Bolthole Index

Bossier Parish, Louisiana

Building permits, zoning and septic in Town of Benton, Louisiana

Town of Benton, Louisiana requires building permits from town building officials or their designee before covered construction and regulated system work.1 Benton has municipal zoning, with planning services from the Benton-Parish Metropolitan Planning Commission.23 Septic approval comes through Louisiana’s state health program, while Benton’s sewer-connection rules can require public sewer instead.45

At a glance

Building permits
Required from town building officials or their designee for covered work1
Zoning
Town zoning; standards depend on the district26
Septic permits
State health approval; check Benton public-sewer requirements first75
RV living
Travel-trailer stays in eligible mobile-home parks are limited to 15 days; private-lot occupancy remains unconfirmed8
R-A lot size
6,000 square feet for a one-family dwelling, subject to zoning exceptions9
Owner-builder
Conditional state contractor-license exemption; building permits and safety codes still apply10
Water wells
State licensed-driller and registration rules apply; domestic wells have different notification timing11

Who to call

Building permits

Benton Town Hall

Starting contact to identify the town building official or designee, current building-permit application and utility connection requirements.

318.965.2781

105 Sibley Street, Benton, LA, USA

Zoning

Benton-Parish Metropolitan Planning Commission

Planning contact for Benton zoning and development questions; listed executive-director contact.

318-549-4572

[email protected]

620 Benton Rd. Bossier City, LA 71111

Zoning

Benton Metropolitan Planning Commission — jurisdiction

Comprehensive planning and orderly development in the Town of Benton and the surrounding MPC area.

Septic permits

Louisiana Department of Health, Onsite Wastewater Program

State septic program; contact the Bossier Parish Health Unit sanitarian for local onsite wastewater permitting.

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 11, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

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Do you need a building permit in Town of Benton, LA?

Benton requires a properly issued building permit before construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, moving, demolition or a change of occupancy, as well as covered electrical, gas, mechanical and plumbing work.1 Benton has adopted the Louisiana State Uniform Construction Code by reference, with the exceptions and amendments in the town ordinance.12

Building your own home does not remove the building-permit requirement: Louisiana’s owner-builder provision is a conditional contractor-licensing exemption, and health and life-safety codes still apply.110 The state exemption requires an owner-builder affidavit for the building permit and leaves licensable subcontractors subject to licensing requirements.10

Who issues building permits in Town of Benton, and who should you call?

Benton’s ordinance assigns covered building permits to town building officials or their designee.13 Call Benton Town Hall’s main line to ask which official or designee handles your project, and request the current application, fee schedule and inspection instructions.14

For zoning and development questions, contact the Benton-Parish Metropolitan Planning Commission, whose jurisdiction includes the Town of Benton.153 We could not confirm Benton’s current general building-permit fees, inspection schedule or separate certificate-of-occupancy requirements; ask Town Hall before setting a construction or move-in date.14

Does Town of Benton have zoning, lot-size rules and setbacks?

Benton has town zoning, including R-A Residence-Agriculture and R-1 One-Family Residence districts; the district matters when evaluating a proposed home.26 For a one-family dwelling in Benton’s R-A district, the minimum building site is 6,000 square feet, subject to the zoning chapter’s exceptions.9 R-A minimum yards are 25 feet in front, 5 feet at the side and 25 feet at the rear, also subject to those exceptions.16

Benton’s R-A structures may not exceed 35 feet or 2½ stories, except as provided in the zoning chapter.17 Ask the Benton-Parish MPC to identify the parcel’s district and applicable exceptions before drawing the house footprint; the R-A dimensions above do not establish R-1 dimensions.615

How do septic permits and sewer connections work inside Town of Benton?

For qualifying occupied or used property in Benton abutting a right-of-way containing an approved public sanitary sewer, the town requires connection when the sewer is within 300 feet of the improvement, within 90 days after official notice to close.5 When public sewer becomes available under the town rules, a private system must be abandoned and filled to the satisfaction of the superintendent and state health department.5

Where private sewage disposal is appropriate, Louisiana requires state health approval before installation, alteration or operation; plans and specifications must be approved.7 Contact the Bossier Parish Health Unit sanitarian through LDH’s parish-health-unit directory for local septic permitting.18 Benton bars subsurface soil-absorption approval where soils are unsuitable or lot area is insufficient, so meeting the zoning lot minimum alone does not establish septic suitability.199

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Town of Benton?

Benton limits a travel trailer to 15 days in a mobile-home park where travel trailers are legally allowed, followed by removal from the park for at least 22 hours before reoccupying a space.8 That park-specific rule does not establish permission to live in an RV on a private residential lot or while building a house.8

We could not confirm a Benton rule specifically authorizing private-lot RV occupancy, tiny-home occupancy or an accessory dwelling; ask the Benton-Parish MPC about the proposed use and district before buying a unit.15 A small house still needs the town building permit for covered construction, and Benton’s sewer or private-sanitation requirements remain relevant to the site.1519

Building a home in Town of Benton: what are the steps before you buy or build?

