Bolthole Index

Assumption Parish, Louisiana

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Assumption Parish, Louisiana

62Index Score / 100
#44 of 64 in Louisiana

Assumption Parish, Louisiana requires a Parish Permit Office permit before new construction, enlargement, a qualifying major renovation or a change in occupancy1. Unincorporated Assumption Parish has no zoning ordinance, but building, land-development, septic and floodplain rules still apply2. Permitted work is inspected before occupancy approval34.

At a glance

Building permit
Required for new construction, enlargement, qualifying major renovation and occupancy changes1
Zoning
No zoning ordinance in unincorporated Assumption Parish; other development rules still apply2
Septic permits
State health officer approval through the Assumption Parish Health Unit5
RV living
Private-parcel occupancy is unconfirmed; approved RV parks allow temporary camping6
Tiny homes
No unincorporated-parish zoning restriction on occupancy; building and sanitation rules still apply7
Owner-builder
Contractor-license exemption available for a qualifying personal residence; permits still apply8
Private wells
A licensed driller must install and register a new well; domestic wells use post-installation notice9
Septic soils
0% of mapped soils avoid severe conventional drain-field limitations10

Who to call

Building permits

Assumption Parish Permit Office

Parish building permits and occupancy approvals

985-369-7386

105 Martin Luther King Drive, Napoleonville, LA 70390

Septic permits

Louisiana Department of Health - Assumption Parish Health Unit

Environmental Health Services and local coordination for onsite wastewater approval

985.369.6031

4910 LA-308, Napoleonville, LA 70390

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on September 29, 2026.

Do you need a building permit in Assumption Parish, Louisiana?

Yes. Assumption Parish requires the owner or authorized agent to apply to the Parish Permit Office before constructing or enlarging a building, changing its occupancy, or undertaking a renovation that exceeds 50% of the work area and requires a code-compliance inspection1. Listed exemptions include certain retaining walls no more than 4 feet high, finish work, qualifying above-ground pools, playground equipment, nonfixed movable fixtures and agricultural shade-cloth structures, but an exemption does not authorize work that violates another applicable rule111. Permitted construction must remain accessible for inspections, including foundation, rough systems, framing, floodplain, energy-efficiency and final inspections as applicable3. A building cannot be occupied until the building official issues a certificate of compliance and the Permit Office issues the Certificate of Occupancy; permit-exempt work does not need that occupancy certificate4.

Who issues building permits in Assumption Parish?

The Assumption Parish Permit Office is the local starting point for a building permit. Its office is at 105 Martin Luther King Drive, Napoleonville, LA 70390, directly behind the Parish Administration Office, and the phone number is 985-369-738612. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.12. Louisiana's State Uniform Construction Code applies in Assumption Parish, with statutory limits and amendments, and the parish enforces covered construction through its permit process13. A permit application must identify the work and land, state the intended use, occupancy and valuation, include required construction documents and other information, and be signed14. The building official reviews the filing and must explain a rejection in writing; a conforming application is issued as soon as practicable14.

Does Assumption Parish have zoning?

Unincorporated Assumption Parish has no zoning ordinance215. As a result, unincorporated-parish zoning does not set a general minimum dwelling size, minimum lot size, setback, lot-coverage limit or building-height limit, and it does not restrict accessory-dwelling or tiny-home occupancy7. This does not make a parcel rule-free: subdivision and floodplain controls remain, and the parish separately regulates mobile-home parks, campgrounds and RV parks2166. Manufactured-home park sites, for example, must meet specified size, street-frontage, footing, setback, parking, utility, sewerage and fire-safety standards16. Ask the Parish Permit Office which non-zoning development and floodplain requirements apply before fixing a site plan12.

How do septic permits work in Assumption Parish?

Assumption Parish requires public sewerage where it is available; otherwise, a private sewage system needs specific approval from the state health officer or an authorized representative517. Start with the Assumption Parish Health Unit at 4910 LA-308, Napoleonville, LA 70390, or 985.369.6031; its Environmental Health Services hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.18. Louisiana requires approval of the plans and specifications before an individual sewerage system is installed, altered or operated19. Final verification comes from an onsite inspection, a licensed installer's certification, or both, and the certification must be submitted within 15 days after completion20. Site feasibility is a serious issue: 0% of Assumption Parish's mapped soils avoid severe limitations for a conventional drain field10. A sewage tank must be at least 50 feet from a well or other water source, while disposal fields and lines must be at least 100 feet away17.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Assumption Parish?

Unincorporated Assumption Parish has no zoning restriction on tiny-home occupancy, but a tiny home still must satisfy applicable building, permit, inspection, occupancy and sanitation rules714. Assumption Parish's confirmed camping rule covers approved campgrounds and RV parks, where tents, camping trailers and RVs are allowed for temporary overnight camping6. Guests in those parks generally may stay no longer than 180 days and, after leaving, may not return for another 180 days without Police Jury approval6. That commercial-park rule does not answer whether an RV may be occupied on a private homesite, so ask the Parish Permit Office before relying on an RV during construction12. Any private sewage arrangement needs state health approval when public sewerage is unavailable17.

What are the steps to build a home in Assumption Parish?

  1. Call the Parish Permit Office with the parcel location and proposed use, and ask which land-development and floodplain requirements apply122.
  1. Confirm sewer availability; if public sewer is unavailable, begin state health review through the Assumption Parish Health Unit before fixing the site plan518.
  1. If you will act as owner-builder, prepare the required exemption affidavit; the contractor-license exemption applies to a qualifying personal residence but does not remove parish permit or inspection duties8.
  1. File the signed parish application with the project description, land location, intended occupancy, valuation and required construction documents14.
  1. Obtain the required permit and building official's release before connecting regulated utilities21.
  1. Keep permitted work exposed at each required inspection point and complete septic verification before final occupancy approval3204.
  1. If access connects to a state highway, obtain a signed and numbered LaDOTD access permit before driveway construction22.

