Jefferson Davis Parish, Louisiana Building Permit Guide

In Jefferson Davis Parish, building permits for unincorporated land come from the Police Jury’s Permit Department in Jennings (337-824-6290, permits@jdppj.net), and Building Code Inspection Services (BCIS) of Carencro does all of the parish’s inspections. A house is charged $3.50 per $1,000 of value, with a $250 minimum and a $100 plan review fee, under the schedule in force since May 1, 2025.

What needs a permit in Jefferson Davis Parish?

The Police Jury’s answer is broad: anyone planning any type of construction, adding on or remodeling, or moving a manufactured home or other structure onto their property needs a permit. The Permit Department publishes separate instructions for:

Storage buildings over 500 sq ft need plan review and inspections. Shop houses, barndominiums and storage buildings need engineered, stamped plans unless the plan reviewer accepts other drawings. The parish also posts a farmer affidavit form. State law (R.S. 37:3737(I), as re-enacted by Act 881 of 2026) requires a parish that issues permits to permit and inspect roof construction and reroofing. State law (R.S. 37:3738) bars parishes from enforcing the building code on farm structures and on detached residential accessory structures of 200 sq ft or less, unless the accessory structure stands in a hurricane-prone region with a design wind speed of 130 mph or more.

Who issues building permits in Jefferson Davis Parish?

The Police Jury’s Permit Department issues building, electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits. Its permits page says permits are obtained at 321 East Plaquemine Street, on the north side of the courthouse, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on weekdays; the Permit Department’s forms and the Police Jury’s contact page give 304 North State Street (PO Box 1409), Jennings, LA 70546. Questions and applications can also go to permits@jdppj.net.

Building Code Inspection Services, LLC (337-886-6069) provides all inspections for the parish and reviews plans. The parish follows the National Electrical Code, the Louisiana State Plumbing Code, the International Residential Code, the International Building Code for commercial work, and the International Mechanical and Fuel Gas Codes, together with its Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance and Coastal Zone Program.

Towns in Jefferson Davis Parish

• Jennings: the City Inspector receives plans and issues all building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, moving and demolition permits inside the city: 110 North Broadway, 337-821-5500.
• Elton and Lake Arthur: the parish’s permit instructions cover property inside these towns’ city limits and first ask for a letter from the town clerk confirming the zoning and flood zone and that the town will provide water and sewer. Lake Arthur’s own code says its building rules are enforced by a building inspector the Police Jury provides under a contract with the town, and requires a manufactured home to be permitted by both the town and the parish, with the town pre-approving the placement before the parish reviews and inspects it.
• Welsh: the town code (2023) requires a permit from the Town of Welsh Building Official, who enforces the state code inside the town; permit and inspection fees are set by the Town Council. Town Hall: 337-734-2231.
• Fenton: the published sources do not say who issues building permits; ask the village hall (337-756-2321).

Jefferson Davis Parish permit fees

The Police Jury’s Building Permit Fee Schedule took effect on May 1, 2025. Fees are paid by personal check or money order; the residential application also accepts PayPal with a 4% processing fee. Each plan review is sold separately.

The ICC rate shown is the schedule’s own example using 2023 data, and the schedule says the most current year applies. Using that example, if the owner’s declared value is lower, a 2,000 sq ft house is valued at $291,220, so the permit fee is about $1,019, plus $100 for plan review and the trade permits. The mobile home instructions charge $300 to permit a manufactured home, while the fee schedule lists movable and modular homes at $250, so ask the Permit Department which applies.

Electrical, plumbing and A/C permits

Each trade buys its own permit through the Permit Department. Under the BCIS renovation instructions, work can proceed once the contractor, electrician, plumber and HVAC installer have each bought their permit, and each must call in the inspections for its own work.

What to bring

How to get a Jefferson Davis Parish permit

Inspections

For a house, the parish lists rough-in inspections (plumbing, slab and temporary pole), open-wall inspections (building, plumbing, mechanical and electrical), a temporary-to-permanent power inspection and finals for all four. BCIS adds a pre-slab inspection before any concrete is poured, an open-wall call before insulation or sheathing goes on, an electrical service inspection when the system is ready to be energized, and a final before moving in. A mobile home is inspected for electrical, plumbing, the sewer system and set-up.

Re-inspections, extra inspections, overtime inspections and site consultations cost $75 each and are paid directly to BCIS; an inspection out of town costs $150.

Local Jefferson Davis Parish details

Flood elevation: the parish’s permit page states that since August 1, 2023 all new construction in a special flood hazard area, including a moved building or mobile home, must have its lowest floor at least 1 foot above the base flood elevation.

Mobile homes: a permit is needed before a manufactured home is moved onto a property. The installer must be certified by the Louisiana Manufactured Housing Commission (225-362-5500), and homes installed in the parish must be rated Wind Zone 2.

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 Jefferson Davis Parish permit resources

• Jeff Davis Parish Police Jury Permit Department: forms and FAQs
• Building Permit Fee Schedule, effective May 1, 2025
• Residential permit instructions
• Residential permit application
• Commercial permit instructions
• Mobile home permit instructions
• Sheds and outbuildings: storage building requirements
• BCIS renovation permit requirements
• Home owners affidavit claiming exemption from licensure
• Police Jury minutes, August 12, 2026 (online permitting software)
• Police Jury agenda, October 14, 2026 (tiny home ordinance)
• City of Jennings City Inspector
• Town of Lake Arthur Code, Chapter 11: buildings and manufactured homes
• Town of Welsh Code, Chapter 7: building permits and building official
• Louisiana Department of Health onsite wastewater program
• Act 881 of 2026 (HB 1186), including R.S. 37:3738 on exempt structures

Jefferson Davis Parish permit FAQs

Who issues building permits in Jefferson Davis Parish?

The Police Jury’s Permit Department in Jennings (337-824-6290) for unincorporated land, and under its instructions for property in Elton and Lake Arthur with a town clerk’s letter. Jennings and Welsh issue their own permits. Building Code Inspection Services does the inspections.

How much is a building permit for a new house?

$3.50 per $1,000 of the higher of your declared value or the ICC valuation of $145.61 per sq ft under roof, with a $250 minimum, plus $100 for plan review and the trade permits.

Do I need a permit for a shed?

Sheds and outbuildings have their own permit instructions, and storage buildings over 500 sq ft need plan review and inspections; wood and metal storage buildings carry a $250 minimum fee. State law bars parishes from enforcing the building code on detached residential accessory structures of 200 sq ft or less outside 130 mph wind regions.

Can a homeowner pull the permit?

Yes, with a notarized Homeowner Building Affidavit recorded at the Clerk of Court, in place of a contractor’s licence and liability certificate.

How do I pay?

By personal check or money order; the residential application also accepts PayPal with a 4% fee. Re-inspection fees are paid directly to BCIS.

How high must a new house be in a flood zone?

The lowest floor must be at least 1 foot above the base flood elevation.

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