Bolthole Index

Bossier Parish, Louisiana

Town of Plain Dealing, Louisiana: building permits, zoning and septic

The Town of Plain Dealing, Louisiana requires a building permit before erecting, affixing or moving a building or mobile home within town limits.1 Plain Dealing names IBTS as its building permit and inspection provider.2 General town zoning remains unconfirmed; ask Town Hall about your proposed use.3 Septic systems fall under Louisiana’s state health permitting rules, separately from building permits.4

At a glance

Building permits
Required before erecting, affixing or moving a building or mobile home; listed exemptions apply.1
Building inspections
Required for work needing a building permit; keep work exposed until approved.5
Zoning
General town zoning is unconfirmed; ask Town Hall about the parcel and intended use.3
Septic permits
State health permit required for an individual sewerage system; confirm sewer availability and local application details.4
RV living
Specific flood-zone standards apply; general permission to live in an RV is unconfirmed.6
Owner-builder
State contractor-license exemption for a personal residence requires an affidavit; building and safety requirements still apply.7
Farm structures
Qualifying farm structures have a building-permit exemption after filing the required affidavit.8

Who to call

Building permits

IBTS — Plain Dealing building permits and inspections

Building permit and inspection services identified by the town; confirm the current application route with IBTS.

318-747-2454

Planning & zoning

Town of Plain Dealing — Town Office

Starting contact for unconfirmed town zoning, land-use, utility and floodplain questions; no separate zoning counter confirmed.

(318) 326-4234

205 W. Palmetto Avenue/ P O Box 426 Plain Dealing, LA 71064

Septic permits

Louisiana Department of Health — Onsite Wastewater Program

State onsite wastewater program; parish health-unit sanitarians operate the local permitting system.

Septic permits

Bossier Parish Health Unit

Local health-unit contact to request the sanitarian and confirm onsite wastewater application requirements for a Plain Dealing address.

(318) 741-7314

3022 Old Minden Road, Bossier City, LA 71112

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 Plain Dealing means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Do you need a building permit in the Town of Plain Dealing, LA?

Plain Dealing requires the owner, authorized agent or contractor to obtain a building permit before a mobile home or other building or structure is affixed, erected or moved onto or off property within town limits.1 Plain Dealing has adopted the current construction-code editions adopted by Louisiana, with appendices excluded unless specifically adopted.9 Qualifying farm structures are exempt from the building permit requirement only after the required affidavit is completed and filed with the clerk of court; the exemption does not authorize violations of other laws or ordinances.8

Who handles building permits and inspections in the Town of Plain Dealing?

Plain Dealing’s current building-permit webpage directs applicants to IBTS for building permit and inspection services at 318-747-2454.2 The town ordinance says the building permit for erecting, affixing or moving a structure must first be obtained from the town clerk.1 Ask IBTS and the Town Office to confirm how the clerk’s authorization fits the current application process.23 Plain Dealing building permit fees generally use square footage under beam under the applicable agreements; the reviewed rule supplies no fixed dollar schedule.10 Permitted work must remain accessible and exposed for inspection until the building official approves it.5

Does the Town of Plain Dealing have zoning, lot-size or setback rules?

We could not confirm a general zoning ordinance, zoning map, minimum lot size, minimum dwelling size or setback schedule for Plain Dealing; ask the Town Office to identify the applicable rules for your parcel before committing to a layout.3 Plain Dealing’s construction-code adoption establishes building standards, but does not answer the unresolved parcel-use questions.9 Floodplain standards are a separate constraint: new residential construction and substantial improvements in covered flood-hazard areas must have the lowest floor, including any basement, at or above base flood elevation where the required elevation data is available.11

How do septic permits work inside the Town of Plain Dealing?

Louisiana requires a state health permit before installing, altering or operating an individual sewerage system, including a septic system in Plain Dealing.4 State approval depends on whether connection to a community sewerage system is feasible and whether soil, drainage, lot dimensions and related conditions support an acceptable onsite system.4 Louisiana Department of Health parish health-unit sanitarians operate the onsite sewage permitting system; contact the Bossier Parish Health Unit to request the sanitarian for a Plain Dealing address.1213 Final approval requires verification through an onsite inspection and/or licensed-installer certification, rather than an assumption that installation alone completes approval.14

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in the Town of Plain Dealing?

Plain Dealing’s verified RV rule concerns designated flood zones, rather than general permission to occupy an RV on private land.6 In the specified flood zones, an RV must either stay fewer than 180 consecutive days, be fully licensed and ready for highway use, or meet the manufactured-home permit, elevation and anchoring requirements.6 Highway-ready means the RV rests on wheels or a jacking system, uses only quick-disconnect utilities and security devices, and has no permanently attached additions.6 General RV occupancy, temporary camping, tiny-home occupancy and accessory dwellings remain unconfirmed; ask the Town Office about your proposed dwelling and site.3

What are the steps to build a home in the Town of Plain Dealing?

