Building permits for work inside Bogalusa are issued by the Washington Parish Department of Building & Permitting, 203 11th Avenue, Franklinton (985-839-5456), not by City Hall. The City’s Public Works Department only confirms that a project meets Bogalusa zoning and identifies its flood zone, and it issues fence permits itself. On the parish fee sheet a new house costs $0.55 per square foot under beam, which includes plan review.
What needs a permit in Bogalusa?
Because the parish permits construction in the city, its permit list is the one that applies to a Bogalusa job. The parish publishes requirements for:
Parish building permits
- New houses, additions and renovations
- Commercial buildings, additions and improvements
- Detached sheds, carports and portable buildings over 200 sq ft
- Mobile homes, swimming pools, generators and rooftop solar
- Roofing, electrical and (for commercial jobs) plumbing and HVAC trade permits
- Demolition, house moving, signs and towers
City of Bogalusa
- Fence permits, at City Public Works
- Sign permits for non-profit groups, on public property only
- Zoning check and flood zone determination for parish-permitted projects
No parish fee
- Homeowner small jobs of 200 sq ft or less
- Fences 7 feet tall or less (a Bogalusa fence still needs the City permit)
- Painting, wallpapering, tiling, carpeting, countertops and playground equipment
- Agricultural structures, with IRS Schedule F or an affidavit
Roofs and sheds
- The parish has its own roofing permit application, in line with R.S. 37:3737(I) (Act 881 of 2026), which makes permitting bodies permit and inspect roofing. Parish Ordinance 25-774 (on the Parish Council’s November 3, 2025 agenda for adoption) covers roofing work anywhere in Washington Parish: a permit is needed for home roofing work worth $7,500 or more and for all commercial roofing, other than on new construction, with inspections after the decking or structural work and after the final roof is installed.
- State law (R.S. 37:3738) keeps a city or parish from enforcing the code on a detached residential accessory structure of 200 sq ft or less, except in hurricane-prone regions with a design wind speed of 130 mph or more.
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Get a free quote →Who handles permits for a Bogalusa address?
The City’s Public Works page states that the parish handles all building permits. The City’s part is limited to confirming zoning and the flood zone for the site, issuing fence permits and issuing sign permits for non-profit organizations on public property. Bogalusa’s Code of Ordinances still carries older City building-permit sections, but the City directs builders to the Washington Parish permit office.
| Office | Contact |
|---|---|
| Washington Parish Department of Building & Permitting (building, roofing, trade permits) | 203 11th Avenue, Suite 1, Franklinton, LA 70438; 985-839-5456; fax 985-839-5453 |
| Bogalusa Public Works (fences, zoning and flood zone check) | 985-732-6213 |
| Bogalusa City Hall | 214 Arkansas Avenue, Bogalusa, LA 70427; 985-732-6200; Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
Electrical, plumbing, HVAC and roofing permits
The parish permit office also handles trade work. It posts an electrical application and a roofing application, and a separate trade permit application for commercial electrical, HVAC and plumbing jobs that asks for the service size, unit tonnage or sewer type. A commercial trade permit costs $50 for each specialty; on a new house the parish building application lists the electrical, plumbing, mechanical and gas subcontractors with their licence numbers.
Every building contractor and tradesman working in the parish registers with the Building Department each year: registration runs from January 1 to December 31, costs $50 and needs copies of the state licence and the liability and workers’ compensation insurance certificates.
Permit fees for a Bogalusa project
Washington Parish charges by the square foot under its Permit Fee Sheet, last revised by Ordinance 22-705 on February 14, 2022. The rates for a new house and a new commercial building include a $0.25 per sq ft administrative fee that covers the application, scheduling and plan review, and each required inspection includes one visit.
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →| Project | Parish fee |
|---|---|
| New house | $0.55 per sq ft under beam |
| Residential addition or renovation (garage, covered porch, deck, pool area) | $0.40 per sq ft |
| Detached shed, carport or portable building over 200 sq ft | $0.20 per sq ft |
| Residential solar / generator | $250 / $150 per residence |
| New commercial building | $0.75 per sq ft under beam |
| Commercial addition | $0.60 per sq ft |
| Commercial improvement | $100 plus 1% of contract value |
| Commercial trade permit | $50 per specialty |
| Demolition | $75 up to 1,000 sq ft; $150 above |
| Extra inspection visits (re-inspections) | $50 each |
| Fence over 7 feet tall | $50 per lot |
| Home roofing work worth $7,500 or more (Ordinance 25-774) | 1% of the contract value |
| Commercial roofing work (Ordinance 25-774) | $100 plus 1% of the contract value |
| Starting work without a valid permit | $200 (201–1,500 sq ft) or $400 (over 1,500 sq ft) per violation |
For example, a 2,000 sq ft house under beam pays a parish permit fee of $1,100. Parish permit fees are non-refundable and non-transferable. The City’s fence permit fee is set separately in the Bogalusa City Code at $30.
