In unincorporated St. James Parish, building permits come from the parish Planning & Permitting Office in Convent (east bank) or Vacherie (west bank), both on 225-562-2500, and applications can also be filed through MyGovernmentOnline. Plans are sent to South Central Planning and Development for review, every permit needs Louisiana Department of Health approval, and a new house costs $0.45 per square foot, paid when the plans are submitted. The Towns of Lutcher and Gramercy handle permits inside their own limits.
What needs a permit in St. James Parish?
The parish requires a permit before a new home or building is built, before a mobile home is moved within the parish, and for renovations of or additions to a home; commercial construction or renovation needs drawings and State Fire Marshal approval as well. The office publishes applications for:
Residential
- New homes, additions and renovations
- Accessory buildings: garages, sheds, portable buildings, carports
- Mobile homes
- Pools, spas and hot tubs
- Generators
- Demolition (no fee)
- Change of ownership or occupancy
Commercial and other
- New commercial buildings, additions and renovations
- Electrical, mechanical, plumbing and gas trade permits
- Signs and cell towers
- Utility connection requests
- Land use applications for industrial, commercial, agricultural or residential sites
- Coastal use permits in the coastal zone
Under R.S. 37:3737(I), re-enacted by Act 881 of 2026, a parish that issues construction permits must also permit and inspect roofing. R.S. 37:3738 stops a parish from enforcing the code on a detached residential accessory structure of 200 sq ft or less, unless it is in a hurricane-prone region with a design wind speed of 130 mph or more; St. James still prices accessory buildings at $0.23 per sq ft, so ask the office before you buy a small shed.
Who issues building permits in St. James Parish?
The Planning & Permitting Office, part of the parish Department of Operations, takes the applications and issues the permits. Plan review is done by South Central Planning and Development: the parish code (as amended by Ordinance 25-13 in August 2025) names the chief building official, South Central Planning and Development, the permitting and planning supervisor and the code enforcement officer as the parish building official for unincorporated land, and every application lists “Plans for SCP&D Submittal.” The same office runs floodplain management and the parish coastal zone program, and a Board of Building Code Appeals hears appeals.
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →| Place | Building permits |
|---|---|
| Unincorporated parish | Parish Planning & Permitting Office |
| Town of Lutcher (pop. 2,822) | The town: its code requires a town building permit, with forms from the municipal clerk or building official at Lutcher Town Hall, 2500 Louisiana Avenue (225-869-5823) |
| Town of Gramercy (pop. 2,689) | The town: its 2026 Board of Aldermen and Planning Commission minutes discuss town building permit requirements, a fence built without a permit, a demolition permit request and the town’s code enforcement officer, with plans going to South Central Planning; the town posts no permit forms or fees, so ask Town Hall, 120 N. Montz Avenue (225-869-4403) |
| Office | Address |
|---|---|
| East bank (Convent) | 5800 Highway 44, 3rd floor of the Courthouse, Convent, LA 70723 |
| West bank (Vacherie) | 2631 Highway 20, Vacherie Courthouse Annex, Vacherie, LA 70090 |
| Phone and email | 225-562-2500; permitting@stjamesla.com |
Electrical, mechanical, plumbing and gas permits
Each trade is a separate $125 permit on the parish Trade Application. Every trade permit needs proof of ownership, plans for SCP&D submittal, the contractor’s parish registration and a copy of the state licence certificate. A plumbing permit also needs Department of Health approval and, near the river, the levee district’s letter of no objection.
Contractors register with the parish before working there, giving their state licence number, parish sales tax ID and occupational licence, and send the form to permitting@stjamesla.com. Commercial projects need an approval letter from the State Fire Marshal before the parish permit.
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →St. James Parish permit fees
The parish code says fees follow a schedule set by the Parish Council, and the current application forms list them. All permit fees are non-refundable and are paid when the plans are submitted.
| Project | Fee |
|---|---|
| New house or residential addition | $0.45 per sq ft |
| Residential accessory building | $0.23 per sq ft, $75 minimum, $500 maximum |
| Residential renovation | $25 to $200, depending on cost |
| New commercial building | $0.50 per sq ft |
| Electrical, mechanical, plumbing or gas trade permit | $125 each |
| Generator: residential / commercial | $200 / $1,000 flat |
| Pool, spa or hot tub | $200 flat |
| Mobile home | $150 |
| Sign | $100 |
| Change of ownership or occupancy, residential / commercial occupancy | $25 / $100 |
| Demolition | No fee |
Water and gas deposits and connection fees are paid at the time of permitting. The parish brochure says a mobile home placed before it is permitted pays double fees.
