Bolthole Index

East Feliciana Parish, Louisiana

Building permits, zoning and land rules in East Feliciana Parish, Louisiana

67Index Score / 100
#31 of 64 in Louisiana

East Feliciana Parish, Louisiana requires a building permit for new residential construction, with plan review completed before the permit becomes valid.1 The parish also requires zoning approval, a verified emergency address and a floodplain determination before plan review and permitting begin.2 Individual sewerage systems need a state health officer's permit.3

At a glance

Building permit
Required for new residential construction1
Zoning
Yes; parish zoning applies in unincorporated areas4
Septic
State health permit required before installation or operation3
Owner-builder
License exemption for an owner building a primary residence, with conditions5
RV or tiny-home living
Local occupancy rules not confirmed; ask the parish Building Department6
New small subdivision lots
At least 2 acres and 100 feet of public-road frontage for qualifying simple subdivisions7
Private well
Use a licensed driller and confirm state notification requirements8

Who to call

Building permits

East Feliciana Parish Building Department

Residential building permits, plan review, inspections and parish floodplain determinations

225.683.8577

12064 Marston Street, Post Office Box 427, Clinton, LA 70722

Online permits →

Septic permits

Louisiana Department of Health - East Feliciana Parish Health Unit

Local Environmental Health contact for questions about individual sewerage permits

225.683.4148

12080 Marston Street, Clinton, LA 70722

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on September 27, 2026.

Do you need a building permit in East Feliciana Parish, Louisiana?

Yes. East Feliciana Parish requires a permit for new residential construction, and construction may begin only after plan review is complete and the inspection board is issued.1 The Building Department enforces an adopted building code through plan review, permits and field inspections.9

Before the review starts, the parcel division and zoning must be approved, the emergency address must be obtained or verified, and the parish must make its floodplain determination.2 The application package includes ownership evidence, a survey, contractor credentials or the owner-builder affidavit, house plans and a plot plan.10 Parish fees vary with the type and scale of work, so confirm the current total with the Building Department before filing.11

Who issues building permits in East Feliciana Parish?

The East Feliciana Parish Building Department handles residential building permits, plan review, inspections and the parish floodplain determination.6 Its published residential procedure says a building permit covers the review and building process, but the permit is not valid until plan review finishes.1

Contact the department at the number listed above before buying plans or scheduling work. The parish process can also require town approval, so property inside Clinton, Jackson, Slaughter, Wilson or Norwood may have an additional municipal step.1 For unincorporated land, subdivision and resubdivision are regulated before proposed lots can be sold or receive building permits.12 The department's permit page links to an online application portal.6

Does East Feliciana Parish have zoning?

Yes. East Feliciana Parish has a Planning and Zoning Commission, and its planning and development code applies to land, buildings and structures in unincorporated East Feliciana Parish.4 Zoning approval must be complete before residential plan review and permitting begin.1

The available material does not confirm a complete current zoning map or district schedule, so ask the parish Building Department to identify the parcel's district and permitted use before closing. Louisiana law allows parish zoning districts to regulate structure size, lot occupancy, open space, density and land use, but the actual local district controls the parcel.13 For qualifying simple subdivisions with no more than five lots, the parish claim specifies a two-acre minimum lot size and one hundred feet of public-road frontage.7

How do septic permits work in East Feliciana Parish?

Louisiana requires a state health officer's permit before an individual sewerage system is installed, altered or operated, and the permit includes approval of plans and specifications.3 The East Feliciana Parish Health Unit is the local Environmental Health contact; call that office to confirm the application, site-evaluation and inspection sequence for the parcel.14

A septic tank system may be used where community sewer is unavailable and the sanitary-code requirements are met.15 Final approval depends on verifying code-compliant installation through a state representative's on-site inspection, an installer certification, or both.16 Only about eleven percent of parish soils lack severe limitations for a conventional drain field, so make septic feasibility an early contingency rather than assuming a standard system will fit.17

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in East Feliciana Parish?

