Jefferson Parish, LA Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Encroachment Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit required
- Any driveway install, removal, or curb work
- Deposit
- $0.25 per square foot, 90% refundable
- Max width
- 25 ft at property line, 35 ft at curb
- Driveway spacing
- At least 10 feet between two driveways
- Permit expires
- Void after 45 days if unused
- Noncompliance
- Building permit or C.O. withheld until fixed
Summary
No one may remove, curb, or install a driveway connecting to a Jefferson Parish street without a permit from the director of public works. The permit process sets maximum driveway width, minimum spacing between driveways, and a refundable construction deposit before any work in the right-of-way can begin.
(a)Permit required. No person shall remove, curb or install a driveway abutting his property in the parish without first having obtained a permit from the director of the department of public works, hereinafter in this article referred to as the "director."(b)Applications. Applications for such permits shall be made on printed forms furnished by the director, which forms shall provide for the description of the property involved by lot, square, subdivision and street boundaries, and such other information as the director may require.
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
Section 29-166 requires a permit from the director of the department of public works before anyone removes, curbs, or installs a driveway that connects private property to a parish right-of-way, with the application describing the lot by square and subdivision and showing the driveway's dimensions and location. Before the permit issues, section 29-167 requires a deposit set at 25 cents per square foot under section 29-172 to guarantee the work meets parish specifications; once the department of public works inspects and approves the finished driveway, 90 percent of the deposit is refunded and the remaining 10 percent covers inspection costs.
Section 29-168 caps a standard driveway at 25 feet wide at the property line and 35 feet at the curb line, though the parish council can waive that limit on a showing of hardship. Section 29-169 requires at least 10 feet of separation between two driveways on the same property and bars any driveway from encroaching into the sidewalk area formed by a corner radius at a street intersection, though the director can grant exceptions for hardship. Driveways must be built to parish standard plan No.
1, six inches thick for standard use and eight inches for heavy duty use, using 3,000 psi concrete. A permit becomes void if unused for 45 days, and the deposit is only refunded if the unused permit is returned within that window; the director can also deny a permit outright when a proposed driveway would create a public safety hazard.
Violations & Fines
If a driveway is installed without a permit or built out of compliance with parish specifications, the director notifies the applicant of the deficiency and the department of building permits withholds or revokes the building permit or certificate of occupancy for the property until it is corrected. No part of the construction deposit is returned in that case, and if a driveway is later abandoned, the owner must restore the sidewalk and curb to their original condition at their own expense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit just to widen or replace my driveway?
How wide can I make my new driveway?
What happens to my deposit if I never end up building the driveway?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Jefferson Parish
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