Skip to main content
CityRuleLookup

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

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

Key Facts

Governing law
Tangipahoa Parish Code § 36-111(f)
Developer duty
Plan drainage per parish drainage authority requirements
Ditch alteration
Written parish drainage authority permission required first
Drainage servitude
No fences, sheds or fill allowed
State law tie-in
R.S. 38:215 bars impeding natural drainage flow

Summary

Tangipahoa Parish's development code puts drainage planning on the developer, requiring every project to meet the parish drainage authority's requirements and the flood prevention chapter. Storm drainage must sit within the street right-of-way or an approved servitude, and no one may alter a ditch or drainage canal, or place fences or fill in a drainage servitude, without parish drainage authority approval.

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

(f)Drainage requirements.(1)The developer will plan all drainage for his project in accordance with the requirements of the appropriate parish drainage authority, and any additional parish drainage requirements and must meet the flood prevention and protection requirements in article IX, flood prevention and protection. ... (6)Adequate provision will be made for the disposal of stormwater subject to the approval of the appropriate parish drainage authority. Necessary storm drainage will be located within the street right-of-way except where it is located in a servitude to facilitate outfall needs or for subdivision interconnection.(7)All subdivision restrictive covenants will include a restriction against any construction, fill matter, or fences in any drainageway, designated drainage servitudes or the parish right-of-way, without approval from the appropriate parish authority. No fences, sheds, movable or immovable appurtenances shall be placed in designated drainage servitudes.

Full Breakdown

Section 36-111, 'General improvement standards,' devotes subsection (f) to drainage requirements that apply across the unincorporated parish's subdivisions and developments. Paragraph (1) makes the developer responsible for planning all project drainage in accordance with the appropriate parish drainage authority's requirements, and for meeting the flood prevention and protection standards in Article IX of the same chapter. S. 38:215's bar on impeding the natural flow of drainage. Paragraph (6) requires adequate provision for stormwater disposal subject to drainage authority approval, and it locates necessary storm drainage within the street right-of-way except where a servitude serves outfall or interconnection needs.

Paragraph (7) bars any construction, fill or fences in a drainageway, designated drainage servitude or the parish right-of-way without the appropriate parish authority's approval, and it flatly prohibits placing fences, sheds or other appurtenances in a designated drainage servitude, making the property owner responsible for relocating anything that does end up there. Paragraph (4) additionally bars deepening, widening, filling or rerouting an existing ditch or drainage canal without written permission from the parish drainage authority. A broader Section 36-111(h) subsection, addressing 'stormwater management and water quality,' layers on federal Clean Water Act and Louisiana DEQ discharge-permit requirements for larger developments, including a required stormwater pollution prevention plan for construction disturbing an acre or more.

Violations & Fines

Drainage requirements are enforced at the plat and permit stage: the parish engineer and drainage district administrator review compliance before approving final plats, and Section 36-111(f)(7) makes the property owner solely responsible for relocating, at the owner's own cost, any fence, shed or fill placed in a drainage servitude without authorization. Unauthorized ditch alteration under paragraph (4) requires written parish drainage authority permission before the fact, not after.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I put a fence in a drainage servitude on my Tangipahoa Parish property?
No. Section 36-111(f)(7) prohibits fences, sheds, or other movable or immovable appurtenances in any designated drainage servitude, and it makes the property owner solely responsible for relocating them, at the owner's own expense, if they are placed there without the parish drainage authority's approval.
Do I need permission to alter a drainage ditch on my land?
Yes. Section 36-111(f)(4) requires written permission from the appropriate parish drainage authority before anyone deepens, widens, fills, reroutes, or otherwise changes an existing ditch or drainage canal, regardless of whether the ditch crosses private or public property.
Who is responsible for drainage in a new subdivision?
The developer. Section 36-111(f)(1) makes the developer responsible for planning all project drainage to meet the requirements of the appropriate parish drainage authority and the flood prevention and protection standards in Article IX of the same chapter, subject to review by the drainage district administrator or parish engineer.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Tangipahoa Parish

All Tangipahoa Parish rules

Compare Tangipahoa Parish to another location·View the Louisiana environmental rules overview

Get notified when Stormwater Management in Tangipahoa Parish, LA changes

We'll email you the moment we detect a change in the code. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We'll never sell or share your email. One-click unsubscribe in every email.

See something wrong?

Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.