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

Chapter 9, Flood Damage Prevention, applies to all areas of special flood hazard within Terrebonne Parish and the former City of Houma (Sec. 9-7), and it requires a development permit to ensure conformance with its provisions (Sec. 5). Under the compliance procedure in Sec. 9-32, an applicant for new construction, a substantial improvement, or a structural addition must file a flood control/utility permit application with the floodplain administrator, supported by a site plan, existing easements and rights-of-way, and, for sites in a special flood hazard zone, a natural ground elevation certificate from a Louisiana-registered professional engineer, surveyor, or architect.

Utilities cannot legally be connected or reconnected to a structure until compliance is certified (Sec. 9-9), and no structure or land can be located, altered, or have its use changed without full compliance with the chapter (Sec. 9-10). Sec. 9-56 sets general flood hazard reduction standards parish-wide: new construction and substantial improvements must be designed and anchored to prevent flotation, collapse, or lateral movement from hydrodynamic and hydrostatic loads, built with flood-damage-resistant methods and materials, and have electrical, heating, plumbing, and HVAC equipment located to keep water out during flooding.

New sanitary landfills and new or expanded hazardous waste sites, including saltwater injection wells, are barred outright in these areas. The floodplain administrator, the director of planning and zoning or a designee, reviews applications, issues permits, and certifies finished-floor elevations before a certificate of occupancy is issued.