Bienville Parish, Louisiana Building Permit Guide

In Bienville Parish, building permits outside the towns are issued by the Bienville Parish Police Jury, 100 Courthouse Drive, Suite 2100, Arcadia (318-263-2019). Every permit needs a 911 address first. Electrical permits cost $100 and mobile home permits $225, while new houses and commercial buildings are priced by square footage, and permits can be bought over the phone by debit or credit card or in person.

What needs a permit in Bienville Parish?

The Police Jury’s building permit information sheet lists four kinds of permit:

• Electrical permits for camps, campers and RVs, barns, sheds, a change of service, solar panels, reconnection after damage or an upgrade, and reconnection after the power has been off for an extended period.
• Mobile home permits for all mobile homes.
• New residential construction, with plans submitted to the Police Jury.
• Commercial construction, with plans stamped by the Fire Marshal.

The sheet says the permits are required by state law and cover inspections of several systems during construction, including electrical, plumbing and the foundation.

Who issues building permits in Bienville Parish?

The Police Jury, the parish’s governing body, issues permits for unincorporated land from its office at 100 Courthouse Drive, Suite 2100, Arcadia, which is also the Secretary-Treasurer’s office (phone 318-263-2019, fax 318-263-7404). For permits and the inspections they include, the sheet’s contact is the Police Jury office, 318-263-2019.

Towns and villages

Bienville Parish has ten incorporated places. The Police Jury’s sheet splits them into two groups:

For an address inside Arcadia, Castor, Ringgold or Gibsland, the town hall handles the permit. For the other six, the Police Jury states that building permits are not enforced and that the owner should contact the mayor of that town or village.

Bienville Parish permit fees

The square-footage rate for new houses and commercial buildings is not printed on the sheet. Fees can be paid over the phone by debit or credit card, or in person with any form of payment.

What you need before applying

• A 911 address. No permit is issued without one. Addresses are assigned by the parish E911 office, and it helps to know the name of the nearest street and your nearest neighbors.
• Plans for a new house, delivered to the Police Jury office or sent by email as the sheet describes.
• Plans stamped by the Fire Marshal for commercial construction.

How to get a Bienville Parish permit

Local Bienville Parish details

Heavy loads: the Police Jury also issues heavy load permits, posted next to the building permit sheet on its website.

Louisiana building code

Every Louisiana parish and municipality enforces the state’s Uniform Construction Code (R.S. 37:3737), adopted by the Louisiana Uniform Construction Code Commission: the 2021 International Codes with Louisiana amendments, in force since 1 January 2023, and the 2020 National Electrical Code, with the 2024 codes taking effect on 1 January 2027. A local government may set more stringent requirements only with the Commission’s approval, and the State Fire Marshal reviews plans for fire and life safety on all but one- and two-family dwellings. How the LSUCC works

Official Bienville Parish permit resources

• Bienville Parish Police Jury building permit information sheet
• Bienville Parish Police Jury and Secretary-Treasurer contact
• Bienville Parish How Do I? (911 address assignment)
• Louisiana Local Government: Bienville Parish towns and villages
• Louisiana Department of Health onsite wastewater program
• Louisiana State Fire Marshal review codes and rules
• Louisiana contractor licensing threshold statute, R.S. 37:2150.1
• Louisiana code editions and state amendments, May 20, 2026

Bienville Parish permit FAQs

Who issues building permits in Bienville Parish?

The Bienville Parish Police Jury, 100 Courthouse Drive, Suite 2100, Arcadia (318-263-2019), outside the towns. Arcadia, Castor, Gibsland and Ringgold handle permits at their own town halls.

How much is an electrical permit in Bienville Parish?

$100, for camps, campers, RVs, barns, sheds, service changes, solar panels and reconnections.

How much is a mobile home permit?

$225 for any mobile home.

How much does a permit for a new house cost?

It depends on the square footage; the Police Jury does not publish the rate, so call 318-263-2019 with the size of the house.

Can I get a permit over the phone?

Yes. The Police Jury issues permits over the phone when you pay by debit or credit card, or in person with any form of payment.

Do I need a 911 address first?

Yes. No permit of any kind is issued until the property has a 911 address from the parish E911 office.

Simplify Bienville Parish permitting with Alliance Permitting

Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company in Louisiana. We prepare your paperwork, file it correctly and coordinate with the permitting authority through issuance. We are not a contractor and we do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your licensed team and the jurisdiction.

This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Bienville Parish permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.