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Call 1-855-478-4290 →Documents the parish asks for
New house
- Completed permit application
- 911 address from the parish 911 office
- Septic or sanitation letter from the Health Unit, 1104 Bene Street, Franklinton
- Two sets of plans on 11x17 paper or larger, with site, foundation, floor, roof and elevation plans
- Proof of ownership
- Elevation certificate if the site is in a flood zone
- REScheck energy report to the 2021 IECC
- LSLBC notarized affidavit if the homeowner acts as builder
Commercial
- Licensed commercial contractor
- State Fire Marshal approval letter and plans
- Health Department approval
- Copy of the construction contract
- Application, 911 address and sanitation letter
- Two sets of plans including the site plan
- Proof of ownership and, in a flood zone, an elevation certificate
The site plan must show every property line and the distance from each structure to it. One approved set of plans comes back and must be kept on the job site for inspections. A shed, carport or portable building needs the application, the deed (plus a notarized permission letter if the land is not in your name), the sales agreement with specs and plans, and it must be anchored before the electrical inspection; portable buildings are anchored at least every 10 feet.
How to get a building permit for a Bogalusa property
Bogalusa Public Works confirms the project meets City zoning and identifies the flood zone.
Both are listed by the parish as the first steps before a house permit.
Builders and tradesmen register with the parish Building Department for the calendar year ($50).
File online through MyGovernmentOnline or at 203 11th Avenue, Franklinton, with two sets of plans and the other documents.
The permit becomes void if work does not start within 180 days of issue, or stops for 180 days.
Keep the approved plans on site for every inspection through the final.
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The parish Building Department inspects parish-permitted work, and its residential bulletin sets the sequence: base flood elevation (a marked story pole, certified by a design professional), temporary pole, pre-pour plumbing with a 10-foot stack pressure test, pre-pour footings and foundation, masonry ties before brick, rough-in framing, electrical, plumbing and mechanical, insulation, and a final that includes final grading, ditches and culverts.
The bulletin lists minimum insulation of R-13 in walls, R-38 in ceilings, R-8 on ducts and R-13 in floors. Each inspection includes one visit; extra visits cost $50 each. The City inspects a finished fence before issuing its certificate of compliance.
Local Bogalusa details
Fences: under City Code section 6-277 no fence may go up without a permit and the approval of the City’s Building Official/Code Enforcement Officer. The application needs a site plan showing the fence location and materials and a $30 fee; the permit lasts six months and is void if work has not started within 180 days.
Flood zone: the City identifies the flood zone during its review. Bogalusa’s flood ordinance requires the lowest floor of new and substantially improved homes to be at or above the base flood elevation, and the parish asks for an elevation certificate whenever a site is in a flood zone.
Commercial facades: Bogalusa’s commercial facade standards are applied by its planning and zoning board, and the City Code recommends sending the plans to the City’s Building Official and the parish inspector as well, so their comments reach the board.
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →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 resources for Bogalusa permits
- City of Bogalusa Public Works: permits, code enforcement and contacts
- Washington Parish building permits page and forms
- Washington Parish permit fee sheet (Ordinance 22-705)
- Washington Parish building permit application
- Parish permitting procedure for a single-family residence
- Parish permitting procedure for commercial projects
- Parish requirements for detached sheds, carports and portable buildings
- Parish roofing permit application
- Parish trade permit application (commercial)
- Parish contractor and tradesman registration form
- Bogalusa City Code chapter 6, buildings and fences
- HB 1186 enrolled (Act 881 of 2026): R.S. 37:3737 and 37:3738
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Bogalusa permit FAQs
Does the City of Bogalusa issue building permits?
No. The City says Washington Parish handles all building permits. Apply to the parish Department of Building & Permitting in Franklinton (985-839-5456); the City only checks zoning and the flood zone.
How much is a building permit for a new house in Bogalusa?
The parish charges $0.55 per square foot under beam, including plan review, so a 2,000 sq ft house pays $1,100.
Do I need a permit for a fence?
Yes, from the City. Bogalusa’s fence permit costs $30 and needs a site plan showing the location and materials.
Can I apply online?
Yes. The parish takes permit applications through MyGovernmentOnline, or in person at 203 11th Avenue in Franklinton.
Can a homeowner pull the permit?
A homeowner acting as general contractor files the state licensing board’s notarized affidavit claiming exemption with the parish application.
Do I need a permit for a small shed?
The parish fee sheet charges $0.20 per sq ft for sheds and portable buildings over 200 sq ft and lists homeowner jobs of 200 sq ft or less as fee-exempt.
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More Louisiana permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Bogalusa permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.