St. Martin Parish, LA Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Encroachment Permits (2026)

Chapter 32 of the St. Martin Parish Code treats private use of the road edge as a drainage question. Sec. 32-2(a) makes it unlawful to construct or locate any bridge, driveway or culvert-type crossing in, over or upon any road drainage channel, ditch or roadside ditch that forms part of the parish-wide drainage and road systems without a permit from the parish. A driveway that crosses a roadside ditch therefore needs the permit before work starts.

The application goes to the parish designee under Sec. 32-2(b) and must contain the name of the person owning the structure and the type and dimensions of the structure. The section prints no application fee and no form number. Under Sec. 32-2(c) the designee investigates and considers the application forthwith and either approves or disapproves it on one determination: that the structure or facility applied for will not unduly interfere with, retard and obstruct the drainage channels. The section prints no appeal procedure.

Sec. 32-7 covers the other half of a driveway entrance. Upon the request of property owners, the parish will construct one entrance to a parish road, provided the owners furnish the proper size pipe. The parish furnishes sufficient dirt to cover the culverts for an entrance with a width not in excess of 24 feet. An owner who wants a wider entrance gets the pipes installed by the parish, but the parish will not cover beyond the 24-foot width. The printed history for Sec. 32-7 cites a resolution dated 11-9-1976 rather than an ordinance. Sec. 32-1 separately bars trees, shrubs, structures or anything else from extending onto parish road rights-of-way in a way that endangers or inconveniences orderly public passage. Chapter 32 contains no sidewalk encroachment permit; the permit described here is for ditch crossings.