  1. Ask the Benton-Parish MPC to confirm the parcel’s zoning district and whether the intended residential use fits that district.615
  2. Ask Benton Town Hall whether public sewer connection is required; if private sewage disposal is proposed, contact the parish health-unit sanitarian for state approval before installation.571418
  3. Obtain the town building permit from the town building official or designee before covered work begins, and request current inspection and occupancy instructions.1314

For a new water well, Louisiana requires a licensed drilling contractor and registration within 30 days after completion; domestic wells follow post-installation notification rules rather than the ordinary prior-notification period.11 For land outside town limits, consult the Bossier Parish guide: the parish building-permit requirement covers unincorporated land, while Benton’s ordinance governs covered work inside town.201

Watch-outs

  • Benton’s R-A minimum lot area is a zoning standard, while private sewage disposal also requires suitable soil and sufficient lot area.919
  • Benton’s travel-trailer time limit applies only to mobile-home parks where travel trailers are legally allowed; it does not answer private-lot RV living.8
  • We could not confirm Benton’s minimum dwelling floor area or a municipal agricultural building-permit exemption; ask the Benton-Parish MPC and town building official about your proposed home or farm building.151

Sources

  1. Code of Ordinances: Sec. 105-29. Permit required (Town of Benton), quoted and re-checked
  2. Code of Ordinances: Sec. 130-22. Residential districts (Town of Benton), quoted and re-checked
  3. Benton Metropolitan Planning Commission — jurisdiction (bossierparishla.gov)
  4. Louisiana Administrative Code Title 51, Part XIII, Public Health—Sanitary Code (Louisiana statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  5. Code of Ordinances: Sec. 18-82. Installation of toilet facilities and connection to public sewer required (Town of Benton), quoted and re-checked
  6. Code of Ordinances: Sec. 130-22. Residential districts (Town of Benton), quoted and re-checked
  7. Louisiana Administrative Code Title 51, Part XIII, Public Health—Sanitary Code (Louisiana statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  8. Code of Ordinances: Sec. 115-1. General requirements and specifications for mobile homes; placement standards (Town of Benton), quoted and re-checked
  9. Code of Ordinances: Sec. 130-22. Residential districts (Town of Benton), quoted and re-checked
  10. Louisiana Revised Statutes § 37:2157 — Exemptions (Louisiana statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  11. Louisiana Administrative Code, Title 43, Part VI, §701 (Louisiana statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  12. Code of Ordinances: Sec. 105-28. Adoption of State Uniform Construction Code (Town of Benton), quoted and re-checked
  13. Code of Ordinances: Sec. 105-29. Permit required (Town of Benton), quoted and re-checked
  14. Benton Town Hall (townofbentonlouisiana.com)
  15. Benton-Parish Metropolitan Planning Commission (bossierparishla.gov)
  16. Code of Ordinances: Sec. 130-22. Residential districts (Town of Benton), quoted and re-checked
  17. Code of Ordinances: Sec. 130-22. Residential districts (Town of Benton), quoted and re-checked
  18. Louisiana Department of Health, Onsite Wastewater Program (ldh.la.gov)
  19. Code of Ordinances: Sec. 18-119. Private sewage disposal system to comply with DHHR recommendations (Town of Benton), quoted and re-checked
  20. Bossier Parish Building Safety Code Ordinance 4202 (2026 county census)

Written October 11, 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.

Answers from the rulebook for Town of Benton

Town of Benton’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Construction, alteration, repair, moving, demolition, occupancy changes, and regulated electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing work inside Benton town.

    • A properly issued permit must be obtained from town building officials or their designee before the covered work is done.
    “It shall be unlawful to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change the occupancy of any building or structure, or to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert or replace any electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system, the installation of which is regulated by the technical codes adopted in section 105-28 , or to cause any such work to be done, without obtaining a properly issued permit from the town building officials or their designee for that work.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    Construction occurring or to occur inside Benton town.

    • The ordinance adopts the Louisiana State Uniform Construction Code by reference, with the stated exceptions and amendments in the cited section.
    “the following technical codes are hereby adopted by reference and incorporated herein as if fully set out as the Louisiana State Uniform Construction Code for the administration and enforcement of any construction which occurs, or which is to occur, in the town”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Zoning adopted and administered for land inside Benton town limits.

    “R-A Districts: Residence-Agriculture Districts. These districts are composed mainly of unsubdivided lands that are vacant or in agricultural or forestry uses, with some dwelling and some accessory uses.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Zoning districts inside Benton town, including R-A Residence-Agriculture and R-1 One-Family Residence districts.

