City Building Permits
Lafayette, LA - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in Lafayette, Louisiana. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
Lafayette Consolidated Government handles permitting within the City of Lafayette and also parish-side permitting functions; fire inspection permits within the city are coordinated separately as part of the LCG development team.
- Department
- Lafayette Consolidated Government Community Development and Planning, Permitting and Codes
- Address
- 220 West Willow Street, Building B, Lafayette, LA 70501
- Phone
- (337) 291-8461
- dp@lafayettela.gov
Online Permit Portal
Platform: MyGovernmentOnline • Account required: Yes • Submission: In-person only
Additional resources:
Application Process
- Create an MGO Connect customer account, or contact Permitting and Codes for in-person filing assistance.
- Start the permit application in MGO and select the applicable permit type.
- Upload plans and supporting documents, including any floodplain, drainage, utility, fire, or zoning-related materials required for the project.
- LCG routes the application for review by the relevant development team disciplines.
- Pay permit fees through the process once invoiced or prompted by the system.
- Print the issued permit from MGO, perform the work, and request inspections through the portal.
Source: Lafayette Consolidated Government Community Development and Planning, Permitting and Codes
General Requirements
A permit is required for residential and commercial new construction, renovation, addition, demolition, signs, house moving, floodplain development, mobile homes, and trade work including electrical, plumbing, and mechanical.
Required Documents
- Application information
- Plans
- Uploaded project documents
- Discipline-specific supporting materials required by LCG reviewers
- Building code
- Louisiana State Uniform Construction Code, administered locally by LCG Permitting and Codes.
- Contractor requirements
- LCG publishes local contractor registration fees for air conditioning, electrical, gas fitter, plumbing, pool, and irrigation. Louisiana State Licensing Board requirements still apply where triggered.
Fees
- Minimum permit fee
- Residential minimum $35.00; Commercial minimum $100.00
- Plan check fee
- Residential plan review $50.00; commercial plan review $10.00 per sheet with a $100.00 minimum.
- Permit fee formula
- Residential permits: $3.50 per $1,000 fair market value with $35.00 minimum. Commercial permits: $5.00 per $1,000 fair market value with $100.00 minimum.
- Reinspection fee
- Building reinspection $50.00; extra or partial inspection $25.00; overtime inspection $50.00 per hour.
- Penalty (no permit)
- No-permit fee is double fee.
- Payment note
- MGO confirms online payment capability. Public fee schedule does not post separate card-processing rules.
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the Lafayette Consolidated Government Community Development and Planning, Permitting and Codes to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- MGO Connect (online)
Typical inspection sequence: Permit issuance, phased inspections by applicable discipline, and final approval.
Additional Resources
- Building code: Louisiana State Uniform Construction Code, administered locally by LCG Permitting and Codes.
- Zoning information: View zoning info
- LCG Development Roundtable (process and coordination updates)
- LCG Fee Schedule
- License lookup guide: Louisiana Contractor License Requirements
- Contract template: Louisiana Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
- Louisiana hub: Louisiana Contractor License & Permit Hub
Information on this page was last verified: March 2026. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with the Lafayette Consolidated Government Community Development and Planning, Permitting and Codes before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Lafayette Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in Lafayette, LA?
- A permit is required for residential and commercial new construction, renovation, addition, demolition, signs, house moving, floodplain development, mobile homes, and trade work including electrical, plumbing, and mechanical.
- How much does a building permit cost in Lafayette, LA?
- The minimum permit fee is Residential minimum $35.00; Commercial minimum $100.00. Fees are calculated as: Residential permits: $3.50 per $1,000 fair market value with $35.00 minimum. Commercial permits: $5.00 per $1,000 fair market value with $100.00 minimum.. Plan check fee: Residential plan review $50.00; commercial plan review $10.00 per sheet with a $100.00 minimum..
- How do I apply for a building permit in Lafayette, LA?
- 1. Create an MGO Connect customer account, or contact Permitting and Codes for in-person filing assistance. 2. Start the permit application in MGO and select the applicable permit type. 3. Upload plans and supporting documents, including any floodplain, drainage, utility, fire, or zoning-related materials required for the project. 4. LCG routes the application for review by the relevant development team disciplines. 5. Pay permit fees through the process once invoiced or prompted by the system. 6. Print the issued permit from MGO, perform the work, and request inspections through the portal.
- How do I schedule a building inspection in Lafayette, LA?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: MGO Connect.
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