Start by asking the Town Office to confirm the parcel’s town-limit status, allowed residential use and floodplain contact.3 Next, contact IBTS for the current building permit application route and inspection arrangements, and reconcile that route with the ordinance’s town-clerk requirement before erecting or moving a structure.21 Resolve sewer service or state onsite wastewater approval before committing to a sewage-system design.4 An owner building a personal residence may use Louisiana’s contractor-license exemption with the required affidavit, but health and life-safety requirements and subcontractor licensing still apply.7 During construction, leave permitted work exposed until inspection approval.5

What should you check before buying land in the Town of Plain Dealing?

Ask the Town Office about sewer and water service, the intended dwelling type, and who administers floodplain review for the address.3 Plain Dealing’s covered floodplain residential work requires elevation compliance and certification from a registered professional engineer, architect or land surveyor to the floodplain administrator.11 For a private well, Louisiana requires licensed drilling and registration of new wells; domestic wells use post-installation notification rather than the ordinary advance-notification procedure.15 Town-specific well restrictions remain unconfirmed; ask the Town Office before selecting a water supply.3 For land outside town limits, use the Bossier Parish guide: the parish building permit requirement cited there concerns unincorporated land.16

Watch-outs

  • Plain Dealing’s flood-zone RV conditions do not establish townwide permission for permanent RV living.6
  • Louisiana’s owner-builder provision exempts qualifying owners from contractor licensing, while building and health requirements continue to apply.7
  • Plain Dealing’s ordinance names the town clerk, while the town website directs building permit and inspection applicants to IBTS; confirm the current application route before starting work.12

Sources

  1. Sec. 8-2. - Permit required for movement of building (Town of Plain Dealing), quoted and re-checked
  2. IBTS — Plain Dealing building permits and inspections (thetownofplaindealing.com)
  3. Town of Plain Dealing — Town Office (thetownofplaindealing.com)
  4. Louisiana Administrative Code Title 51, Part XIII, Public Health—Sanitary Code (Louisiana statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  5. library.municode.com (Town of Plain Dealing), quoted and re-checked
  6. Sec. 18-67. - Specific standards (Town of Plain Dealing), quoted and re-checked
  7. Louisiana Revised Statutes § 37:2157 — Exemptions (Louisiana statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  8. Sec. 8-22. - Work exempt from permit (Town of Plain Dealing), quoted and re-checked
  9. Sec. 8-1. - Adoption of uniform construction code (Town of Plain Dealing), quoted and re-checked
  10. Sec. 8-106. - Building permit valuations (Town of Plain Dealing), quoted and re-checked
  11. Sec. 18-67. - Specific standards (Town of Plain Dealing), quoted and re-checked
  12. Louisiana Department of Health — Onsite Wastewater Program (ldh.la.gov)
  13. Bossier Parish Health Unit (ldh.la.gov)
  14. Louisiana Administrative Code Title 51, Part XIII, Public Health—Sanitary Code (Louisiana statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  15. Louisiana Administrative Code, Title 43, Part VI, §701 (Louisiana statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  16. 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 Plain Dealing

Town of Plain Dealing’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Affixing, erecting, or moving a mobile home or other building or structure on or off real property in Plain Dealing town corporate limits.

    • The owner, authorized agent, or contractor must first obtain a permit from the town clerk.
    • Other work exemptions are listed in Sec. 8-22, including specified accessory structures, fences, sidewalks, driveways, repairs, and farm structures after the required affidavit.
    “No mobile home or any other types of building or structure shall be affixed to, erected or moved upon or off of any real property in the corporate limits of the town without the owner, authorized agent, or contractor first having obtained a permit from the town clerk of the town authorizing such action.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Construction of buildings and other structures in Plain Dealing town.

    • The adopted codes are the current editions adopted by the state.
    • The International Residential Code enforcement described in subsection (3) is mandatory only for new construction, reconstruction, additions to homes previously built to the International Residential Code, and extensive alterations.
    • Extensive alteration means work exceeding 50 percent of the dwelling-unit area.
    • Appendices are excluded unless specifically adopted.
    • Manufactured-housing work remains subject to applicable federal and state standards and state manufactured housing commission jurisdiction.
    “Pursuant to R.S. 40:1730.21 et seq., the following construction codes (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "code" in this chapter) are hereby adopted as the regulations governing construction of buildings and other structures in the town. Unless specified, all standards contained in a referenced code are adopted and included for purposes of this chapter. Unless referenced by name or letter designation, no appendix or appendices to the codes specified herein are adopted.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Construction or work in Plain Dealing for which a building permit is required.

    • Work must remain accessible and exposed for inspection until approved.
    • The permit applicant must cause the work to remain accessible and exposed.
    • Inspection approval does not approve violations of the code or other town ordinances.
    “Construction or work for which a permit is required shall be subject to inspection by the building official and such construction or work shall remain accessible and exposed for inspection purposes until approved.”
  • Living in an RVLimited

    Recreational vehicles placed on sites inside Plain Dealing town that are within Zones A1-30, AH, and AE on the community FIRM.