    • The cited section publishes district descriptions and permitted, planning-approval, and special-exception uses for R-A and R-1 districts.
    • The opened R-1 excerpt is incomplete for dimensional standards.
    “R-1 Districts: One-Family Residence Districts. These districts are composed mainly of areas containing one-family dwellings and open areas where similar residential development seems likely to occur; few two-family and multiple-family dwellings are found in these areas.”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    One-family dwellings in the R-A Residence-Agriculture district inside Benton town.

    • The rule is subject to exceptions provided in article II of the zoning chapter.

    minimum building site area: 6000 square feet (For a one-family dwelling; except as provided in article II of the zoning chapter.)

    “Except as provided in article II of this chapter, the minimum building site area shall be: For a one-family dwelling 6,000 sq. ft.”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    One-family dwellings in the R-A Residence-Agriculture district inside Benton town.

    • The standards are subject to exceptions provided in article II of the zoning chapter.

    front yard: 25 feet (Except as provided in article II of this chapter.) · side yard: 5 feet (Except as provided in article II of this chapter.) · rear yard: 25 feet (Except as provided in article II of this chapter.)

    “the minimum dimensions of yards shall be: Front yard 25 ft. Side yard 5 ft. Rear yard 25 ft.”
  • Building heightSpecified

    Structures in the R-A Residence-Agriculture district inside Benton town.

    • The rule is subject to exceptions provided in article II of the zoning chapter.

    maximum building height: <= 35 feet (No structure may exceed 2½ stories or 35 feet, except as provided in article II of the chapter.) · maximum stories: <= 2½ stories (Except as provided in article II of the chapter.)

    “no structure shall be designed, erected, or altered to exceed 2½ stories or 35 feet.”
  • Living in an RVLimited

    Travel-trailer occupancy in a mobile-home park inside Benton town, where travel trailers are legally allowed.

    • A travel trailer may occupy a space for a maximum of 15 days.
    • It must be removed from the park for a minimum of 22 hours before reoccupying a space.
    • The rule applies only in a mobile home park in which travel trailers are legally allowed.

    maximum occupancy period: 15 days · minimum removal period: 22 hours

    “In any mobile home park, in which travel trailers are legally allowed, a travel trailer shall occupy a space for a maximum of 15 days and must be removed from the park for a minimum of 22 hours before it may reoccupy a space in the mobile home park.”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Private sewage disposal systems serving property inside Benton town where the public sewer connection rule does not require connection.

    • A private system must comply with state health-department recommendations.
    • No permit shall be issued for subsurface soil absorption where soil is unsuitable or the lot is too small.
    • A private system cannot discharge to a natural outlet.
    • Connection to public sewer is required when available under Sec. 18-82 and Sec. 18-83.
    “The type, capacities, location and layout of a private sewage disposal system shall comply with all recommendations of the state department of health and human resources. No permit shall be issued for any private sewage disposal system employing subsurface soil absorption facilities where the soil is unsuitable for such purposes and/or the area of the lot is of insufficient size”
  • Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

    Property used for human occupancy, employment, recreation, or another purpose inside Benton town and abutting a right-of-way containing a public sanitary sewer approved by or provided by the town.

    • Connection is required within 90 days after official notice to close.
    • The public sewer must be within 300 feet of the improvement.
    • When a sanitary sewer becomes available to property served by private sewage disposal, direct connection is required and the private system must be abandoned and filled with suitable material to the satisfaction of the superintendent and state health department.

    connection deadline: 90 days after official notice to close · maximum sewer distance: <= 300 feet

    “is hereby required at his expense to install suitable toilet facilities therein, and to connect such facilities directly with the property sewer in accordance with the provisions of this article, within 90 days after date of official notice to close, provided that said public sewer is within 300 feet of the improvement.”
  • Permit processPartial

    Building and regulated system permits inside Benton town.

    • The permit must be properly issued by town building officials or their designee.
    • The requirement covers construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, moving, demolition, occupancy changes, and regulated electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing work.
    • The opened source does not provide application forms, review timelines, inspection scheduling, or fees.
    “without obtaining a properly issued permit from the town building officials or their designee for that work.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Town of Benton or Bossier Parish directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemptions from building permits or code requirements inside Benton town.
  • Inspections — Building inspections for construction inside Benton town.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy for buildings inside Benton town.
  • Minimum dwelling size — One-family dwellings in the R-A district inside Benton town.
  • Lot coverage — Lot coverage inside Benton town.
9 more unanswered
  • Tiny homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • Short-term rentals
  • Permit fees

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.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Town of Benton publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Bossier Parish’s page lists the county offices to call.

← All of Bossier Parish: county rules, score and offices