What should you check before buying land in Assumption Parish?

Check sewer and soils before committing to a house site. Public sewer must be used where available, private systems require state approval, and 0% of mapped parish soils avoid severe conventional drain-field limitations510. Check the flood map and planned building pad as well: development in a regulatory floodway needs a no-rise certification showing 0.00 feet of rise or an approved floodway revision before the permit and work proceed23. In special flood-hazard areas, the parish publishes development-permit fees of $10 for a residential mobile home and $20 for other residential construction24. Verify whether road access is parish or state controlled; a state-highway connection needs LaDOTD approval before construction22. For a new domestic well, use a licensed drilling contractor and complete the required post-installation registration and notice9.

Watch-outs

  • No zoning ordinance does not make an unincorporated Assumption Parish parcel rule-free; subdivision, floodplain, building and sanitation requirements can still apply212.
  • The owner-builder provision is a contractor-license exemption, not an exemption from Assumption Parish permits, inspections or occupancy approval8.
  • With 0% of mapped soils free from severe conventional drain-field limits, obtain health-unit site approval before treating a parcel as buildable1018.

Sources

  1. Assumption Parish Administrative Code Ordinance - Permitting Requirements, quoted and re-checked
  2. Parish Hazard Mitigation Plan, quoted and re-checked
  3. Assumption Parish Administrative Code Ordinance - Permitting Requirements, quoted and re-checked
  4. Assumption Parish Administrative Code Ordinance - Permitting Requirements, quoted and re-checked
  5. Chapter 5 — Building and Construction Regulations, quoted and re-checked
  6. Chapter 26 - Land Development Regulations, quoted and re-checked
  7. Louisiana law on county zoning and building authority
  8. Louisiana Revised Statutes § 37:2157 — Exemptions, quoted and re-checked
  9. Louisiana Administrative Code, Title 43, Part VI, §701 (Louisiana statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  10. Share of soils without severe limits for a conventional septic drain field (USDA SSURGO): Bolthole Index county data
  11. Assumption Parish Administrative Code Ordinance — Permitting Requirements, quoted and re-checked
  12. Assumption Parish Permit Office (assumptionla.com)
  13. Louisiana Revised Statutes § 40:1730.28 — State Uniform Construction Code, quoted and re-checked
  14. Assumption Parish Administrative Code Ordinance - Permitting Requirements, quoted and re-checked
  15. Parish Hazard Mitigation Plan, quoted and re-checked
  16. Chapter 26 - Land Development Regulations, quoted and re-checked
  17. Chapter 5 — Building and Construction Regulations, quoted and re-checked
  18. Louisiana Department of Health - Assumption Parish Health Unit (ldh.la.gov)
  19. Louisiana Administrative Code Title 51, Part XIII, Public Health—Sanitary Code (Louisiana statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  20. Louisiana Administrative Code Title 51, Part XIII, Public Health—Sanitary Code (Louisiana statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  21. Assumption Parish Administrative Code — Permitting Requirements, quoted and re-checked
  22. LaDOTD Access Connections Policy (Louisiana statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  23. State of Louisiana No Rise Certification Guidance (Louisiana statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  24. Chapter 5 - Building and Construction Regulations, quoted and re-checked

Written September 29, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

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County locator

Assumption Parish in Louisiana

62
County map
Assumption Parish highlighted among the Louisiana counties · colored by Index score

How Assumption Parish scores

Seclusion47100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency60100% ev.
Admin Boringness4768% ev.
Durability56100% ev.
Property Autonomy44100% ev.
Carry Cost89100% ev.

Evidence strength: 95%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$179kTypical home
0.4%Property tax
$3,251Land / acre
62.3"Annual rain
8.3% of yrsSevere drought
4.1 / yr (+3.8)Mid-century 100°F days
16.2 daysMid-century dry spell
3.23" (+5.8%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.25×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$2,665Home insurance / yr
0.1% / yrInsurance growth
3.08%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
52,343People within 30 min
3,094,160People within 2 hr
44,331Radius comparison (15 mi)
58.6People / sq mi
0.5%Federal land
100%Land at 15% slope or less
0%Septic soil without severe limits
0 acWorkable land screen
59%Wooded land
83.3 tonsBiomass / forest ac
69°FAvg temp

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Answers from the rulebook for Assumption Parish

What the ordinances and state agencies actually say — one answer per question, each quoted from the official source and independently re-checked.

Assumption Parish rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Construction, enlargement, renovation exceeding 50% of the work area when inspection for code compliance is required, or a change in occupancy of a building or structure in Assumption Parish.

    • The owner or authorized agent must apply to the Parish Permit Office and obtain the required permit before the covered work.
    • For repairs or renovations requiring inspection for compliance, a permit may be obtained at the Permit Office; the ordinance labels this availability voluntary.
    • Permits are not required for listed exempt work, including certain retaining walls not over 4 feet high, certain water tanks, finish work, temporary stage sets, qualifying above-ground pools, agricultural shade-cloth structures, playground equipment, limited window awnings, and nonfixed movable fixtures or partitions.
    • Emergency equipment replacements and repairs require the permit application to be submitted within three working business days to the building official.
    • Permit fees must be paid before a permit is issued or an application is accepted; building permits expire one year after issuance, with written extensions limited to one additional year.

    retaining wall height exemption: <= 4 feet (Unless supporting a surcharge or impounding Class I, II or IIIA liquids) · water tank capacity exemption: <= 5000 gallons (Height-to-diameter or width ratio must not exceed 2 to 1) · emergency repair application deadline: <= 3 working business days · building permit validity: 1 year from issuance (Written extension may not exceed one additional year)

    “105.1 Required. Any owner or authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, renovate of more than 50% of work area of such that requires inspection for Code Compliance or change the occupancy of a building or structure, shall first make application to the Parish Permit Office and obtain the required permit.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Construction or work in Assumption Parish for which a permit is required.

