Bolthole Index

Morehouse Parish, Louisiana

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in Bastrop, Louisiana

Bastrop, Louisiana administers building permits for construction covered by the state construction code through the city, whose Building Code Department is the starting contact.12 Bastrop has municipal zoning, while individual septic systems need Louisiana Department of Health approval through parish sanitarians.345 For land in Morehouse Parish outside Bastrop, use the Morehouse Parish guide for the separate parish building authority.6

At a glance

Building permits
City-administered for state-code-covered construction; plumbing and gas permits required unless excepted17
Zoning
Municipal zoning and development code; ask the city for the parcel district38
Septic permits
State health approval through parish sanitarians45
RV living
City flood-zone conditions apply; general residential occupancy remains unconfirmed9
Tiny homes
Storage buildings cannot be used as homes; ask the city about a purpose-built tiny home28
Owner-builder
Personal-residence contractor-license exemption requires an affidavit; building and safety requirements remain10
Published fees
Residential electrical permit $150; mobile home permit $32511

Who to call

Building permits

Bastrop Building Code Department

City building applications, inspection requests, published trade-permit fees and sewer-tap questions

(318) 283-3353

202 E. Jefferson Avenue Room 230 Bastrop, LA 71220

Zoning

Bastrop Code Enforcement & Zoning

City contact for parcel zoning, permitted uses and dimensional requirements

(318) 283-3308

Planning & zoning

Bastrop Planning and Zoning Commission

Municipal zoning and development code administration

Septic permits

Louisiana Department of Health, Office of Public Health Region 8

Regional health office covering Morehouse Parish; contact it for routing to the parish sanitarian who administers onsite sewage permits

318-361-7201

1650 Desiard St., 2nd Floor Monroe, LA 71201

Septic permits

Louisiana Department of Health Onsite Wastewater Program

Statewide onsite wastewater regulation and the parish-health-unit permitting system

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

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Do you need a building permit in Bastrop, Louisiana?

Bastrop administers building permits for construction subject to Louisiana’s State Uniform Construction Code, including new residential construction, reconstruction, additions to homes previously built to the residential code and extensive alterations.1 Bastrop has adopted the state construction codes for buildings and other structures in the city.12 Plumbing or gas piping work in Bastrop cannot start before a plumbing permit is issued unless the work is expressly excepted.7 Ask the Bastrop Building Code Department to identify the building and trade applications for your specific project before starting work.2

Who handles Bastrop building permits and inspections?

The Bastrop Building Code Department lists its office at 202 E. Jefferson Avenue, Room 230, Bastrop, LA 71220, and its phone as (318) 283-3353.2 Bastrop lists a residential electrical permit at $150, a commercial electrical permit at $250 and a mobile home permit at $325; sewer-tap prices vary by size.11 These are specific permit charges, so ask the department for the full set of charges for your project.2 When requesting a Bastrop inspection, provide the permit type and number, project address and inspection type; the city’s inspection list is not exhaustive, and some inspections may be combined or unnecessary.13

Does Bastrop have zoning, lot-size rules and setbacks?

Bastrop’s Planning and Zoning Commission administers a municipal zoning and development code regulating construction and building uses.3 Bastrop Code Enforcement & Zoning directs questions to City Hall at (318) 283-3308.8 Ask that office for the parcel’s zoning district, permitted residential uses, minimum lot area, setbacks and any minimum dwelling size before choosing a house plan.8 Louisiana allows district regulations to differ between districts, and actual setback and dwelling-size standards come from the applicable local ordinance.141516 We could not confirm Bastrop’s numerical district standards; request the relevant district schedule from the city.8

How do septic permits work inside Bastrop?

An individual sewerage system serving Bastrop property needs state-health-officer approval before installation, alteration or operation, including approval of plans and specifications.4 Louisiana Department of Health parish sanitarians operate the onsite sewage permitting system; the regional health office covers Morehouse Parish and can route you to the parish contact.517 Septic approval depends on whether community sewer connection is feasible and on soils, drainage and lot dimensions.4 For Bastrop subdivision proposals, public sewer available within 300 feet triggers installation and connection requirements for the subdivider; private sewer systems where public sewer is not reasonably accessible require city-engineer and parish-health-unit supervision.18 Final septic approval requires verification of compliant installation.19

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Bastrop?

Bastrop’s RV rule for designated flood zones allows alternatives: fewer than 180 consecutive days on site, being fully licensed and ready for highway use, or meeting the referenced floodplain permit, elevation and anchoring requirements.9 Highway-ready RVs must have quick-disconnect utilities and no permanently attached additions.9 That flood rule does not establish general permission to occupy an RV as a residence; ask Bastrop Code Enforcement & Zoning about the proposed address and duration.98 Bastrop’s Building Code Department explicitly warns that storage buildings cannot be placed on land to live in.2 We could not confirm approval conditions for purpose-built tiny homes or accessory dwellings; ask the city before ordering either.8

Building a home in Bastrop: what should you do first?