We could not confirm a parish rule that authorizes long-term RV occupancy, temporary camping on private land or tiny-home occupancy. Ask the East Feliciana Parish Building Department for a written answer tied to the parcel's zoning district before buying or moving a unit. The parish does have zoning in unincorporated areas, and zoning approval is part of the residential permitting sequence.4

A tiny home used as a dwelling should not be assumed exempt from the building process: Louisiana requires residential-code enforcement for covered new construction, reconstruction, additions and extensive alterations.18 Off-grid living also does not remove wastewater oversight; an individual sewerage system requires state approval, and a conventional septic system is available only where community sewer is unavailable and sanitary-code conditions are met.315

Building a home in East Feliciana Parish: what are the steps?

Follow the parish sequence before putting a crew on site:

  1. Confirm ownership, parcel boundaries, subdivision status and zoning approval; proposed subdivisions need parish approval outside incorporated municipal limits.12
  2. Obtain or verify the emergency address and ask the parish whether town approval applies.10
  3. Have the parish complete its floodplain determination; a flood-zone site requires a stamped elevation certificate.19
  4. Resolve sewer availability and obtain state approval for any individual sewerage system through the health authority.315
  5. Submit ownership proof, the survey, credentials or owner-builder affidavit, house plans and the plot plan to the Building Department.10
  6. Wait for completed plan review before beginning construction, then schedule each required inspection before covering the work.120

What should you check before buying land in East Feliciana Parish?

Start with buildability, not the listing description. Ask the parish to verify the parcel's zoning, legal division, road frontage and flood status, because zoning and floodplain review occur before residential permitting.1 If the tract fronts a Louisiana state highway, an access-connection permit must be signed and numbered before driveway construction begins.21

Make the purchase contingent on a workable wastewater plan: only about eleven percent of parish soils lack severe limits for a conventional drain field.17 A private well must be installed by a licensed water-well contractor and registered after completion, while the notification timing depends on the well type.8 For budgeting context, the median annual property-tax bill is about three hundred twenty-eight dollars, but the actual bill depends on the parcel and exemptions.22

Watch-outs

  • Do not start work when the permit is merely purchased; East Feliciana Parish says the permit becomes valid only after plan review is complete.1
  • A flood-zone home needs a stamped elevation certificate, and the completion certificate is due after the slab pour but before framing on the slab.19
  • Owner-builders may construct their own primary residence without a contractor license, but must occupy it and cannot use the exemption to build for rent or sale.5
  • We could not confirm parcel-specific RV, tiny-home, setback or minimum-home-size rules; ask the parish Building Department for the applicable zoning district standards before purchase.6

Sources

  1. Permitting Procedure for New Residential Construction, quoted and re-checked
  2. Permitting Procedure for New Residential Construction (2026 county census)
  3. Louisiana Administrative Code Title 51, Part XIII, Public Health—Sanitary Code (Louisiana statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  4. East Feliciana Parish Code of Ordinances, Chapter 12 Planning and Development (2026 county census)
  5. FAQ – Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors, quoted and re-checked
  6. East Feliciana Parish Building Department (efparish.org)
  7. Appendix A. Subdivision Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  8. Louisiana Administrative Code, Title 43, Part VI, §701 (Louisiana statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  9. 2021 Annual Operating Budget Building Code Fund, quoted and re-checked
  10. Permitting Procedure for New Residential Construction, quoted and re-checked
  11. 2021 Annual Operating Budget Building Code Fund, quoted and re-checked
  12. Appendix A. Subdivision Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  13. RS 33:4780.40 — Regulation authorized (Louisiana statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  14. Louisiana Department of Health - East Feliciana Parish Health Unit (ldh.la.gov)
  15. Louisiana Administrative Code Title 51, Part XIII, Public Health—Sanitary Code (Louisiana statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  16. Louisiana Administrative Code Title 51, Part XIII, Public Health—Sanitary Code (Louisiana statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  17. Share of soils without severe limits for a conventional septic drain field (USDA SSURGO): Bolthole Index county data
  18. Louisiana Revised Statutes 40:1730.23 — Enforcement of building codes by municipalities and parishes (Louisiana statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  19. Permitting Procedure for New Residential Construction, quoted and re-checked
  20. Required Inspections for Residential Construction, quoted and re-checked
  21. LaDOTD Access Connections Policy (Louisiana statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  22. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data

Written September 27, 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

East Feliciana Parish in Louisiana

67
County map
East Feliciana Parish highlighted among the Louisiana counties · colored by Index score

How East Feliciana Parish scores

Seclusion57100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency71100% ev.
Admin Boringness45100% ev.
Durability54100% ev.
Property Autonomy44100% ev.
Carry Cost86100% ev.

