Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Town of Lake Arthur, Louisiana

Town of Lake Arthur’s own rules

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Construction inside Lake Arthur town limits

  • Excludes farm structures and recreational camps
  • Adopts 2006 editions of the IBC, IEBC, IRC, IMC and IFGC, and the 2005 NEC, with listed chapters/parts excluded
  • Plumbing is under the Louisiana State Plumbing Code enforced by the state health officer

  “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 town.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Fixed residences and dwellings on individual lots inside Lake Arthur town; the code names no zoning district

  • Front yard on both streets of through lots
  • Corner lot side yard abutting the side street at least 3 ft
  • Manufactured homes on individual lots have different side yards (10 ft each) in Sec. 11-30

  front yard: >= 20 feet · side yard each: >= 7 feet · corner lot street-side yard: >= 3 feet · rear yard: >= 15 feet

  “There shall be a front yard having a depth of not less than 20 feet. On through lots, this minimum front yard shall be provided on both streets.”

• Living in an RVTemporary only (with conditions)

  RVs, travel trailers, motor homes and campers used as dwellings inside Lake Arthur town

  • Not allowed as dwellings on individual lots, except as temporary dwelling for no more than 30 days on a lot that has a permanent dwelling
  • Otherwise only in town-council pre-approved parks
  • Not allowed as dwellings next to Arthur Avenue between Hawkeye Street and Third Street (Hwy 14), except as temporary dwellings under subsection (d)

  temporary dwelling use limit: <= 30 days (only on a lot containing a permanent dwelling)

  “Recreational vehicles, travel trailers, motor homes and campers shall not be placed onto individual lots within the town limits to be used as dwellings as of the effective date of this article.”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Camper or RV temporary use as a dwelling on a lot inside Lake Arthur town

  • Only on a lot that contains a permanent dwelling
  • Maximum 30 days as a dwelling
  • Park use needs town council pre-approval

  temporary dwelling use limit: <= 30 days

  “It shall not be used as a dwelling for a period longer than 30 days.”

• Accessory dwellingsLimited

  A second dwelling on an individual lot inside Lake Arthur town

  • Applies to fixed homes and manufactured homes
  • Larger undivided tracts need a special permit from the Town for two or more dwellings
  • Such tracts may be developed as parks with multiple dwellings

  “No two dwellings shall be allowed upon an individual lot within the town limits.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Septic tank or sanitary toilet device inside Lake Arthur town

  • Prior approval by the board of health of Jefferson Davis Parish
  • Septic systems are barred within 300 feet of a town sewer and water main (Sec. 53-6)

  “unless the same is first approved by the board of health of Jefferson Davis Parish.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Septic tanks and outhouses inside Lake Arthur town

  • Prohibited within 300 feet of a town sewage main or lateral and a town waterworks main or lateral
  • Elsewhere requires board of health approval (Sec. 53-4)

  distance to town sewer and water mains: <= 300 feet

  “No person shall use, maintain or permit to be used or maintained in the town, any septic tank, sanitary outhouse or toilet in connection with any residence or building located within 300 feet of any sewage main or lateral”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  Toilet or excreta-disposal facilities inside Lake Arthur town near public sewer or water mains

  • Applies within 300 feet of a public sewer line or main or waterworks main
  • Sec. 53-3 puts on the owner the duty to provide a sanitary disposal method where public sewer is not available

  connection distance: <= 300 feet

  “All toilet or other facilities for the disposal of human excreta within 300 feet of a public sewer line or main or waterworks main shall be connected to such public sewer or main.”

• Subdividing landLimited

  Subdivision proposals and manufactured home parks inside Lake Arthur town; only the flood-hazard standards were found, not a full subdivision ordinance

  • Must meet floodplain development permit requirements
  • Base flood elevation data required for proposals over 50 lots or five acres, whichever is lesser

  “All subdivision proposals including the placement of manufactured home parks and subdivisions shall have adequate drainage provided to reduce exposure to flood hazards.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  New construction and substantial improvement in special flood hazard areas with base flood elevation data inside Lake Arthur town

  • A registered engineer, architect or land surveyor must certify to the floodplain administrator
  • Manufactured homes must be elevated and anchored
  • RVs in A zones must be on site fewer than 180 consecutive days, or be highway-ready, or meet permit and elevation rules
  • Nonresidential buildings may instead be floodproofed

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

Rules another office applies inside Town of Lake Arthur

Town of Lake Arthur does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Septic tanks, outhouses and sanitary toilet devices inside Lake Arthur town; the parish board of health approves them

  • Town code Sec. 53-4 names the board of health of Jefferson Davis Parish as the approving body

  “unless the same is first approved by the board of health of Jefferson Davis Parish.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Town of Lake Arthur or Jefferson Davis Parish directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside Lake Arthur town
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy inside Lake Arthur town
• Local zoning — Zoning ordinance inside Lake Arthur town
• Zoning districts — Zoning districts inside Lake Arthur town
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside Lake Arthur town

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.