    • Permitted construction remains accessible and exposed until approved.
    • The permit applicant must keep the work accessible and exposed and provide access and means for inspection.
    • Work must not proceed beyond each successive inspection point without approval by the building official.
    • Required inspections include foundation, slab or under-floor, rough plumbing/mechanical/gas/electrical, floodplain, framing and masonry, fire-resistance-rated construction when applicable, energy-efficiency, other inspections required by the building official, and final inspection.
    • Final inspection occurs after permitted work is complete and before occupancy.
    • The building official may accept reports from approved inspection agencies.
    “Construction or work for which a permit is required shall be subject to inspection by the building code official and such construction or work shall remain accessible and exposed for inspection purposes until approved.”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Use or occupancy of a building or structure, or a change in occupancy classification, in Assumption Parish.

    • A building or structure may not be used or occupied, and its occupancy classification may not be changed, until the building official issues a certificate of compliance and the Parish Permit Office issues a Certificate of Occupancy after all other requirements are met.
    • Certificates of occupancy are not required for work exempt from permits under Section 105.2.
    • After inspection finds no violations, the building official or designee issues a certificate of compliance containing the building permit number, address, owner information, description, inspection statement, code edition, construction type, design occupant load, sprinkler information when applicable, and special permit conditions.
    • A temporary certificate of occupancy may be issued before all permitted work is complete if the occupied portion is safe; the building official sets its validity period.
    • Required certificate and permit fees must be paid before the certificate or certificate application is accepted.
    “No building or structure shall be used or occupied, and no change in the existing occupancy classification of a building or structure or portion thereof shall be made until the building official has issued a certificate of compliance as provided herein. The permit office will then issue a Cerificate of Occupancy once all other requirements have been met.”
  • County-wide zoningAbsent

    County zoning ordinance in unincorporated Assumption Parish.

    • The official parish hazard mitigation plan reports that the unincorporated parish has no zoning ordinance.
    • The same table reports a subdivision ordinance and floodplain ordinance, so those non-zoning controls may still apply.
    “Capability Assessment Worksheet – Unincorporated Assumption Parish [...] Land Use Planning and Ordinances Yes / No Comments Zoning Ordinance No n/a”
  • Local zoningAbsent

    Local zoning in unincorporated Assumption Parish.

    • The parish land-development and subdivision regulations are separate from a zoning ordinance.
    • Subdivision and floodplain controls remain identified in the official plan.
    “Capability Assessment Worksheet – Unincorporated Assumption Parish [...] Land Use Planning and Ordinances Yes / No Comments Zoning Ordinance No n/a”
  • Zoning districts · by state lawNo county rule

    Unincorporated Assumption Parish: no county rule sets this, because Louisiana law gives zoning power only to certain counties, and Assumption Parish has no zoning ordinance. Assumption Parish's own reviewed answer confirms it has no county-wide zoning.

    • Septic, floodplain, subdivision and health rules still apply; cities and towns set their own rules inside their limits.
    • The general parish zoning grant excludes Rapides, Jefferson, Sabine, and Webster parishes.
    • The grant covers regulation of structure height, number of stories, structure size, lot occupancy, courts and open spaces, population density, and building, structure, and land location and use.
    “the governing authorities of parishes, other than the parishes of Rapides, Jefferson, Sabine, and Webster, or their duly created boards of adjustment are hereby authorized”
  • Minimum dwelling size · by state lawNo county rule

    Unincorporated Assumption Parish: no county rule sets this, because Louisiana law gives zoning power only to certain counties, and Assumption Parish has no zoning ordinance. Assumption Parish's own reviewed answer confirms it has no county-wide zoning.

    • Septic, floodplain, subdivision and health rules still apply; cities and towns set their own rules inside their limits.
    • The general parish zoning grant excludes Rapides, Jefferson, Sabine, and Webster parishes.
    • The grant covers regulation of structure height, number of stories, structure size, lot occupancy, courts and open spaces, population density, and building, structure, and land location and use.
    “the governing authorities of parishes, other than the parishes of Rapides, Jefferson, Sabine, and Webster, or their duly created boards of adjustment are hereby authorized”
  • Minimum lot size · by state lawNo county rule

    Unincorporated Assumption Parish: no county rule sets this, because Louisiana law gives zoning power only to certain counties, and Assumption Parish has no zoning ordinance. Assumption Parish's own reviewed answer confirms it has no county-wide zoning.

    • Septic, floodplain, subdivision and health rules still apply; cities and towns set their own rules inside their limits.
    • The general parish zoning grant excludes Rapides, Jefferson, Sabine, and Webster parishes.
    • The grant covers regulation of structure height, number of stories, structure size, lot occupancy, courts and open spaces, population density, and building, structure, and land location and use.
    “the governing authorities of parishes, other than the parishes of Rapides, Jefferson, Sabine, and Webster, or their duly created boards of adjustment are hereby authorized”
  • Setbacks · by state lawNo county rule

    Unincorporated Assumption Parish: no county rule sets this, because Louisiana law gives zoning power only to certain counties, and Assumption Parish has no zoning ordinance. Assumption Parish's own reviewed answer confirms it has no county-wide zoning.