Evidence strength: 100%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$222kTypical home
0.2%Property tax
$4,244Land / acre
63"Annual rain
7.3% of yrsSevere drought
7.4 / yr (+6.9)Mid-century 100°F days
15.5 daysMid-century dry spell
3.19" (+2.8%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.35×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$2,494Home insurance / yr
0.8% / yrInsurance growth
0.68%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
12,217People within 30 min
2,292,295People within 2 hr
24,630Radius comparison (15 mi)
42.4People / sq mi
0%Federal land
93.3%Land at 15% slope or less
11.4%Septic soil without severe limits
32,536 acWorkable land screen
72%Wooded land
49.6 tonsBiomass / forest ac
66.9°FAvg temp

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Answers from the rulebook for East Feliciana Parish

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

East Feliciana Parish rules

  • Building permitRequired

    New residential construction administered by the East Feliciana Parish Building Department.

    • Plan review and permitting require completed property divisions and zoning approval, a 911 address, and parish floodplain determination; additional town approval may be required.
    “Although a builder purchases the permit in advance of the plan review, the permit does not become valid until plan review has been completed. [...] The inspection board may be picked up and posted at this time and construction may begin.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    East Feliciana Parish Building Code Department operations.

    “Under the direction of the Building Official, the Building Code Department is responsible for permitting residential and commercial structures, plan review and approval, field inspections, tower inspections, and enforcement of the adopted Building Code.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Residential construction inspections in East Feliciana Parish.

    • Required inspections include pre-pour plumbing, footings and foundation, open wall, insulation, TCI/final, and occupancy; subsequent inspections may incur an additional inspection charge.
    “Inspections will be performed within 48 hours of request. It is the responsibility of the contractor to ensure that an inspection is “passed” before proceeding with work.”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    Simple subdivisions of five lots or fewer in unincorporated East Feliciana Parish.

    • The cited ordinance states a minimum lot size of 2 acres and minimum 100-foot public-road frontage for simple subdivisions with five lots or fewer.

    minimum lot size: >= 2 acres (Simple subdivisions with five lots or fewer) · public road frontage: >= 100 feet (Simple subdivisions with five lots or fewer)

    “12,500 sq. ft. with 100’ of frontage. The minimum lot size for lots created after 2 June 2025 shall be 2 acres density.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision and resubdivision of land outside incorporated municipal limits.

    • Subdivision approval is required before contracts for sale or building permits in proposed subdivisions; incorporated municipal limits are excluded.
    “From and after the date of adoption, these regulations shall govern all subdivisions, sale and transfer of land within the Parish of East Feliciana, except within the corporate limits of any incorporated municipality.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    New residential construction subject to East Feliciana Parish floodplain review.

    • A parish floodplain determination must be completed; if the site is in a flood zone, a stamped elevation certificate from a licensed surveyor, engineer, or architect is required, and the elevation certificate of completion is due after slab pour and before framing on slab begins.
    “Floodplain determination completed by the parish. If in a flood zone, a completed and stamped elevation certificate must be acquired from a licensed surveyor, engineer or architect. The Elevation Certificate of Completion must be turned in after the slab is poured and BEFORE FRAMING ON SLAB BEGINS.”
  • Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

    East Feliciana Parish building permits.

    • The parish budget states that fees are charged and that the fee structure was adjusted in 2011; no current fee schedule or exact fee amounts were located.
    “New Site-Built Construction ------------------------------------------------------ $0.48 sq. ft. Minimum $704.00 Additions/Remodels to existing Buildings ---------------------------------- $0.42 sq. ft. Minimum $286.00”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    New residential construction permitting.

    • Required documentation includes ownership proof, survey map, contractor license or notarized owner exemption affidavit, two standard sets of house plans, and plot plan; sanitation/environmental and water-department approvals are required during construction.
    “To be presented at permitting:  911 address  Town approval (if required)  Floodplain elevation (if required)  Proof of ownership – copy of cash sale, act of donation or tax statement  Survey Map of the property”
  • County-wide zoningPresent

    The parish has a Planning and Zoning Commission and a Planning and Development code (Chapter 12) whose provisions apply to all lands, buildings and structures in unincorporated East Feliciana Parish.

