La Salle Parish, Louisiana Building Permit Guide

For unincorporated LaSalle Parish, the parish code makes the Police Jury’s building inspector responsible for enforcing the state construction code and reviewing every permit application for flood risk; the Health Department’s parish directory places the Building Permit Office in Room 13 of the courthouse at 1050 Courthouse Street, Jena (318-992-2101, the Police Jury’s number). Jena and Olla require their own town permits, and Jena charges a $200 residential plan review fee.

What needs a permit in LaSalle Parish?

The parish has adopted the Louisiana State Uniform Construction Code by ordinance, and its building inspector enforces all laws on the construction, alteration, removal and demolition of buildings. Any development in a mapped flood hazard area also needs a floodplain development permit. Building or adding hangars at the Jena or Olla airports goes through a separate review by the Police Jury, which asks for the building size and other details.

State law (R.S. 37:3737(I), re-enacted by Act 881 of 2026) requires every parish and town that issues construction permits to permit and inspect roofing and re-roofing. Under R.S. 37:3738 a parish or a town of 45,000 people or fewer may not enforce the building code on a detached residential accessory structure of 200 sq ft or less, unless it stands in a hurricane-prone region with a design wind speed of 130 mph or more.

Who issues building permits in LaSalle Parish?

LaSalle Parish (15,154 residents, Census 2025 estimate) is governed by a police jury. Its code creates the office of parish building inspector, who reviews permit applications, including plans and specifications, and enforces the construction code; fees are set by Police Jury resolution. Call the Police Jury office (318-992-2101) for the inspector, the current fee and the application. Each town decides its own permits:

Trade work, septic and the 911 address

Electrical, plumbing and mechanical work fall under the same state construction code that the parish building inspector enforces; the parish publishes no separate trade permits or fees. In Jena, permit and inspection fees for the whole job are paid when the approved permit is picked up.

Septic systems are permitted by the Louisiana Department of Health sanitarian at the LaSalle Parish Health Unit, 1673 North 2nd Street, Jena (318-992-4842). The Health Department directory lists the 911 Addressing Office in Room 24E of the courthouse (318-992-7306) and the Assessor in Room 19 (318-992-8256).

Permit fees in LaSalle Parish

Under section 100-3 of the parish Land Development Code, the Police Jury sets permit fees by resolution; the office (318-992-2101) gives the current fee when you apply.

In Jena, a residential applicant pays a $200 plan review fee when the application and drawings are filed, and the permit and inspection fees are due when the approved permit is ready to collect. In Olla the Board of Aldermen sets the permit fee, which is kept on file with the Town Clerk. Urania and Tullos publish no building permit fees.

What to prepare

How to get a building permit in LaSalle Parish

Inspections

In Jena, request inspections at least 24 hours in advance by phone or fax. The inspector leaves an inspection notice and sticker at each visit, you may move to the next stage once it is approved, and after the final inspections the building official signs the certificate of occupancy and sends it to you.

For parish sites, the building inspector reviews each application against the flood rules; under the code the floodplain administrator is the parish president or a designee. Ask the Police Jury office how to book inspections, as the parish publishes no inspection schedule.

Local LaSalle Parish details

Flood rules: new houses and substantially improved houses in a special flood hazard area must have the lowest floor at or above base flood elevation; the parish code sets no extra freeboard.

Airports: anyone leasing space to build or alter a building or hangar at the Jena or Olla airport must first submit the details to the Police Jury, and airport hazard zoning limits building heights near both airports.

Jena’s code (section 8-19) adopts the state construction code inside the town limits; the town’s permit page names the Town Clerk as the contact.

Olla’s code (section 5-1) makes it unlawful to build or remodel any building without a permit from the mayor, and section 5-82 requires a permit to move a mobile home into town, with a color photo of the home on the application.

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 LaSalle Parish permitting resources

• LaSalle Parish Code, chapter 110: building and construction
• LaSalle Parish Code, chapter 115: floods
• Louisiana Department of Health directory of parish offices (LaSalle building permit, 911 and Health Unit)
• Town of Jena building permit requirements
• Town of Olla FAQ: building permits
• Town of Olla Code, chapter 5: buildings
• LSU AgCenter LaSalle Parish page (Police Jury and town hall phones)
• Act 881 of 2026 (roofing permits and the 200 sq ft accessory structure rule)
• 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

LaSalle Parish permit FAQs

Who issues building permits in LaSalle Parish?

Outside the towns, the Police Jury’s building inspector, reached through the Police Jury office at the courthouse in Jena (318-992-2101). Jena and Olla issue their own permits.

How much is a building permit in LaSalle Parish?

The Police Jury sets parish fees by resolution; the office gives the current fee. In Jena, a house permit starts with a $200 plan review fee, and the permit and inspection fees are paid when the permit is issued.

Do I need a permit to build in Jena?

Yes. Jena requires a permit for any construction, additions, remodeling and moving a manufactured home or other structure onto a lot. Contact the Town Clerk at 318-992-2148.

Does Olla require building permits?

Yes. Olla’s code requires a permit from the mayor to build or remodel, and a permit to move in a mobile home; the fee is set by the Board of Aldermen. Call Olla Town Hall at 318-495-5151.

Where do I get a septic permit?

From the Louisiana Department of Health sanitarian at the LaSalle Parish Health Unit in Jena, 318-992-4842.

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

At or above the base flood elevation, certified by a registered engineer, architect or land surveyor.

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