    • Septic, floodplain, subdivision and health rules still apply; cities and towns set their own rules inside their limits.
    • The general parish zoning grant excludes Rapides, Jefferson, Sabine, and Webster parishes.
    • The grant covers regulation of structure height, number of stories, structure size, lot occupancy, courts and open spaces, population density, and building, structure, and land location and use.
    “the governing authorities of parishes, other than the parishes of Rapides, Jefferson, Sabine, and Webster, or their duly created boards of adjustment are hereby authorized”
  • Lot coverage · by state lawNo county rule

    Unincorporated Assumption Parish: no county rule sets this, because Louisiana law gives zoning power only to certain counties, and Assumption Parish has no zoning ordinance. Assumption Parish's own reviewed answer confirms it has no county-wide zoning.

    • Septic, floodplain, subdivision and health rules still apply; cities and towns set their own rules inside their limits.
    • The general parish zoning grant excludes Rapides, Jefferson, Sabine, and Webster parishes.
    • The grant covers regulation of structure height, number of stories, structure size, lot occupancy, courts and open spaces, population density, and building, structure, and land location and use.
    “the governing authorities of parishes, other than the parishes of Rapides, Jefferson, Sabine, and Webster, or their duly created boards of adjustment are hereby authorized”
  • Building height · by state lawNo county rule

    Unincorporated Assumption Parish: no county rule sets this, because Louisiana law gives zoning power only to certain counties, and Assumption Parish has no zoning ordinance. Assumption Parish's own reviewed answer confirms it has no county-wide zoning.

    • Septic, floodplain, subdivision and health rules still apply; cities and towns set their own rules inside their limits.
    • The general parish zoning grant excludes Rapides, Jefferson, Sabine, and Webster parishes.
    • The grant covers regulation of structure height, number of stories, structure size, lot occupancy, courts and open spaces, population density, and building, structure, and land location and use.
    “the governing authorities of parishes, other than the parishes of Rapides, Jefferson, Sabine, and Webster, or their duly created boards of adjustment are hereby authorized”
  • Living in an RVTemporary only (with conditions)

    Recreational vehicle occupancy in campgrounds and recreational vehicle parks in unincorporated Assumption Parish

    • Campgrounds and RV parks are designed for temporary living quarters and overnight camping on short-term rental spaces.
    • These are commercial operations and must obtain all appropriate licenses and certificates.
    • The developer must receive Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals approval for sewage treatment, sanitary stations, and the public water system before development.
    • All sewage treatment must be owned and maintained by the park or campground owner.
    • Water service and supply plans must be approved by Assumption Parish Water Works District No. 1.
    • Drainage plans must be approved by the Police Jury.
    • Guests generally may not stay longer than 180 days; after 180 days, the guest must leave and cannot return for another 180 days unless the Assumption Parish Police Jury grants approval.
    • Manufactured or mobile homes, whether temporary or permanent, are not allowed in campgrounds or RV parks.

    maximum ordinary guest stay: <= 180 days (After 180 days, the guest must leave and cannot return for another 180 days unless approval is granted by the Assumption Parish Police Jury.)

    “Campgrounds and recreational vehicle parks are not designed to be permanent housing locations”
  • Camping on your landAllowed (with conditions)

    Temporary camping in tents, camping trailers, and recreational vehicles in approved campgrounds and RV parks in unincorporated Assumption Parish

    • Camping is addressed as overnight camping in short-term rental spaces.
    • Campgrounds and RV parks must obtain all appropriate licenses and certificates.
    • Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals approval is required for sewage treatment, sanitary stations, and public water systems before development.
    • Water plans require approval by Assumption Parish Water Works District No. 1 and drainage plans require Police Jury approval.
    • The ordinance states that guests generally do not stay longer than 180 days; after 180 days, a guest must leave and cannot return for another 180 days unless Police Jury approval is granted.

    ordinary guest stay: <= 180 days (Police Jury approval is required for return after the required 180-day departure.)

    “A site for overnight camping on a temporary basis”
  • Tiny homes · by state lawNo county rule

    Unincorporated Assumption Parish: no county rule sets this, because Louisiana law gives zoning power only to certain counties, and Assumption Parish has no zoning ordinance. Assumption Parish's own reviewed answer confirms it has no county-wide zoning.

    • Septic, floodplain, subdivision and health rules still apply; cities and towns set their own rules inside their limits.
    • The general parish zoning grant excludes Rapides, Jefferson, Sabine, and Webster parishes.
    • The grant covers regulation of structure height, number of stories, structure size, lot occupancy, courts and open spaces, population density, and building, structure, and land location and use.
    “the governing authorities of parishes, other than the parishes of Rapides, Jefferson, Sabine, and Webster, or their duly created boards of adjustment are hereby authorized”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Manufactured or mobile home occupancy in manufactured/mobile home parks or communities in unincorporated Assumption Parish

    • Manufactured/mobile home parks or communities are regulated as developments under the Parish Land Development Regulations.
    • Each site must meet applicable State Sanitary Code requirements and must be at least 5,000 square feet with a minimum width of 50 feet.
    • Each site must front on a public street or park street with a minimum 40-foot right-of-way.
    • Sites require appropriate footing, required setbacks, off-street parking, utilities, sewerage connections, garbage arrangements, and applicable fire-safety measures.
    • A utility company may not connect electrical service to a mobile home within a park without a stamped development permit from the Parish Permit Office.
    • A reconnection exception applies if the existing manufactured/mobile home had electrical service within the previous year and has not been moved or altered.
    • Mobile-home owners and occupants must be recorded in a register maintained by the park licensee.

    minimum site area: >= 5000 square feet (Subject also to applicable State Sanitary Code requirements.) · minimum site width: >= 50 feet · minimum park-street right-of-way: >= 40 feet · front setback: 20 feet (Measured from the edge of the access-road right-of-way.) · side setback: 8 feet per side · rear setback: 10 feet

    “Spaces for the manufactured/mobile home must: Be at least 5,000 square feet”
  • Accessory dwellings · by state lawNo county rule

    Unincorporated Assumption Parish: no county rule sets this, because Louisiana law gives zoning power only to certain counties, and Assumption Parish has no zoning ordinance. Assumption Parish's own reviewed answer confirms it has no county-wide zoning.

