County Building Permits
St. James Parish, LA - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated St. James Parish, Louisiana. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
Unincorporated areas of St. James Parish, including Convent.
- Department
- Planning and Permitting Office, Department of Operations
- Address
- 5800 Highway 44, 3rd Floor of the Courthouse, Convent, LA 70723; alternate office: 2631 Highway 20, Vacherie Courthouse Annex, Vacherie, LA 70090
- Phone
- 225-562-2500
Online Permit Portal
Platform: MyGovernmentOnline • Account required: No • Submission: In-person only
Additional resources:
Application Process
- Determine whether the work requires a permit (required before new home construction, movement of a new mobile home, new building construction, commercial construction or renovation, or floodplain development).
- Gather the applicable parish application packet and supporting documents.
- For residential projects, submit proof of ownership, LaDHH approval where required, SCP&D plans, engineered site plan, levee board letter if required, and elevation certificate if required.
- For commercial projects, submit proof of ownership or notarized owner letter, LaDHH approval, State Fire Marshal approval, SCP&D plans for plan review, levee board letter if required, and elevation certificate if required.
- Submit the application in person, by pickup/drop-off at the office, or online through MyGovernmentOnline.
- Pay all permit fees when plans are submitted.
- Obtain required levee, floodplain, fire marshal, and/or health approvals where applicable.
- Receive permit approval and proceed with construction only after permit issuance.
Source: Planning and Permitting Office, Department of Operations
General Requirements
A permit is required for new home construction, movement of a new mobile home within the parish, new building construction, commercial construction or renovation, floodplain development, and related development such as culvert installations.
Required Documents
- Proof of ownership
- LaDHH approval where required
- Plans for SCP&D submittal
- Engineered site plan
- Levee board letter where required
- Elevation certificate where required
- Proof of ownership or notarized owner letter (commercial projects)
- State Fire Marshal approval where required
- Contractor registration and/or state license information for some permits
- Electrical diagram, site plan, utility information, and servitude documents when project-specific
- Building code
- Based on the International Building Code (IBC) framework.
- Contractor requirements
- Parish packets require contractor registration and state license information for some permit types. State contractor licensing is governed by the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors.
Fees
- Minimum permit fee
- Residential new construction: $0.45/sq ft; Residential addition: $0.45/sq ft; Residential accessory construction: $0.23/sq ft with $75 minimum and $500 maximum; Residential renovation: $25–$200 depending on cost; Commercial construction: $0.50/sq ft with $500 minimum; Commercial generator: $1,000; Residential generator: $200; Home relocation: $250
- Permit fee formula
- See permit type formulas above. Residential and commercial schedules are published in parish packets.
- Payment note
- Permit fees are required at plans submission; permits state that permit fees are non-refundable.
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the Planning and Permitting Office, Department of Operations to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- Planning and Permitting office staff and field inspection staff (in-person)
- Parish permit/contact phone (phone)
- Inspection hours
- Monday through Thursday 7:30 AM - 4:30 PM; Friday 7:30 AM - 11:30 AM (citizen service center hours).
Typical inspection sequence: Submit application and plans, pay fees, obtain required levee/floodplain/fire marshal/health approvals, then receive permit approval; under construction and completion steps include required certificates or releases where applicable.
Additional Resources
- Building code: Based on the International Building Code (IBC) framework.
- Verify contractor license: Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors
- Zoning information: View zoning info
- Planning and Permitting Office
- Floodplain Development Permits and Regulations
- Property Protection & Flood Hazards
- Planning Commission
- Citizen Service Center
- 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 Planning and Permitting Office, Department of Operations before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
St. James Parish Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in unincorporated St. James Parish, LA?
- A permit is required for new home construction, movement of a new mobile home within the parish, new building construction, commercial construction or renovation, floodplain development, and related development such as culvert installations.
- How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated St. James Parish, LA?
- The minimum permit fee is Residential new construction: $0.45/sq ft; Residential addition: $0.45/sq ft; Residential accessory construction: $0.23/sq ft with $75 minimum and $500 maximum; Residential renovation: $25–$200 depending on cost; Commercial construction: $0.50/sq ft with $500 minimum; Commercial generator: $1,000; Residential generator: $200; Home relocation: $250. Fees are calculated as: See permit type formulas above. Residential and commercial schedules are published in parish packets..
- How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated St. James Parish, LA?
- 1. Determine whether the work requires a permit (required before new home construction, movement of a new mobile home, new building construction, commercial construction or renovation, or floodplain development). 2. Gather the applicable parish application packet and supporting documents. 3. For residential projects, submit proof of ownership, LaDHH approval where required, SCP&D plans, engineered site plan, levee board letter if required, and elevation certificate if required. 4. For commercial projects, submit proof of ownership or notarized owner letter, LaDHH approval, State Fire Marshal approval, SCP&D plans for plan review, levee board letter if required, and elevation certificate if required. 5. Submit the application in person, by pickup/drop-off at the office, or online through MyGovernmentOnline. 6. Pay all permit fees when plans are submitted. 7. Obtain required levee, floodplain, fire marshal, and/or health approvals where applicable. 8. Receive permit approval and proceed with construction only after permit issuance.
- How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated St. James Parish, LA?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: Planning and Permitting office staff and field inspection staff, Parish permit/contact phone.
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