Zoning, building permits and septic rules in DeRidder, Louisiana

DeRidder’s own rules

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Construction inside DeRidder city limits

  • Excludes farm structures and recreational camps
  • Adopts 2018 IRC/IBC/IMC/IFGC, 2015 IEBC/IPMC/IPC/ISPSC, 2020 NEC and subsequent editions
  • Adopted effective January 1, 2007 under R.S. 40:1730.21; amended by Ord. O-2020-64

  “The Louisiana State Uniform Construction Code is incorporated as fully as if set out at length herein and shall be controlling within the corporate limits of the city.”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside DeRidder city limits; city Code Chapter 15 - Zoning with R-1, R-1-A and R-2 residential districts

  • Uses are district-based: by right, planning approval, or special exception

  “These districts are composed mainly of areas containing single-family dwellings and open areas where similar residential development seems likely to occur”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  R-1-A residential district inside DeRidder city

  • R-1 dimensional limits are in Sec. 15-30 and Article III, not retrieved

  minimum floor area, townhouse unit: >= 1200 sq ft · minimum floor area, principal structure not a townhouse: >= 1800 sq ft

  “R-1-A district shall have a minimum lot size of six thousand (6,000) square feet and a minimum floor area of individual townhouse dwelling units of twelve hundred (1,200) square feet and a minimum floor area for principal structures not associated with townhouses of eighteen hundred (1,800) square feet.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  R-1-A residential district inside DeRidder city

  • R-1 and R-2 lot size is in Sec. 15-30, not retrieved

  minimum lot size: >= 6000 sq ft

  “R-1-A district shall have a minimum lot size of six thousand (6,000) square feet”

• SetbacksSpecified

  R-1-A residential district inside DeRidder city

  • Other R-1 provisions apply to R-1-A unless stated; R-1 and R-2 yard standards are in Sec. 15-30, not retrieved

  front yard: >= 20 ft · rear yard: >= 10 ft · side yard not abutting a street: >= 5 ft · side yard abutting a street: >= 20 ft

  “yard size requirements for the new R-1-A district shall be as follows: Front yard 20 Feet Rear yard 10 Feet Side yard—Not abutting a street 5 Feet Side yard—Abutting a street 20 Feet”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  New residential construction in areas of special flood hazard inside DeRidder city

  • Applies where base flood elevation data has been provided
  • Engineer, architect or land surveyor certification submitted to the floodplain administrator
  • Manufactured homes and RVs in Zones A, A1-30, AH, AE have separate elevation/anchoring standards

  lowest floor elevation: at or above base flood elevation

  “New construction and substantial improvement of any residential structure shall have the lowest floor (including basement), elevated to or above the base flood elevation.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask DeRidder or Beauregard Parish directly.

• Building permit — Building permits inside DeRidder city
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside DeRidder city
• Inspections — Building inspections inside DeRidder city
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy inside DeRidder city
• Lot coverage — Lot coverage in DeRidder residential districts

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.