Covington, Louisiana Building Permit Guide

The City of Covington’s Building Permit Department issues building permits for property inside city limits, and its Building Official reviews the plans and inspects the work. Under the fee schedule adopted in February 2026, a house is charged $0.25 per square foot plus $75 for each inspection, and every inspection has to be booked one business day in advance.

What needs a permit in Covington?

City Code section 18-51 requires a permit from the Building Official before anyone builds, enlarges, alters, repairs, moves or demolishes a building, changes its occupancy, or installs or replaces an electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system. The City publishes a separate checklist for each common job:

Who issues building permits in Covington?

The Building Permit Department receives applications, and under the City Code the Building Official is the only person who issues building permits and makes permit inspections. Chris Brown, CBO, CFM, holds that post and is also the City’s Floodplain Administrator. A separate code enforcement officer handles violations (985-898-4738).

The City permits only land inside Covington. Unincorporated land around the city is permitted by the St. Tammany Parish Department of Permits & Inspections, so check which side of the city line the parcel sits on before you apply.

Electrical, plumbing, mechanical and gas work in Covington

Trade work falls under the same permit rule as building work: section 18-51 lists electrical, gas, mechanical and plumbing systems, and the City’s building permit application asks for the electrical, mechanical and plumbing contractors and their licence numbers. The City does not publish a separate trade fee; its fee section applies one schedule to buildings and their electrical, gas, mechanical and plumbing systems.

Covington requires a state licence for every general contractor and subcontractor in every trade, with no minimum contract amount (section 18-52). The only exemption is general-contracting work a person does on their own primary residence, and the checklists ask for a notarized licence exemption sheet in that case.

Commercial life safety and accessibility codes are handled by the Office of the State Fire Marshal, and the City asks for the Fire Marshal’s review letter before it issues a commercial permit.

Covington permit fees

Fees are set in City Code section 18-102, rewritten by Ordinance 2026-05, which the City Council approved on February 3, 2026. The City’s July 2026 residential checklists quote the same $0.25 and $75 rates.

On a commercial job the City Engineer’s plan review fee and an administrative charge of 4% of the permit fee are added to the valuation-based permit fee. If work starts before the permit is issued, the fees are doubled.

For example, a new 2,000 sq ft house carries a $500 building permit fee, plus $75 for each inspection the Building Official requires. Any engineering or plan review charges must be paid before the Certificate of Occupancy is granted.

What to submit with a Covington application

Bring every item on the checklist when you apply. Plans go in as one full stamped set in PDF form, prepared by a design professional licensed in Louisiana. Where the work does not need a design professional, the Building Official may waive full construction documents, and the renovation checklist asks for stamped plans only when a major renovation is not built to a prescriptive code.

Every new home and commercial building also needs two surveys during construction: a form spot survey before the pre-pour inspection and an as-built survey, with photos, before the final inspection. The City will not issue the Certificate of Occupancy until the as-built survey is on file. All job sites must have a concrete containment area.

Commercial plans are reviewed by the City’s commercial inspector and the City Engineer, and a sign needs approval from the City Planner.

How to get a Covington building permit: 6 steps

Covington inspections

The City inspects between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, and each inspection must be requested at least one business day in advance; the permit office is on 985-898-4725. Every inspection costs $75, and a failed inspection adds a $100 reinspection fee that must be paid before the next visit is scheduled.

City Code section 18-91 lists the inspections in order: foundation (before concrete is placed), rough plumbing, mechanical, gas and electrical before anything is covered, framing and masonry after the roughs pass, fire-rated wall inspections where required, and a final inspection before occupancy. Work may not continue past an inspection point until it is approved.

A Certificate of Occupancy is required before a building is used, except for accessory buildings. In a flood zone the Elevation Certificate is part of the permit record and has to be submitted before the building can be occupied.

Local Covington rules that affect a permit

Flood elevation: Covington’s flood rules go beyond the federal minimum for new buildings, which must be elevated at least 1 foot above the base flood elevation. Additions and substantial improvements, meaning work costing 50% or more of the building’s market value, must be raised to the base flood elevation. Project applications must also show the existing and proposed drainage on the lot.

Trees and live oaks: removing any tree larger than 6 inches DBH needs a $75 tree permit, which can be filed online. Live oaks from 6 to 60 inches DBH need a permit, live oaks over 60 inches must be preserved, and live oaks of 6 inches or more must be protected during clearing and construction. Tree permits expire after 180 days.

Fences: a fence permit costs $75 and needs a drawing with heights, property lines, buildings and gate locations; non-residential properties also need the owner’s authorization.

Pools: the pool checklist asks for the contract showing cost and scope, a cross-section drawing, fence and gate locations, a statement verifying alarms on back doors and windows, and a copy of the fence permit where one applies.

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 Covington permit resources

Official City pages and documents used for this guide:

• Covington Building Permits page: forms, checklists, codes and inspection hours
• Covington City Code chapter 18, fees (section 18-102, Ordinance 2026-05)
• Covington building permit application
• Residential new construction checklist (July 2026)
• Residential accessory building checklist (July 2026)
• Commercial new construction checklist
• Swimming pool checklist (July 2026)
• Fence permit application
• Tree removal or trimming application
• Covington flood information and elevation rules
• HB 1186 enrolled (Act 881 of 2026): R.S. 37:3737 and 37:3738
• Louisiana Department of Health onsite wastewater program
• Louisiana State Fire Marshal plan review codes and rules

Covington building permit FAQs

Who issues building permits in Covington?

The City of Covington Building Permit Department at 317 N. Jefferson Avenue (985-898-4725). Building Official Chris Brown issues the permits and makes the inspections. Land outside the city limits is permitted by St. Tammany Parish.

How much is a building permit for a new house in Covington?

$0.25 per square foot of building area plus $75 for each inspection. A 2,000 sq ft house comes to $500 before inspections; a failed inspection adds $100.

Can I apply online?

Only tree permits are filed online through MGO Connect so far. Every other permit uses the City’s application and checklist, submitted to the permit office.

Can a homeowner pull the permit?

Only for general-contracting work on your own primary residence, with a notarized licence exemption. Every trade subcontractor still has to hold a state licence, whatever the job size.

Do I need a permit for a fence or to cut down a tree?

Yes. A fence permit and a tree permit each cost $75. A tree permit is needed for any tree over 6 inches DBH, and live oaks over 60 inches DBH may not be removed.

How high do I have to build in a flood zone?

A new building must be at least 1 foot above the base flood elevation. Additions and substantial improvements must reach the base flood elevation, and an Elevation Certificate is needed before occupancy.

How do I book an inspection?

Request it at least one business day ahead; questions go to the permit office at 985-898-4725. Inspections run from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays.

Simplify Covington 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 Covington permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.