Jefferson Parish, LA Hurricane Preparedness: Flood Elevation (2026)
Key Facts
- Zone AE outside HSDRRS
- BFE + 2 ft freeboard
- Zone AE inside HSDRRS
- highest of BFE+1ft, 18in above street, or -3.5 NAVD88
- Zone VE
- BFE + 1 ft, breakaway walls required
- Enclosed area limit below BFE
- 299 sq ft
- Certification required from
- PE, architect, or land surveyor
Summary
New residential construction in Jefferson Parish's mapped flood zones must sit above a set NAVD 88 elevation, noted right on the building permit. Outside the parish's Hurricane Storm Damage Risk Reduction System, Zone AE homes must have their lowest floor at the base flood elevation plus two feet of freeboard, with any enclosed space below that line capped at 299 square feet.
Permits issued for new construction of any residential structure, must have the required NAVD 88 elevation of the lowest floor or lowest horizontal portion of the structural member and the base flood elevation noted on the permit. ... (3)In Zone AE outside the Hurricane Storm Damage Risk Reduction System (HSDRRS), the lowest floor shall be at:a.The BFE on the FIRM plus two (2) feet of freeboard; andb.The total floor area of any new enclosed area below the BFE shall not exceed two hundred ninety-nine (299) square feet, including breakaway walls.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 20 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 1 sets four elevation tiers depending on flood zone and whether the lot sits inside the parish's Hurricane Storm Damage Risk Reduction System (HSDRRS). 5 NAVD 88. Outside the HSDRRS, Zone AE steps up to BFE plus two feet of freeboard, reflecting the added risk away from the levee system. In Zone VE, the coastal high-hazard zone, the bottom of the lowest horizontal structural member must sit at BFE plus one foot, fill cannot be used for structural support, and the space below must stay open or be built with breakaway walls.
"Lowest floor" under this chapter includes the basement, mechanical and utility equipment, and ductwork, and a registered professional engineer, architect, or land surveyor must certify to the Department of Building Permits that the elevation meets this chapter, the Louisiana State Uniform Construction Code, and the parish's building code. Manufactured homes and recreational vehicles placed in these zones must separately meet the anchoring and elevation standards of Sec. 5 and Sec. 6.
Violations & Fines
Elevation violations are enforced by the Department of Building Permits under Sec. 14-7.4, which ties to the Code's general penalty, Sec. 1-10: up to $1,000.00 and up to six months imprisonment, with each day of noncompliance a separate offense. Where a crawlspace under a home outside the HSDRRS exceeds five feet, Sec. 14-6.1(6) also requires recording a declaration of land use restriction with the Clerk of Court before a permit issues, and the floodplain administrator may inspect for illegal conversion annually with 72-hour notice.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much freeboard does Jefferson Parish require above base flood elevation?
What is NAVD 88 and why does it matter?
Can I finish out the space under my elevated house?
Who has to certify my home meets these elevation standards?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Jefferson Parish
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