  1. Ask Bastrop Code Enforcement & Zoning to confirm the proposed residential use and parcel district before finalizing the site layout.8
  2. Resolve sewer availability with the city and, where an individual system is proposed, obtain Louisiana health approval of the system and plans.184
  3. Ask the Building Code Department for project-specific building applications and plan-review requirements; Bastrop provides plan review for state-code-covered structures.213
  4. If building your own personal residence, obtain the state owner-builder affidavit; the contractor-license exemption leaves health and life-safety requirements in force.10
  5. Schedule the applicable city inspections and arrange final verification of any septic installation.2019

What should you check before buying land in Bastrop?

Ask the city about floodplain status before committing to a building footprint: Bastrop’s residential flood standards require the lowest floor, including a basement, at or above base flood elevation where that data is provided, with professional certification.21 For a private well, Louisiana requires a licensed drilling contractor and registration after completion; domestic wells use post-installation notification rather than the ordinary advance-notification route.22 For access to a state highway, obtain the state-highway access permit before construction; ask the city separately about access to a local street.238 We could not confirm Bastrop’s local driveway or certificate-of-occupancy procedure; request those requirements from the Building Code Department before setting a move-in date.2

Watch-outs

  • Bastrop prohibits living in storage buildings; do not assume a shed purchase provides an approved tiny home.2
  • Bastrop’s flood-zone RV alternatives do not settle residential zoning approval for an RV site.98
  • Owner-installed plumbing in a qualifying Bastrop single-family dwelling must meet the codes, and a sewer line tapped into the city sewer must be installed by a licensed plumber.24

Sources

  1. Louisiana Revised Statutes 40:1730.23 — Enforcement of building codes by municipalities and parishes (Louisiana statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  2. Bastrop Building Code Department (cityofbastrop.com)
  3. Bastrop Planning and Zoning Commission (cityofbastrop.com)
  4. Louisiana Administrative Code Title 51, Part XIII, Public Health—Sanitary Code (Louisiana statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  5. Louisiana Department of Health Onsite Wastewater Program (ldh.la.gov)
  6. RS 40:1730.23. Enforcement of building codes by municipalities and parishes (Louisiana statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  7. Sec. 6-101. Permits for plumbing works—Required (Bastrop), quoted and re-checked
  8. Bastrop Code Enforcement & Zoning (cityofbastrop.com)
  9. Sec. 6-353. Specific standards (Bastrop), quoted and re-checked
  10. Louisiana Revised Statutes § 37:2157 — Exemptions (Louisiana statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  11. Building Permits & Inspections – Bastrop, Louisiana (Bastrop), quoted and re-checked
  12. Sec. 6-3. Adoption of state uniform construction codes (Bastrop), quoted and re-checked
  13. Building Permits & Inspections – Bastrop, Louisiana (Bastrop), quoted and re-checked
  14. Louisiana Laws — creation of parish zoning districts (Louisiana statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  15. RS 33:4721 — Regulation of size and use of buildings (Louisiana statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  16. RS 33:4721 — Regulation of size and use of buildings (Louisiana statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  17. Louisiana Department of Health, Office of Public Health Region 8 (ldh.la.gov)
  18. library.municode.com (Bastrop), quoted and re-checked
  19. Louisiana Administrative Code Title 51, Part XIII, Public Health—Sanitary Code (Louisiana statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  20. Building Permits & Inspections – Bastrop, Louisiana (Bastrop), quoted and re-checked
  21. Sec. 6-353. Specific standards (Bastrop), quoted and re-checked
  22. Louisiana Administrative Code, Title 43, Part VI, §701 (Louisiana statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  23. LaDOTD Access Connections Policy (Louisiana statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  24. Sec. 6-101. Permits for plumbing works—Required (Bastrop), quoted and re-checked

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 Bastrop

Bastrop’s own rules

  • Building permitLimited

    At least plumbing and gas piping work, and electric signs, inside Bastrop city.

    • Plumbing or gas piping work must obtain a permit before starting unless expressly excepted.
    • All signs installed in the City of Bastrop require permits according to the city building page.
    • The general building-permit requirement for every construction category was not established from the opened sources.
    “No plumbing or gas piping work, unless expressly excepted from this code, shall be started prior to the issuance of a permit by the plumbing official.”
  • Owner-builder exemptionConditional

    Owner installation of plumbing in a single-family dwelling used exclusively for living purposes inside Bastrop city.

    • The person must be the bona fide owner of the dwelling.
    • The dwelling must be single-family and used exclusively for living purposes.
    • All work must comply with the applicable code and related codes.
    • The exemption does not authorize an owner to install a sewer line tapped into a city sewer; only a licensed plumber may do that.
    “Any person may be allowed to install plumbing in a single family dwelling used exclusively for living purposes, including the usual accessory buildings and quarters in connection with such building, provided the person is the bona fide owner of such dwelling. All work must be installed in accordance with the provisions of this code and related codes as described herein.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    Construction of buildings and other structures in Bastrop city.

