Ascension Parish, LA Environmental Rules: Flood Elevation Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- Freeboard requirement
- 1 foot above base flood elevation
- Applies to
- primary buildings in Zone A, A1-A99
- Certification required from
- registered engineer, architect or land surveyor
- Maximum penalty
- $500.00 fine or 6 months jail, per violation
Summary
Ascension Parish requires new buildings in the highest-risk flood zones to sit a full foot above the base flood elevation, not just even with it. Ascension Parish Code § 9.5-33(f) sets that one-foot freeboard for every primary building in FEMA Flood Zone A and Zones A1 through A99 in unincorporated Ascension Parish, on top of the parish's general elevation and floodproofing standards.
Minimum elevation for development. All primary buildings located on land which is designated as FEMA Flood Zone A, A1-A99 shall be constructed with a minimum elevation of one (1) foot above the base flood elevation.
Full Breakdown
5-33 sets standards for subdivision proposals in special flood hazard areas, and subsection (f) adds a freeboard requirement above the base elevation rule found elsewhere in the chapter: all primary buildings located on land designated as FEMA Flood Zone A, A1-A99 shall be constructed with a minimum elevation of one foot above the base flood elevation. 5-23, which requires the applicant's registered professional engineer, architect or land surveyor to submit the lowest floor elevation, in relation to mean sea level, to the floodplain administrator as part of the development permit application.
5-7. Because the freeboard applies at the subdivision-standards level, it reaches new lots and manufactured home park development in addition to individual building permits, giving Ascension Parish an extra margin of protection beyond the base flood elevation shown on the parish's FEMA maps.
Violations & Fines
Constructing a primary building in Zone A, A1-A99 below the required one-foot freeboard violates section 9.5-33(f) and, like any other flood-chapter violation, is a misdemeanor under section 9.5-35: a fine of up to $500.00, imprisonment up to six months, or both, for each violation, plus case costs. The floodplain administrator can also refuse to approve the elevation certification required under section 9.5-23 until the freeboard is met.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far above the base flood elevation must I build in Ascension Parish?
Who certifies my building meets the freeboard requirement?
Does the freeboard rule apply to a single lot or only subdivisions?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Ascension Parish
Compare Ascension Parish to another location·View the Louisiana environmental rules overview
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