    • Septic, floodplain, subdivision and health rules still apply; cities and towns set their own rules inside their limits.
    • The general parish zoning grant excludes Rapides, Jefferson, Sabine, and Webster parishes.
    • The grant covers regulation of structure height, number of stories, structure size, lot occupancy, courts and open spaces, population density, and building, structure, and land location and use.
    “the governing authorities of parishes, other than the parishes of Rapides, Jefferson, Sabine, and Webster, or their duly created boards of adjustment are hereby authorized”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Private or other non-public sewage disposal systems for premises in Assumption Parish where public sewerage is unavailable or otherwise not used.

    • Public sewerage is required where available.
    • A private system must be specifically approved by the State Health Officer or authorized representative.
    • Installation and operation must not create a nuisance or public health hazard.
    • Discharge to streets, gutters, ditches, bodies of water, or the ground surface is prohibited unless approved by the State Health Officer or authorized representative.
    • A sewage disposal tank must be at least 50 feet from a water well, spring, or other water supply structure; disposal fields and lines must be at least 100 feet away.

    sewage disposal tank setback from water well, spring, or other water supply structure: >= 50 feet minimum · disposal field and lines setback from water well, spring, or other water supply structure: >= 100 feet minimum

    “disposal field and lines one hundred feet (100') from any water well”
  • Mandatory utility hookupConditional

    Utility connections to buildings or systems regulated by the Assumption Parish building code.

    • A required permit must exist.
    • The building official must release the connection before it is made.
    • Temporary connections may be authorized and approved by the building official.
    • The building official may authorize disconnection in an emergency or when the connection was made without required approval.
    • For individual mechanical wastewater systems, LDH states that utilities are released after certification and the state identification tag are submitted to the local health unit and the permit is finalized.
    “until released by the building official.”
  • Agricultural exemptionAvailable

    Shade cloth structures constructed for nursery or agricultural purposes under the Assumption Parish permitting code.

    • The exemption is from permit requirements only; it does not authorize work that violates the permitting code or other applicable laws or ordinances.
    • Service systems are excluded from the exemption.
    • The source's general exemption language states that permit exemptions do not grant authorization for work violating applicable code, laws, or ordinances.
    “6. Shade cloth structures constructed for nursery or agricultural purposes, not including service systems.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    All areas of special flood hazard within the jurisdiction of the Assumption Parish Police Jury.

    • The provision adopts the Parish Flood Insurance Study dated November 5, 1997, with accompanying FIRM and FBFM maps and revisions.
    • No structure or land may be located, altered, or have its use changed without compliance with the subchapter and other applicable regulations.
    • The Floodplain Administrator reviews, approves, or denies applications and must ensure required federal, state, and local permits are obtained.
    • Where no regulatory floodway is designated, new construction, substantial improvements, or other development including fill in Zones A1-30 and AE requires a demonstration that cumulative effects will not increase base-flood water-surface elevation by more than one foot, subject to the stated FEMA conditional-FIRM-revision provision.

    base-flood water-surface elevation increase threshold in designated circumstances: <= 1 foot (Zones A1-30 and AE where no regulatory floodway is designated; a conditional FIRM revision may permit certain development exceeding one foot under 44 CFR 65.12.)

    “The provisions of this Sub-Chapter shall apply to all areas of special flood hazard within the jurisdiction of Assumption Parish Police Jury. [...] A Development Permit shall be required to ensure conformance with the provisions of this Sub-Chapter.”
  • Short-term rentalsLimited

    Commercial campgrounds and recreational-vehicle parks under the Assumption Parish land-development regulations; not a general affirmative rule for short-term rental of ordinary homes.

    • Campgrounds and RV parks must obtain all appropriate licenses and certificates.
    • Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals approval is required for sewage treatment, sanitary stations, and public water systems.
    • Water-service plans require approval by Assumption Parish Water Works District No. 1, and site drainage plans require Police Jury approval.
    • RV parks must meet access, internal-road, site-size, driveway-width, setback, spacing, lighting, sanitation, fencing, and guest-duration requirements.
    • Guests generally may not stay longer than 180 days; after 180 days a guest must leave and cannot return for another 180 days unless Police Jury approval is granted.

    maximum ordinary guest stay: <= 180 days (A return after 180 days requires leaving for another 180 days unless Police Jury approval is granted.) · minimum RV-site driveway width: >= 20 feet

    “Campgrounds and recreational vehicle (RV) parks are specifically designed to provide temporary living quarters on a short term rental space for overnight camping in a tent, camping trailer or recreational vehicle or similar structure designed for camping or short-term lodging. [...] After 180 days, any guest of a campground/recreational vehicle park must leave and cannot return for another 180 days unless approval is granted by the Assumption Parish Police Jury.”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Floodplain development permits administered by the Assumption Parish Police Jury in areas under its jurisdiction.

