Do I need a Coastal Use Permit for a new dock in Louisiana?

Most new docks, bulkheads, and shoreline structures within the Louisiana Coastal Zone require a Coastal Use Permit unless they qualify as a single-family residential dock under specific size and impact thresholds.

Which parishes are in the Louisiana Coastal Zone?

The Coastal Zone covers all or parts of approximately twenty coastal parishes, including Cameron, Vermilion, Iberia, St. Mary, Terrebonne, Lafourche, Jefferson, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, and Orleans.

Louisiana Coastal Development Law: Statewide Environmental Rules Rules (2026)

Key Facts

Statute: R.S. 49:214.21 et seq.
Regulator: Office of Coastal Management
Permit type: Coastal Use Permit
Coastal zone: 20 coastal parishes
Max civil penalty: $12,000/day

Full Breakdown

Under R.S. 49:214.21-214.42, any use of coastal lands or waters that has direct and significant impact, including dredging, filling, levee construction, bulkheading, and shoreline modification, requires a Coastal Use Permit (CUP) from the Office of Coastal Management within the Department of Energy and Natural Resources. Routine activities, normal residential repair, and certain agriculture are exempt. Coastal parishes may adopt Local Coastal Programs to issue permits for limited uses, but state oversight and consistency review remain mandatory. Federal projects must obtain federal consistency determinations under the federal Coastal Zone Management Act, which Louisiana administers.

Violations & Penalties

Conducting permitted-activity work without a CUP, exceeding permit conditions, or failing wetland mitigation requirements can result in cease-and-desist orders, restoration mandates, and civil penalties up to $12,000 per day under R.S. 49:214.36.

Louisiana Coastal Zone Management Use Permits Required

Key Facts

Full Breakdown

Violations & Penalties

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources

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