    • The city adopts the current state-adopted editions of the listed codes unless specified otherwise.
    • The IRC enforcement provisions are mandatory only for new construction, reconstruction, additions to homes previously built to the IRC, and extensive alterations.
    • The Louisiana State Plumbing Code remains subject to state enforcement responsibility.
    • Manufactured housing construction and installation remain subject to applicable federal and state standards.
    “Pursuant to R.S. 40:1730.21 et seq., the following construction codes (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "code") are hereby adopted as the regulations governing construction of buildings and other structures in City of Bastrop.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Building-code inspection requests for projects inside Bastrop city.

    • The city states the published list is not all-inclusive.
    • Some listed inspections may be combined or may not be required.
    • Inspection requests require the permit type and number, project address, and inspection type.
    “This is not an all inclusive list, others may be required, and some inspections listed can be combined. (i.e. item 5 & 6, or may not be required)”
  • Living in an RVLimited

    Recreational vehicles placed on sites in flood zones A1-30, AH, and AE inside Bastrop city.

    • The RV must be on site fewer than 180 consecutive days, or be fully licensed and ready for highway use, or meet the floodplain permit, elevation, and anchoring requirements for 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 without alternative compliance: < 180 days (Alternative compliance is available for fully licensed and highway-ready RVs or qualifying floodplain permits/elevation/anchoring.)

    “Require that recreational vehicles placed on sites within zones A1-30, AH, and AE on the community's FIRM either (i) be on the site for fewer than one hundred eighty (180) consecutive days, or (ii) be fully licensed and ready for highway use, or (iii) meet the permit requirements of division 4, section 6-350 (1), and the elevation and anchoring requirements for "manufactured homes" in paragraph (4) of this section.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupConditional

    Residential subdivision lots inside Bastrop city.

    • Where public sanitary sewer is available within 300 feet, the subdivider must install a sanitary sewer system with a stub-out for each lot and connect it to the public sanitary sewer.
    • Where public sanitary sewer is not reasonably accessible, a private sanitary sewer system may be installed under city engineer and parish health unit supervision.
    • Public water supply provisions depend on reasonable accessibility as determined by the franchised public water service.

    public sanitary sewer availability distance: <= 300 feet (The rule is stated for subdivision proposals.)

    “Where a public sanitary sewer is available within three hundred (300) feet, the subdivider shall install a sanitary sewer system with a stub-out for each lot in the proposed subdivision and shall connect such system to the public sanitary sewer.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Development and subdivision proposals in special flood-hazard areas inside Bastrop city.

    • Residential construction must elevate the lowest floor, including basement, to or above the base flood elevation where base flood elevation data is provided.
    • A registered professional engineer, architect, or land surveyor must submit certification for the residential elevation standard.
    • Subdivision proposals and manufactured-home parks/subdivisions must meet floodplain development permit requirements.
    • For subdivision proposals or other development greater than 50 lots or 5 acres, whichever is lesser, base-flood elevation data must be generated if not otherwise provided.
    • Adequate drainage and flood-minimizing public utilities are required.

    development threshold for required base-flood-elevation data: 50 lots or 5 acres, whichever is lesser (Applies if data is not otherwise provided.)

    “All proposals for the development of subdivisions including the placement of manufactured home parks and subdivisions shall meet Floodplain Development Permit requirements of division 3, section 6-343 ; division 4, section 6-350 ; and the provisions of division 5 of this article.”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Certain permits and sewer taps inside Bastrop city.

    • Residential electrical permits are listed at $150.
    • Commercial electrical permits are listed at $250.
    • Mobile home permits are listed at $325.
    • Sewer tap prices vary by size.

    residential electrical permit: 150 USD · commercial electrical permit: 250 USD · mobile home permit: 325 USD · sewer tap fee: varies by size

    “Residential Electrical Permits – $150 Commercial Electrical Permits – $250 Mobile Home Permits – $325”
  • Permit processPartial

    Building and inspection processes inside Bastrop city.

    • Inspection requests require permit type and number, project address, and inspection type.
    • The city provides plan-review information for structures subject to the Louisiana State Uniform Construction Codes.
    • The published inspection list is not all-inclusive and some inspections may be combined or may not be required.
    “To request an inspection you need to be prepared to provide the following information when making the request: 1. Permit type and number 2. Address of project 3. Type of inspection”

Still unanswered

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

  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy for buildings or changes of use inside Bastrop city.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Single-family and agricultural or rural residential districts inside Bastrop city.
  • Setbacks — Single-family and agricultural or rural residential districts inside Bastrop city.
  • Lot coverage — Single-family and agricultural or rural residential districts inside Bastrop city.
  • Building height — Single-family and agricultural or rural residential districts inside Bastrop city.
10 more unanswered
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • 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 Bastrop publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Morehouse Parish’s page lists the county offices to call.

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