    • The fee schedule applies to development permits under the flood-damage-prevention subchapter.
    • Fees are payable to the Assumption Parish Police Jury.
    • There shall be no charge for construction of a church or other building construction principally for religious worship.

    residential mobile-home development permit fee: 10 USD · residential construction development permit fee other than mobile homes: 20 USD · commercial or other construction development permit fee at or under 5,000 square feet: 50 USD · commercial or other construction development permit fee over 5,000 square feet: per 0.01 USD per square foot

    “H. Fees. The fee for a development permit in the Parish of Assumption shall be $10.00 for residential mobile homes. $20.00 for residential construction other than mobile homes, $50.00 for commercial establishments or other types of construction 5,000 square feet or under, and $.01 (one cent) per square foot for commercial establishments or other types of construction over 5,000 square feet. Fees are payable to the Assumption Parish Police Jury. There shall be no charge for the construction of a church or other building construction principally for use of religious worship.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Published (with conditions) — Development permits for construction in Assumption Parish areas of special flood hazard.
      “$10.00 for residential mobile homes. $20.00 for residential construction other than mobile homes, $50.00 [...] and $.01 [...] per square foot.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Construction, enlargement, renovation of more than 50 percent of the work area requiring code-compliance inspection, or an occupancy change of a building or structure in Assumption Parish.

    • The owner or authorized agent must first apply to the Parish Permit Office and obtain the required permit for the covered work.
    • An applicant must submit a written local-jurisdiction form identifying and describing the work, locating the land, stating intended use and occupancy and work valuation, providing required construction documents and other information, and signing the application.
    • The building official examines applications and amendments within a reasonable time; a nonconforming application or construction documents must be rejected in writing with reasons, while conforming work is issued a permit as soon as practicable.
    • An application expires 180 days after filing unless pursued in good faith or a permit is issued; written extensions for justifiable cause may be granted for periods not exceeding 180 days each.
    • A repair or renovation permit may be obtained voluntarily when an inspection is required for compliance.

    application expiration: 180 days after filing (Unless the application has been pursued in good faith or a permit has been issued.) · extension duration: <= 180 days each (Must be requested in writing with justifiable cause demonstrated.)

    “To obtain a permit, the applicant shall first file an application therefor in writing on a form furnished by the local jurisdiction for that purpose.”

Louisiana rules that apply here

  • Owner-builder exemptionConditional

    Owners of property supervising or assuming charge of construction, alteration, repair, improvement, movement, demolition, erection, or maintenance of their personal residence in Louisiana under the contractor-licensing exemption in La. R.S. 37:2157(A)(13).

    • The residence must be the homeowner's personal residence and the homeowner may not build more than one residence per year.
    • The one-year period commences on the date the certificate of occupancy is issued.
    • An owner may build more than one single-family dwelling during a one-year period only when an additional residence results from a change in the owner's legal marital status or employment status requiring relocation to another employment location more than fifty miles from the owner's personal residence.
    • An affidavit of exemption on a form provided by the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors must be provided to obtain the building permit.
    • The owner-builder affidavit states that the house must be maintained as the owner's primary residence after issuance of the certificate of occupancy or completion of construction.
    • The exemption does not exempt licensable subcontractors from applicable licensure requirements.
    • Local and state health and life-safety code requirements continue to apply.
    • The official sources do not state a fee for the exemption or affidavit.

    maximum residences: 1 residence per one-year period (Additional single-family dwelling allowed when a change in legal marital status or employment status requires relocation more than 50 miles from the owner's personal residence.) · relocation distance: > 50 miles (Applies to the employment-relocation exception.) · one-year period start: date of issuance of certificate of occupancy

    “Owners of property who [...] assume charge of the construction [...] of their personal residences, if the homeowner does not build more than one residence per year.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Available (with conditions) — Owners supervising, superintending, overseeing, directing, or assuming charge of construction and related work on their personal residences under Louisiana contractor-licensing exemptions, including work in Assumption Parish.
      “Owners of property who supervise, superintend, oversee, direct, or in any manner assume charge of the construction, alteration, repair, improvement, movement, demolition, putting up, tearing down, or maintenance of their personal residences, if the homeowner does not build more than one residence per year. The one-year period shall commence on the date of issuance of the certificate of occupancy.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    The Louisiana State Uniform Construction Code, including the International Residential Code, applies statewide to regulated construction, including new residential construction, reconstruction, additions to homes previously built to the International Residential Code, and extensive alterations.

    • The International Residential Code enforcement described by the statute is mandatory only for new construction, reconstruction, additions to homes previously built to the International Residential Code, and extensive alterations.
    • Appendix J, Existing Buildings and Structures, may be adopted and enforced only at the option of a parish, municipality, or regional planning commission.
    • The statute excludes Part I-Administration and VIII-Electrical from the International Residential Code adoption described in the excerpt.
    • The council's initial code became effective January 1, 2007.
    • The statute page identifies an amendment effective July 1, 2026.

    extensive alteration threshold: > >50 percent of dwelling-unit area (The statute defines an extensive alteration as one where the total area of all work areas exceeds fifty percent of the dwelling unit.) · initial code effective date: 2007-01-01 · listed amendment effective date: 2026-07-01

    “The applicable standards referenced in that code are included for regulation of construction within this state.”
    4 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Adopted (with conditions) — Construction-code requirements applicable statewide in Louisiana, including Assumption Parish.
      “Except as provided in Subsection C of this Section, the council shall evaluate, adopt, and amend only the latest editions of the following as the State Uniform Construction Code:”
    • Adopted (with conditions) — Construction regulated by the Louisiana State Uniform Construction Code statewide.
      “The commission shall evaluate, adopt, and amend only the latest editions of all of the following as the Uniform Construction Code:”
    • Partial — The Louisiana State Uniform Construction Code's statewide adoption of the International Building Code and its referenced standards for construction in Louisiana.
      “(1) International Building Code, not including Parts I-Administrative, and Chapter 27-Electrical. The applicable standards referenced in that code are included for regulation of construction within this state. The appendices of that code may be adopted as needed, but the specific appendix or appendices shall be referenced by name or letter designation at the time of adoption.”
    • Adopted — The Louisiana State Uniform Construction Code, including the International Residential Code, regulates construction statewide and applies to new residential construction, reconstruction, additions to homes previously built to the code, and extensive alterations.
      “The International Residential Code, not including Part I-Administration and VIII-Electrical. The applicable standards referenced in that code are included for regulation of construction within this state. The enforcement of such standards shall be mandatory only with respect to new construction, reconstruction, additions to homes previously built to the International Residential Code, and extensive alterations; however, a municipality, parish, or regional planning commission may enforce Appendix J of the code at its option.”
  • Who permits septicState

    Onsite sewage disposal systems in Assumption Parish; the parish code assigns approval to the State Health Officer or the authorized representative, operating through the Assumption Parish Health Unit.

