Tangipahoa Parish, LA Environmental Rules: Flood Zones (2026)

Parish Code Article IX, Flood Prevention and Protection, applies to all unincorporated areas of Tangipahoa Parish (incorporated Hammond, Ponchatoula, Amite City and the parish's other towns each administer their own flood ordinances). Section 36-244 requires a floodplain development permit before any building, filling, grading, dredging, mining or paving in a mapped special flood hazard area, and section 36-245 bars locating, altering or changing the use of any structure or land without full compliance with the article. Applications go to the floodplain administrator, a position appointed by the parish president under section 36-265, on forms that show the location, dimensions and elevation of proposed structures relative to the special flood hazard area, per section 36-267.

The administrator reviews danger to life and property, susceptibility to flood damage, and the availability of non-flood-prone alternative sites before approving or denying a permit. 00 or imprisonment of not more than 30 days, or both, for each violation, and the violator must also pay the costs and expenses of the case. Because each day a violation continues counts as a new violation, unpermitted fill or construction left in place keeps accruing exposure. The parish may still pursue any other lawful remedy, including a stop-work order, on top of the criminal penalty.

Landowners appealing a permit denial or floodplain administrator determination go to the parish's appeal board under section 36-268, which can grant variances for good cause but never within a designated floodway if the variance would raise base flood levels.