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

Significant Restrictions

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

FEMA flood zone rules in St. Martin 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

Regulatory floodway: Encroachments prohibited without engineer's no-increase analysis
Engineer required: Louisiana licensed engineer prepares hydrologic and hydraulic analyses
Permit: Floodplain development permit for special flood hazard area projects
Levee work: Permit plus majority vote of the Parish Council
Variance request deadline: Written, within ten days of administrator's determination
Penalty: Fine up to $100.00 or 30 days, each day a new violation

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. Martin 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. Martin Parish, LA on the FEMA flood map

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

Summary

Unincorporated St. Martin Parish, Louisiana prohibits fill, new construction, substantial improvements and other development in the adopted regulatory floodway unless a Louisiana licensed engineer shows no increase in flood levels during the base flood discharge. St. Martin Parish Code § 14-70 sets the rule, and development in a special flood hazard area also needs a floodplain development permit.

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

Located within areas of special flood hazard established in section 14-7 are areas designated as floodways. Since the floodway is an extremely hazardous area due to the velocity of floodwaters which carry debris, potential projectiles and erosion potential, the following provisions shall apply: (1)Encroachments are prohibited, including fill, new construction, substantial improvements and other development within the adopted regulatory floodway unless it has been demonstrated through hydrologic and hydraulic analyses performed in accordance with standard engineering practice acceptable to the applicable regulatory agency and prepared by a Louisiana licensed engineer that the proposed encroachment would not result in any increase in flood levels within the community during the occurrence of the base flood discharge. The data must be reviewed and subsequently approved by the local floodplain administrator and other applicable regulatory agencies prior to the development.

View official code

Full Breakdown

Chapter 14 is the parish's flood damage prevention regulation, enacted by Ord. No. 19-12-1282-OR on December 3, 2019 under the authority the Legislature delegated in R.S. 38:84. Sec. 14-70 covers floodways: encroachments including fill, new construction, substantial improvements and other development in the adopted regulatory floodway are prohibited unless hydrologic and hydraulic analyses prepared by a Louisiana licensed engineer show the encroachment would not increase flood levels during the base flood discharge. The local floodplain administrator and other applicable regulatory agencies must review and approve the data before development, and Sec. 14-101(1)a. adds that no final plat approval or certificate of occupancy issues until the required submittal is approved in writing.

Outside the floodway, development in a special flood hazard area needs a floodplain development permit under Sec. 14-45. The application goes to the floodplain administrator on the administrator's forms, with plans in duplicate drawn to scale, the lowest floor elevation in relation to mean sea level and a freeboard elevation form. Building Code Inspection Services, LLC is appointed administrator in Sec. 14-43, and the parish president can appoint another with confirmation by a majority of the parish council. Sec. 14-66(a)(10) bars development of land in a flood hazard, floodplain or floodway area that is incompatible with its proposed use because of poor drainage or flooding, and Sec. 14-101(4)(b) requires a residential development that fills a special flood hazard area to restore the volume to achieve an effective "zero net fill."

Any development that constructs, alters or removes a levee or levee system under Sec. 14-71 needs a permit from the floodplain administrator and a specific majority vote of the St. Martin Parish Council. Variances go to the appeals board, which Sec. 14-2 defines as the St. Martin Parish Council. A written request must be filed within ten days of the administrator's determination at 400 Port Street, St. Martinville, and Sec. 14-46(h) bars any variance in a designated floodway if flood levels would increase during the base flood discharge. A person aggrieved by the board's decision goes to the 16th Judicial District Court in and for St. Martin Parish.

Violations & Fines

Section 14-13 makes a violation of the flood articles a misdemeanor. On conviction the violator is fined not more than $100.00 or imprisoned for not more than 30 days, or both, for each violation, and each day the violation continues is a new violation. The violator also pays all costs and expenses involved in the case, and the parish keeps the power to take other lawful action to prevent or remedy the violation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I build or place fill in the regulatory floodway?

Not without proof. Section 14-70(1) prohibits encroachments, including fill, new construction and substantial improvements, within the adopted regulatory floodway unless analyses by a Louisiana licensed engineer show no increase in flood levels during the base flood discharge, and the floodplain administrator and other regulatory agencies approve the data before development.

What does a floodplain development permit application include?

Section 14-45(b)(1) calls for plans in duplicate drawn to scale showing the location, dimensions and elevation of proposed alterations and structures, plus the lowest floor elevation in relation to mean sea level, any floodproofing elevation for nonresidential structures, a freeboard elevation form, and a description of any watercourse alteration. Final elevation certificates need at least two color photographs.

How do I ask for a variance or appeal a decision?

Under Sec. 14-46(l), the request must be in writing and filed within ten days of the floodplain administrator's determination at 400 Port Street, St. Martinville. The appeals board is the St. Martin Parish Council, and an aggrieved person can then go to the 16th Judicial District Court. No variance issues in a designated floodway if flood levels would rise.

Do I need approval to change a levee?

Yes. Section 14-71(a) requires a permit approved by the floodplain administrator and specifically approved by majority vote of the St. Martin Parish Council for any development that constructs, alters or removes a levee or levee system. When the work removes a levee, the original purpose for building it is irrelevant to the decision.

Does this apply inside St. Martinville or Breaux Bridge?

No. Chapter 14 is the St. Martin Parish Council's ordinance for unincorporated St. Martin Parish. The municipalities of St. Martinville, Breaux Bridge, Henderson and Parks each govern their own limits, so a lot inside one of them follows that municipality's code and not these floodway and permit rules.

Sources & Official References

[1]St. Martin Parish Code of Ordinances, Municode

Other rules in St. Martin Parish

Noise Ordinances: Construction HoursSome Restrictions Stormwater ManagementSome Restrictions Erosion ControlSome Restrictions Flood Elevation RequirementsSome Restrictions Noise Ordinances: Decibel LimitsSome Restrictions Noise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Outdoor SoundSome Restrictions Noise Ordinances: Leaf Blower RulesLight Restrictions Noise Ordinances: Barking DogsSome Restrictions Noise Ordinances: Vehicle NoiseSome Restrictions

All St. Martin Parish rules

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