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St. Tammany Parish, LA Environmental Rules: Flood Zones (2026)

Significant Restrictions

Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

FEMA flood zone rules in St. Tammany Parish, LA, also called floodplain regulations or special flood hazard area (SFHA) rules, determine flood insurance requirements and elevation standards for new construction.

Key Facts

Governing section: UDC § 900-6.7
Permit required: Floodplain Development Permit
Freeboard requirement: Base flood elevation + 12 inches
Administrator: Chief Building Official
Max penalty: $500 fine and/or 1 year jail, per day

FEMA Flood Zone Lookup

FEMA assigns every parcel in the U.S. a flood-hazard designation on its Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs). Zones starting with A or V are high-risk Special Flood Hazard Areas where federally backed mortgages require NFIP flood insurance. Zone X indicates moderate-to-minimal risk, where insurance is optional but often recommended. Your specific zone determines insurance cost, build elevation, and permit requirements in St. Tammany Parish, LA.

Zone	What it means	NFIP required?
A	High-risk flood area; 1% annual chance flood, no detailed analysis.	Yes
AE	High-risk; same as A but with established Base Flood Elevations.	Yes
AH	High-risk shallow flooding (1-3 ft), usually ponding.	Yes
AO	High-risk shallow flooding (1-3 ft) with sheet flow on sloping terrain.	Yes
V	High-risk coastal zone subject to wave action (no BFE).	Yes
VE	High-risk coastal zone with wave action and established BFEs.	Yes
X (shaded)	Moderate risk; between the 1% and 0.2% annual chance flood.	Recommended
X	Minimal risk; outside the 0.2% annual chance floodplain.	No

Look up St. Tammany Parish, LA on the FEMA flood map

FEMA maps update periodically; verify zone before buying flood insurance or building.

Summary

St. Tammany Parish requires a Floodplain Development Permit for any construction, alteration or land-use change in a mapped special flood hazard area, and new or substantially improved residences must set their lowest floor at least 12 inches above the base flood elevation.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of St. Tammany Parish. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

Establishment of Development Permit. A Floodplain Development Permit shall be required to ensure conformance with the provisions of this ordinance... Residential Construction. new construction and substantial improvement of any residential structure shall have the lowest floor (including basement), at or above the base flood elevation plus 12 inches... Penalties for Non Compliance. Violation of the provisions of this ordinance by failure to comply with any of its requirements... shall constitute a misdemeanor. Any person who violates this ordinance or fails to comply with any of its requirements shall upon conviction thereof be fined not more than $500.00 or imprisoned for not more than one (1) year, or both, for each violation... Each day the violation continues shall be deemed a new violation.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 12 Update 2).

Full Breakdown

Sec. S. 38:84 and readopted by Ordinance No. 25-5795 in August 2025. Subsection C establishes that a Floodplain Development Permit is required to ensure conformance with the ordinance, and no structure or land may be located, altered or have its use changed in an area of special flood hazard without full compliance. The Chief Building Official serves as the parish Floodplain Administrator, reviewing every permit application against the current FEMA Flood Insurance Study and Flood Insurance Rate Maps for the parish. Subsection E's specific standards require new construction and substantial improvement of residential structures to have the lowest floor, including any basement, at or above the base flood elevation plus 12 inches, certified by a registered engineer, architect or land surveyor; nonresidential structures must meet the same elevation or be floodproofed and certified watertight to that height.

Manufactured homes, recreational vehicles and accessory structures each carry their own elevation, anchoring or size limits (accessory structures are capped at 600 square feet in A zones and 100 square feet in V zones), and encroachments, including fill and new construction, are prohibited outright within the adopted regulatory floodway unless engineering analysis shows no increase in flood levels. Variances go to the parish Board of Adjustments, with any denial appealable to the 22nd Judicial District Court.

Violations & Fines

Violating the Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance, including building or altering a structure without the required permit or below the mandated elevation, is a misdemeanor under Sec. 900-6.7(E)(8), punishable by a fine of not more than $500.00 or imprisonment of not more than one year, or both, for each violation, with each day of continuing noncompliance treated as a separate violation. Violators also remain liable for all costs and expenses the parish incurs pursuing the case.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit to build in a flood zone in St. Tammany Parish?

Yes. Sec. 900-6.7(C)(3) requires a Floodplain Development Permit before any construction, alteration or land-use change in an area of special flood hazard, reviewed by the parish Floodplain Administrator against current FEMA flood maps.

How high above base flood elevation must a new home be built?

Sec. 900-6.7(E)(2)(a) requires the lowest floor, including any basement, of new or substantially improved residential structures to sit at or above the base flood elevation plus 12 inches, certified by a registered engineer, architect or surveyor.

What happens if I build below the required elevation without a permit?

Sec. 900-6.7(E)(8) makes it a misdemeanor punishable by up to $500.00 in fines or up to a year in jail, or both, per violation, with each day of continued noncompliance counted as a separate violation.

Can I appeal if the parish denies my floodplain permit or variance request?

Yes. The parish Board of Adjustments hears variance requests and appeals of the Floodplain Administrator's decisions, and anyone aggrieved by the Board's ruling may appeal further to the 22nd Judicial District Court.

Sources & Official References

[1]St. Tammany Parish Unified Development Code, Sec. 900-6.7

Other rules in St. Tammany Parish

Animal Ordinances: Chickens & LivestockLight Restrictions Fence Regulations: Height LimitsSome Restrictions Flood Elevation RequirementsSome Restrictions Erosion ControlSome Restrictions Boat Dock PermitsSome Restrictions Stormwater ManagementSome Restrictions Fence Regulations: Fence Permit RequirementsLight Restrictions Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage TreesSome Restrictions Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Vending ZonesSome Restrictions Business Licensing & Operations: Adult EntertainmentSignificant Restrictions

All St. Tammany Parish rules

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