    East Feliciana Parish Code of Ordinances, Chapter 12 Planning and Development ↗Scouted from the county site, not yet independently re-checked

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
    • Conditional — Owner construction of a primary residence in East Feliciana Parish.
      “Louisiana State Contractors’ licensing law allows an owner to build their primary residence without a license. You must live in this home. You cannot build a home to rent or sell without a license.”
  • Certificate of occupancyLimited

    New residential construction in a parish or municipality enforcing the Louisiana State Uniform Construction Code, particularly where a residential mortgage lender is involved.

    • The statute expressly addresses a certificate of occupancy issued by a local building official or third-party provider for new residential construction.
    • Upon receipt of that certificate, a lender providing a residential mortgage loan must file a copy in the parish conveyance records.
    • The homeowner must provide the lender a copy.
    • The lender may assess only a reasonable filing charge not exceeding the amount charged by the parish for filing the document.
    • If the construction-code provisions cease to be enforced in a parish, the statutory filing provisions become null and void there.
    • In areas where windblown-debris storm shutters are required, occupancy may be allowed upon an affidavit that the owner ordered the shutters; installation must occur within ninety days, followed by notification and final inspection.

    storm-shutter installation deadline: 90 days (Applies when occupancy is allowed under the storm-shutter affidavit provision.)

    “Upon receipt of the certificate of occupancy issued by a local building official or third-party provider for a new residential construction, a lender who provides a residential mortgage loan for the purchase of such new residential construction shall file a copy of the certificate of occupancy in the conveyance records of the parish where the new residential construction is located.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Zoning districtsPartial

    Louisiana's statutory zoning framework: parish governing authorities may create zoning districts, while local authority over land-use and zoning requirements is reserved to parishes or municipalities.

    • The statute does not publish a statewide map or a complete list of actual district boundaries.
    • District regulations must be uniform for each class or kind of land and structure within a district, but may differ between districts.
    • Actual zoning districts and ordinances must be obtained from the applicable parish or municipality.
    “the governing authority of a parish may divide the parish into districts of such number, shape, and area as may be deemed best suited”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Municipal zoning districts in Louisiana; the state authorizes municipalities to regulate the size of structures, which may include dwelling-size standards, but does not establish one statewide minimum dwelling size in this provision.

    • Any actual minimum dwelling-size requirement must be found in the applicable municipality's zoning ordinance or district regulations.
    • Local zoning ordinances remain subject to the judicial-review standards stated in the statute.
    “size of structures”
  • SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Municipal zoning districts in Louisiana; municipalities may regulate the size of yards, courts, and other open spaces, which can include setbacks.

    • The applicable setback is determined by the local zoning ordinance and district.
    • No statewide numerical setback is established by the cited statute.
    “size of yards, courts, and other open spaces”
  • Lot coverageDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Municipal zoning districts in Louisiana; municipalities may regulate the percentage of a lot that may be occupied.

    • The applicable lot-coverage percentage is determined by the local zoning ordinance and district.
    • No statewide numerical lot-coverage limit is established by the cited statute.
    “percentage of lot that may be occupied”
  • Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Municipal zoning districts in Louisiana; municipalities may regulate building height and number of stories.

    • The applicable height limit is determined by the local zoning ordinance and district.
    • No statewide numerical building-height limit is established by the cited statute.
    “height, number of stories”
  • Who permits septicState

    Statewide regulation of individual sewerage systems in Louisiana.

    • The Louisiana sanitary code assigns permitting and approval decisions to the state health officer.
    • The rule is promulgated under R.S. 40:4(A)(6) and R.S. 40:5(9)(20).
    “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 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.”
  • 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.”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Use of individual or alternative onsite sewage systems instead of a community-type sewerage system in Louisiana.