    • Public sewerage must be used where available.
    • A private sewage disposal system requires specific approval for the premises.
    • The system must not create a nuisance or public health hazard.
    “State Health Officer or duly authorized representative”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Septic permitRequired

    Installation, alteration, or operation of any individual sewerage system in Louisiana, including septic tank systems.

    • A permit from the state health officer is required before installation, alteration, or operation.
    • Plans and specifications must be approved as part of the permit.
    • A temporary installation permit may issue only after the state health officer determines connection to a community-type sewerage system is not feasible and the soil, drainage, lot size/dimensions, and related factors are unlikely to create a nuisance or public health hazard.
    • Permits for lots in formal subdivisions require an official recorded plat/property survey filed with and approved by the Office of Public Health for individual sewerage use.

    permit stages: two-stage process

    “A person shall not install, cause to be installed, alter subsequent to installation, or operate an individual sewerage system of any kind without first having obtained a permit from the state health officer.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Required — Individual onsite sewage treatment systems in Assumption Parish subject to Louisiana's onsite wastewater program.
      “A person shall not install, cause to be installed, alter subsequent to installation, or operate an individual sewerage system of any kind without first having obtained a permit from the state health officer.”
  • Septic inspectionLimited

    Final approval of individual sewerage system installations in Louisiana.

    • Final approval requires verification that the system was installed in compliance with the code.
    • Verification may be by an on-site inspection by a representative of the state health officer and/or a completed Certification by Installer from the licensed installer.
    • The installer must notify the appropriate local Parish Health Unit before installation.
    • The certification must be submitted within 15 days after completion.

    certification submission deadline: 15 days after completion

    “A final permit approving the installation, shall be issued only upon verification that the individual sewerage system has been installed in compliance with this code. The verification of such installation shall be determined by means of an on-site inspection conducted by a representative of the state health officer and/or in the form of a completed "Certification by Installer" form submitted to the state health officer by the licensed installer.”
  • Well permitLimited

    New water wells statewide in Louisiana, including wells outside critical groundwater areas, except the types specifically subject to post-installation notification or other exemptions.

    • All new water wells must be installed by a licensed water-well drilling contractor and registered through the Department of Transportation and Development within 30 days after completion.
    • Unless specifically listed in the exemptions, the owner must submit a water well notification form to the commissioner at least 60 days before installation.
    • Before construction begins, the drilling contractor must confirm that the Office of Conservation has received and responded to the installation notification.
    • Domestic wells, replacement wells, drilling rig supply wells, drought relief wells, and other wells exempted for just cause are subject to post-installation notification rules rather than the ordinary 60-day prior notification.
    • The commissioner reviews prior notifications within 30 days and may impose restrictions, request further information, or take no action; an additional 30-day review period may apply if further information is requested.
    • For large-volume wells or wells in a critical area of groundwater concern, the commissioner may fix allowable production, spacing, and metering; for other wells outside a critical area, an order may only fix spacing.
    • After written confirmation that no restrictions or further information are required, or when the owner accepts imposed restrictions, the owner need not wait the full 60 days and may begin drilling consistently with the notification and restrictions.

    prior notification period: 60 days (Does not apply to well types listed in LAC 43:VI §701.C and D.) · registration deadline after completion: 30 days (The applicable state registration requirement applies to all new water wells.) · additional review period if information requested: 30 days (Additional period begins when the requested information is received.)

    “require a water well notification form be submitted to the commissioner by the owner of the well at least 60 days prior to installation.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Limited — Construction of non-exempt water wells in Assumption Parish.
      “The Office of Conservation requires a 60-day prior notification for the construction of all water wells in the state. (with the exception of oil and gas rig supply, drought relief, replacement, and domestic wells).”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision regulation under Louisiana's statutory framework, administered through parish and municipal planning commissions.

    • A parish planning commission must adopt subdivision regulations before exercising its statutory powers; parish regulations apply to subdivision of land in unincorporated territory for purposes other than agricultural.
    • A municipal planning commission must adopt regulations before exercising its statutory powers, and municipal regulations apply within the municipality.
    • A planning commission generally must approve or disapprove a plat within 60 days, unless the applicant waives the requirement and consents to an extension.
    • The statutory framework allows local regulations concerning street arrangement, lot dimensions, utilities, drainage-related utility and sewerage requirements, improvements, and bonds or surety.
    • R.S. 33:106.1 limits planning-commission jurisdiction over specified qualifying subdivisions, while preserving requirements for utilities, drainage including sewerage disposal, and street planning dimensions, composition, and alignment.

    plat decision period: 60 days (Applicant may waive the requirement and consent to an extension.) · hearing notice: >= 5 days (Notice by certified mail and publication requirements apply; certain public-hearing waivers may be authorized by official subdivision regulations.)

    “Before exercising the powers referred to in R.S. 33:110, a parish planning commission shall adopt regulations governing the subdivision of land within unincorporated territory within its jurisdiction for purposes other than agricultural. Before exercising the powers referred to in R.S. 33:110 a municipal planning commission shall adopt regulations governing the subdivision of land within its jurisdiction.”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    Access connections or driveways connecting property to a Louisiana state highway and involving work in LaDOTD right-of-way.

