Ouachita Parish, LA Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)

Article II of Chapter 21 sets Ouachita Parish's storm-drainage rules for land "within the jurisdiction of the Ouachita Parish police jury and outside of the corporate limits of incorporated municipalities" (Sec. 21-22), so Monroe and West Monroe residents fall under their own city drainage codes instead. The article's stated purpose (Sec. 21-21) is to regulate alteration of natural or existing drainage facilities, set uniform design standards for public storm drainage improvements, and reduce flooding hazards and damage.

Section 21-32 requires prior written approval from the police jury before anyone alters a natural or existing drainage pattern, channel, reservoir, flood plain, or flood protection system, and before any clearing, filling, grading, or dredging interferes with the natural or existing flow of drainage. Section 21-33 separately makes it unlawful to construct, deposit, or locate material within a natural or existing drainage ditch, channel, stream, drain, or course so that it obstructs, impedes, or diverts the free flow of drainage, and it specifically bars placing or burning leaves, trash, or other debris in any parish drainage facility. A Sec. 21-33 conviction is capped at a $100.00 fine or ten days in jail per violation.

The article carries its own general enforcement mechanism too: Sec. 21-23 lets the parish send notice by registered mail for any violation of the article's requirements, and if the violation is not corrected within 30 days, it becomes a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $500.00 fine or 30 days in jail, without limiting other lawful action the police jury takes.