Covington, LA — 2026 Building Permit Guide

On this page 6

§ 01

Permit authority

City of Covington Building Permits Office, within Planning and Zoning

Street address

317 N Jefferson Avenue, Covington, LA 70433; mailing address P.O. Box 778, Covington, LA 70434

Phone

985-898-4725

lmatherne@covla.com

Coverage

Covers properties inside the City of Covington. Unincorporated areas are handled by St. Tammany Parish.

Online portal

City of Covington Planning and Zoning

Department-based

Additional resources

Residential New Construction Checklist ↗

§ 02

When a permit is required

Permit triggers and exempt work for Covington

City checklist requires a permit for residential new construction and related site, drainage, utility, and trade work before construction starts.

Note: No consolidated exempt-work list was clearly posted. Confirm any claimed exemption with the Building Permits Office before starting work.

Required documents

Completed application
Cash sale document showing ownership
State contractor license or notarized license exemption sheet
Flood documentation
Drainage plan
Stamped survey
Plot plan with setbacks
Stamped plans in PDF
Sewer and water determination
Certificate of Appropriateness if in the Historic District
Right of way application
Energy code compliance documentation such as REScheck or EnergyStar
Manual J report
Tree plot plan where applicable

Building code: All plans must meet current state building codes and show design criteria including wind speed and exposure. A city-specific public adoption ordinance with the exact edition was not clearly surfaced.
Owner-builder: The checklist references a notarized state license exemption sheet in lieu of a state contractor license where applicable.
Contractor requirements: The checklist states all general contractors and subcontractors must be state licensed unless an exemption sheet applies.

Source: City of Covington Building Permits Office, within Planning and Zoning ↗

§ 03

Application process

Typical processing: No universal issuance turnaround was clearly posted. Inspection requests should be called in one business day ahead.

01

Confirm zoning, flood zone, setbacks, and whether the property is in the Historic District.
02

Complete the permit application and assemble ownership proof, survey, drainage documents, plot plan, and one full stamped plan set in PDF.
03

Submit the application packet to the Building Permits Office. The Planning and Zoning page states incomplete applications are not accepted.
04

Pay permit and inspection fees. The residential new construction checklist lists the permit fee and inspection charges.
05

Provide the form spot survey before pre-pour inspection and the as-built survey before final inspection and certificate of occupancy.
06

Schedule required inspections. The city states inspection requests should be called in one business day ahead and permit cards should be posted in the front window.

Typical processing time: No universal issuance turnaround was clearly posted. Inspection requests should be called in one business day ahead.

Source: City of Covington Building Permits Office, within Planning and Zoning ↗

§ 04

Fee schedule

Covington building permit fees

Fee type

Amount

Minimum permit fee

Public checklist reviewed does not state a separate minimum permit fee.

Plan check fee

Any additional engineering or plan review fee must be paid before certificate of occupancy, but the public checklist does not publish a standard plan review formula.

Permit fee formula

Residential new construction checklist lists permit fee at $0.25 per square foot.

Reinspection fee

Reinspection fee is $100 each time per failed inspection according to the March 21, 2024 checklist. The department page also states that effective February 18, 2026 all inspections increased to $75 each.

Public-facing sources reviewed do not clearly post card-processing or online payment rules.

Fees change periodically. Confirm at the official fee schedule ↗ before budgeting.

§ 05

Required inspections

Scheduling and sequence

How to schedule

985-898-4725 (phone)

Scheduling deadline: Inspection requests should be called in one business day ahead.

Typical sequence: Form spot survey before pre-pour inspection; pre-pour inspection; as-built survey and project photos before final inspection; final inspection before certificate of occupancy.

Source: City of Covington Building Permits Office, within Planning and Zoning ↗

§ 06

Frequently asked

Common questions about Covington permits

01 Do I need a building permit in Covington, LA? ▸

City checklist requires a permit for residential new construction and related site, drainage, utility, and trade work before construction starts.

02 How much does a building permit cost in Covington, LA? ▸

Building permit fees in Covington, LA are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. The minimum permit fee is Public checklist reviewed does not state a separate minimum permit fee.. Fees are calculated as: Residential new construction checklist lists permit fee at $0.25 per square foot.. Plan check fee: Any additional engineering or plan review fee must be paid before certificate of occupancy, but the public checklist does not publish a standard plan review formula..

03 How do I apply for a building permit in Covington, LA? ▸

To apply for a building permit in Covington, LA, follow these steps: 1. Confirm zoning, flood zone, setbacks, and whether the property is in the Historic District. 2. Complete the permit application and assemble ownership proof, survey, drainage documents, plot plan, and one full stamped plan set in PDF. 3. Submit the application packet to the Building Permits Office. The Planning and Zoning page states incomplete applications are not accepted. 4. Pay permit and inspection fees. The residential new construction checklist lists the permit fee and inspection charges. 5. Provide the form spot survey before pre-pour inspection and the as-built survey before final inspection and certificate of occupancy. 6. Schedule required inspections. The city states inspection requests should be called in one business day ahead and permit cards should be posted in the front window.

04 How long does it take to get a building permit in Covington, LA? ▸

Building permit processing times in Covington, LA typically run No universal issuance turnaround was clearly posted. Inspection requests should be called in one business day ahead.. Timelines can vary based on project complexity and current department workload.

05 How do I schedule a building inspection in Covington, LA? ▸

Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in Covington, LA via: 985-898-4725. Inspection requests should be called in one business day ahead..

last verified April 2026 source City of Covington Building Permits Office, within Planning and Zoning ↗ entry id permits/louisiana/st-tammany/covington

Report a correction

Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with City of Covington Building Permits Office, within Planning and Zoning before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.

City of Covington

Other jurisdictions in St. Tammany Parish.