    • The requirement applies to state-highway access connections; access to non-state local roads may instead be governed by the local government.
    • The permit certificate must be signed and numbered before construction begins.
    • Additional design, drainage, traffic-study, inspection, bonding, and restoration conditions may apply.
    “Only upon possession of a signed and numbered Access Connection Permit Certificate may the applicant begin construction of an access connection.”
  • Campground & park staysProhibited

    Overnight camping on Louisiana public property that is not a designated campground.

    • The prohibition applies to public property owned or controlled by the state or any local or political subdivision.
    • Designated campgrounds are excluded from the prohibition.
    • Violation may result in a fine of not more than $500, imprisonment for not more than six months, or both.
    • The statute states an effective date of June 9, 2026.

    maximum fine: <= 500 USD · maximum imprisonment: <= 6 months

    “Unauthorized camping on public property is the intentional use of any tent [...] to permit overnight use on public property that is not a designated campground.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • county zoning authorityLimited

    Louisiana parish governing authorities' zoning authority over parish land, including unincorporated areas, under the statewide parish zoning enabling subpart.

    • The general parish zoning authorization excludes Rapides, Jefferson, Sabine, and Webster Parishes.
    • A parish may divide the parish into zoning districts, and regulations may differ between districts but must be uniform for each class or kind of land and structure within each district.
    • Zoning regulations must comply with the required comprehensive plan.
    • No regulation becomes effective until after a public hearing.
    • Notice must be published once a week in three different weeks in the official parish journal, with at least fifteen days between first publication and hearing.
    • At least ten days before the hearing, the parish must make a good-faith attempt to notify owners of record by certified mail; when more than ten parcels are zoned or rezoned, official-journal advertisement is adequate notice.
    • To use the powers of the subpart, the parish governing authority must appoint a zoning commission, which must hold a public hearing and issue its final report before the governing authority holds its public hearings or acts.

    excluded parishes: Rapides, Jefferson, Sabine, and Webster · publication interval: 3 different weeks · minimum elapsed time before hearing: >= 15 days · owner notice deadline: >= 10 days before hearing (Good-faith certified-mail notice; official-journal advertisement is adequate when more than ten parcels are zoned or rezoned.)

    “For the purpose of promoting the health, safety, morals, or general welfare of the community, the governing authorities of parishes, other than the parishes of Rapides, Jefferson, Sabine, and Webster, or their duly created boards of adjustment are hereby authorized to regulate and restrict the height, number of stories, and size of structures; the percentage of lots that may be occupied; courts and other open spaces; the density of population; and the location and use of the buildings, structures, and land for trade, industry, residence, or other purposes.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Limited — Louisiana parish governing authorities adopting zoning regulations affecting parish territory, including unincorporated areas.
      “the governing authorities of parishes, other than the parishes of Rapides, Jefferson, Sabine, and Webster, or their duly created boards of adjustment are hereby authorized”
  • county building authorityGeneral

    Louisiana parishes may enforce the statewide construction codes and administer building-code enforcement, including permits and inspections, in unincorporated areas.

    • Parishes must enforce only the construction codes provided in the Louisiana State Uniform Construction Code Part.
    • Enforcement includes plan review, inspections, and issuance, denial, or revocation of permits.
    • Each parish must appoint a council-certified building official or contract for those services so the unincorporated area is under the jurisdiction of a certified building official.
    • A parish may use a certified building inspector instead of a certified building official for no more than four years from the date the state uniform construction code becomes effective in the parish.
    • The statute preserves federal manufactured-housing requirements and Louisiana Manufactured Housing Commission jurisdiction for manufactured-home construction, installation, service, renovation, repair, and warranty work.
    • The statute page identifies an amendment effective July 1, 2026.

    temporary certified-inspector period: <= 4 years (Measured from the date the state uniform construction code becomes effective in the parish or municipality.)

    “all municipalities and parishes in this state shall enforce only the construction codes provided for in this Part.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • General — Louisiana parishes' authority and duty to enforce the state construction codes, including residential construction codes, through building-code enforcement officers or certified third-party providers.
      “Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary relating to the authority of local governments to enforce construction codes, all municipalities and parishes in this state shall enforce only the construction codes provided for in this Part. All municipalities and parishes shall use building code enforcement officers or certified third-party providers contracted by the municipality, parish, or regional planning commission to act in the capacity of a building code enforcement officer to enforce the provisions of this Part.”

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Living off-grid in Assumption Parish, Louisiana

Is Assumption Parish a good place to live off-grid or homestead?

Assumption Parish scores 62/100 on the Bolthole Index, a solid county profile. Its strengths: manageable long-term carry cost and strong self-sufficiency basics: 62.3″/yr rainfall plus 59% wooded land.

Do you need a building permit in Assumption Parish, Louisiana?

Assumption Parish generally requires a residential building permit, and it has no county-wide zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by Louisiana Department of Health, Office of Public Health (Assumption Parish Health Unit sanitarian). Owner-builders may act as their own contractor to build their home. These answers are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked. Rules change and cities within the county differ — always confirm with the county before you buy or build.

How much does land cost in Assumption Parish, Louisiana?

Land in Assumption Parish runs about $3,251 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Assumption Parish?

Assumption Parish gets about 62.3" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 8.3% of years.

How remote is Assumption Parish?

A representative private-land location has about 52,343 people within a 30-minute drive and 3,094,160 within two hours. The road-network catchments count population across county lines and clusters of smaller cities; straight-line radius values remain available as a comparison.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Assumption Parish means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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How Assumption compares in Louisiana

Compare side-by-side →See all 64 Louisiana counties ranked →