agricultural land disturbing activities, defined to exclude farm buildings like dwellings, barns and sheds, are exempt. The Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Government inspects sites for compliance and, when it finds a violation, issues a written notice specifying the remedial measures and a compliance schedule; the notice can be appealed to the parish's Appeal Authority within 15 days. A cited property owner must halt all construction under a cease-and-desist order until the parish confirms compliance, and the parish will not release an occupational permit until stormwater practices are corrected and accepted.

If a violator fails to restore disturbed land, the parish can do the work itself and place a lien on the property for the cost.