A coastal use permit of local concern adds a separate parish fee based on project cost: $20 up to $24,999, $50 from $25,000 to $49,999, $75 from $50,000 to $100,000 and $100 above that.
What to submit
New house or addition
- Residential application
- Proof of ownership, or a notarized letter from the owner
- Louisiana Department of Health approval
- Plans for SCP&D review, including an engineer-stamped site plan
- Levee district letter of no objection, if within 1,500 feet of the Mississippi River levee crown
- Initial elevation certificate where required
New commercial building
- Commercial application
- Proof of ownership or the owner’s notarized letter
- Department of Health approval
- State Fire Marshal approval letter
- Stamped plans for SCP&D submittal and plan review
- Levee letter and elevation certificate where required
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →A mobile home application needs the manufacturer’s data plate information, Department of Health approval, proof of a police escort for the move and, if required, an inspection report from the chief building official. A pool application needs a barrier and safety device plan. A demolition permit needs four color photos of the building, an 811 call, utility disconnections and a dumpster order.
How to get a St. James Parish building permit
Lutcher and Gramercy handle permits inside their own limits; the parish handles unincorporated land.
The sanitarian office at 29170 Health Unit Street, Vacherie (225-265-4002) approves every permit, plumbing included.
Within 1,500 feet of the levee crown, get the levee district’s letter; in a flood zone, order the initial elevation certificate.
Contractors file the parish registration form before applying.
Apply through MyGovernmentOnline or at the Convent or Vacherie office, and pay the fee when the plans are submitted.
Once SCP&D approves the plans, the parish notifies you to collect them and the work can begin.
Inspections and utility release
The Planning & Permitting Office staff includes a Building Code Inspector, and the parish code lists South Central Planning and Development among the officials who enforce the building code. Where an elevation certificate is required, utilities are not released until the finished construction certificate confirms the floor and servicing equipment meet the parish height rule.
Rather not deal with the St. James Parish building department?
Get a free quote →When a home changes owner or tenant, the parish issues a change of ownership or occupancy permit, and Department of Health approval is needed first if the water service has been off for more than 14 days.
Local St. James Parish details
Elevation: the parish forms say all residential structures must have the lowest floor and servicing equipment 1 foot above the base flood elevation and no lower than +6.0 feet above mean sea level. Where an elevation certificate is required, an initial certificate shows the planned floor height of the home or commercial building, and a finished construction certificate confirms it before utilities are released.
Mississippi River levee: any excavation within 1,500 feet of the levee crown needs a letter of no objection from the Pontchartrain Levee District on the east bank or the Lafourche Basin Levee District on the west bank.
Setbacks: the residential application lists parish setbacks of 20 feet front, 15 feet rear, 10 feet on one side and 5 feet on the other.
Coastal zone: projects in the coastal zone start with a joint permit application to the state Department of Energy and Natural Resources, which decides whether the parish or the state handles it.
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
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Official St. James Parish permit resources
- St. James Parish Planning & Permitting Office
- Residential application and fees
- New commercial application
- Trade application (electrical, mechanical, plumbing, gas)
- Generator application
- Pool, spa and hot tub application
- Mobile home application
- Contractor registration form
- Permitting informational brochure
- Coastal application procedure and local coastal use fees
- Parish Code chapter 18, buildings
- Town of Lutcher Code chapter 18, building permits
- Town of Lutcher contact (parish directory)
- Town of Gramercy Board of Aldermen minutes, May 11, 2026 (building permit requirements)
- HB 1186 enrolled (Act 881 of 2026): R.S. 37:3737 and 37:3738
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →St. James Parish permit FAQs
Who issues building permits in St. James Parish?
The parish Planning & Permitting Office in Convent or Vacherie (225-562-2500) for unincorporated land. Plans are reviewed by South Central Planning and Development. The Towns of Lutcher and Gramercy handle permits inside their own limits.
How much is a building permit for a new house?
$0.45 per square foot, paid when the plans are submitted. Electrical, mechanical, plumbing and gas permits are $125 each on top.
Do I need the Health Department?
Yes. The parish requires Louisiana Department of Health approval for all permits, including plumbing.
How high must I build?
The floor and servicing equipment must be 1 foot above the base flood elevation and at least +6.0 feet above mean sea level.
Do I need a permit for a shed or garage?
The parish charges $0.23 per square foot for accessory buildings, with a $75 minimum and a $500 maximum. State law (R.S. 37:3738) keeps the parish from enforcing the building code on a detached residential accessory structure of 200 sq ft or less unless the site is in a hurricane-prone region with a design wind speed of 130 mph or more, so ask the office whether a small shed needs the permit.
Can I apply online?
Yes, through MyGovernmentOnline, or in person at either permitting office.
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More Louisiana permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about St. James Parish permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.