    • Individual sanitation is allowed only when community-type sewerage is unavailable or connection is not feasible.
    • The system requires state-health-officer permitting and approved plans.
    • A conventional septic tank system may be used where community sewer is unavailable; an individual mechanical plant may be used only where community sewer is unavailable and the state health officer determines a conventional system would not function properly.
    • Innovative systems are limited to no more than three experimental or developmental installations statewide and require specifically approved plans, specifications, testing procedures, and a prior permit.

    experimental/developmental installations: <= 3 statewide maximum

    “The total number of such installations shall not exceed three throughout the state and shall be approved under the following conditions.”
  • 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.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

    Residential or other individual sewerage-system sites governed by Louisiana Title 51 Part XIII.

    • A temporary individual-system permit may not issue until connection to a community-type sewerage system is determined not feasible.
    • A septic tank system may be used only where a community-type sewerage system is not available and the applicable code requirements are met.
    “Where a community-type sewerage system is not available, a septic tank system may be used provided that the requirements of §§511.B, 701, 703.A, and 705 are complied with.”
  • Agricultural exemptionConditional

    Agricultural-purpose subdivision regulation by parish planning commissions in Louisiana.

    • The statutory exclusion applies to parish planning regulations governing subdivision of land in unincorporated territory for purposes other than agricultural.
    • Municipal planning commissions are separately authorized to regulate subdivision within their jurisdictions; this claim does not establish a municipal agricultural exemption.
    • Other statutory rules may still apply, including utility, drainage, sewerage-disposal, and street-planning requirements for qualifying subdivisions under R.S. 33:106.1.
    “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.”
  • 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.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission — ask the county directly.

  • Living in an RV — Long-term or residential RV occupancy on private land.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy.
  • Manufactured homes — Manufactured-home occupancy.
  • Accessory dwellings — Accessory dwelling units.
1 more unanswered
  • 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.

Water rights & wells in East Feliciana Parish

Whether a new home can legally get its own water here — the sub-state groundwater regime, from Louisiana’s water agency.

Actively managed

This basin is under active state management — new water use is scrutinized, though a domestic well is usually still allowed.

Household wellExempt — no permit or water right

A riparian landowner has a traditional right to withdraw groundwater for domestic use; domestic wells are exempt from registration and from Area-of-Ground-Water-Concern reporting/metering. No bar on new household wells.

Limit: domestic wells exempt from registration and AGWC reporting

Louisiana Ground Water Resources Commission (La. R.S. 38:3091 et seq.) ↗
  • Southern Hills Aquifer — Capital Area Ground Water Conservation District (Baton Rouge)

    Five-parish district (1974) managing heavy withdrawals from the 1,500-ft and 2,000-ft sands to combat subsidence and saltwater intrusion advancing across the Baton Rouge Fault; registers/meters large pumpers and can levy pumpage fees. Small domestic wells are largely unaffected.

    Capital Area Ground Water Conservation Commission (La. R.S. 38:3076 et seq.) ↗

Regulated-riparian state (large uses permitted). Groundwater rules change and basin boundaries follow the aquifer, not the county line — confirm current well and appropriation rules with the Louisiana state water agency before you buy or drill.Groundwater governance as of Jul 2026, cited to each administering agency.

Living off-grid in East Feliciana Parish, Louisiana

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

East Feliciana Parish scores 67/100 on the Bolthole Index, a strong county profile. Its strengths: manageable long-term carry cost and strong self-sufficiency basics: 63″/yr rainfall plus 72% wooded land.

Do you need a building permit in East Feliciana Parish, Louisiana?

East Feliciana Parish generally requires a residential building permit, and it enforces county zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by Louisiana Department of Health, East Feliciana Parish Health Unit. 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 East Feliciana Parish, Louisiana?

Land in East Feliciana Parish runs about $4,244 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in East Feliciana Parish?

East Feliciana Parish gets about 63" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 7.3% of years. On water rights, East Feliciana Parish lies in the Southern Hills Aquifer — Capital Area Ground Water Conservation District (Baton Rouge) — Five-parish district (1974) managing heavy withdrawals from the 1,500-ft and 2,000-ft sands to combat subsidence and saltwater intrusion advancing across the Baton Rouge Fault; registers/meters large pumpers and can levy pumpage fees. Small domestic wells are largely unaffected..

How remote is East Feliciana Parish?

A representative private-land location has about 12,217 people within a 30-minute drive and 2,292,295 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 East Feliciana Parish means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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How East Feliciana compares in Louisiana

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