    • The RV must be on site fewer than 180 consecutive days, or fully licensed and ready for highway use, or meet the permit, elevation, and anchoring requirements applicable to manufactured homes.
    • A ready-for-highway-use RV must be on its wheels or jacking system, attached only by quick-disconnect utilities and security devices, and have no permanently attached additions.

    maximum consecutive days: < 180 days

    “Recreational vehicles placed on sites within Zones A1-30, AH, and AE on the community's FIRM are required to either: 1. Be on the site for fewer than 180 consecutive days; 2. Be fully licensed and ready for highway use; or 3. Meet the permit requirements of section 18-45 (a), and the elevation and anchoring requirements for the term "manufactured homes" in subsection (4) of this section. b. A recreational vehicle is ready for highway use if it is on its wheels or jacking system, is attached to the site only by quick disconnect type utilities and security devices, and has no permanently attached additions.”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Manufactured homes placed or substantially improved inside Plain Dealing town in specified special-flood-hazard zones.

    • In Zone A, manufactured homes must be elevated and anchored to minimize flood damage.
    • In Zones A1-30, AH, and AE, specified sites require elevation to or above base flood elevation and secure anchoring; some existing manufactured-home-park sites may use reinforced piers at least 36 inches above grade.
    • These floodplain standards do not establish a general townwide manufactured-home zoning rule.

    minimum pier height in specified exception: >= 36 inches above grade (Only for certain existing manufactured-home-park sites under Sec. 18-67(4)(c).)

    “Manufactured homes that are placed or substantially improved within Zones A1-30, AH, and AE on the community's FIRM on sites outside of a manufactured home park or subdivision, in a new manufactured home park or subdivision, in an expansion to an existing manufactured home park or subdivision, or in an existing manufactured home park or subdivision on which a manufactured home has incurred substantial damage as a result of a flood, are required to be elevated on a permanent foundation such that the lowest floor of the manufactured home is elevated to or above the base flood elevation, and are securely anchored to an adequately anchored foundation system to resist flotation, collapse, and lateral movement.”
  • Agricultural exemptionConditional

    Farm structures as defined by the Louisiana State Uniform Construction Code Council in Plain Dealing town.

    • The exemption applies only once the affidavit is completed and filed with the clerk of court.
    • The exemption does not authorize work violating the code or other laws or ordinances.
    “Farm structures, as defined by the Louisiana State Uniform Construction Code Council, once the affidavit is completed and filed with the clerk of court.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Development and construction in areas of special flood hazard inside Plain Dealing town.

    • New residential construction and substantial improvement must have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated to or above base flood elevation where base-flood-elevation data has been provided.
    • A registered professional engineer, architect, or land surveyor must submit certification to the floodplain administrator.
    • Nonresidential construction has alternative elevation or floodproofing requirements.
    • Enclosures below the lowest floor require flood openings or certified equivalent design.
    • Manufactured homes and recreational vehicles have additional zone-specific requirements.

    flood-opening area: >= one square inch per square foot (At least two openings on separate walls; bottoms no higher than one foot above grade.)

    “Residential construction. New construction and substantial improvement of any residential structure shall have the lowest floor (including basement) elevated to or above the base flood elevation. A registered professional engineer, architect, or land surveyor shall submit a certification to the floodplain administrator that the standard of this subsection as proposed in section 18-45 (a)(1), is satisfied.”
  • Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

    Building permits in Plain Dealing town.

    • Fees are calculated under agreements; the reviewed section does not state a fixed dollar amount.
    • The calculation is based on square footage under beam.

    fee basis: square footage under beam (As prescribed in the agreements.)

    “Generally, building permit fees shall be calculated based on the square footage under beam as prescribed in the agreements.”
  • Permit processPartial

    Building-permit work in Plain Dealing town.

    • For covered structures, the permit must be obtained before affixing, erecting, or moving the structure.
    • Permit exemptions apply to listed work, but exempt work must still comply with the code and other laws and ordinances.
    • Permitted work is subject to inspection and must remain accessible and exposed until approved.
    “No mobile home or any other types of building or structure shall be affixed to, erected or moved upon or off of any real property in the corporate limits of the town without the owner, authorized agent, or contractor first having obtained a permit from the town clerk of the town authorizing such action.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder work in Plain Dealing town.
  • Local zoning — Land inside Plain Dealing town limits.
  • Zoning districts — Zoning districts inside Plain Dealing town limits.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Residential dwellings inside Plain Dealing town limits.
  • Minimum lot size — Residential lots inside Plain Dealing town limits.
12 more unanswered
  • Setbacks
  • Lot coverage
  • Building height
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Short-term rentals

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 Plain Dealing 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