Bolthole Index

West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana

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

70Index Score / 100
#22 of 64 in Louisiana

West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana requires building permits before construction or renovation and for listed electrical, plumbing, gas, manufactured-building, roofing and demolition work.1 The parish also enforces adopted building codes and zoning.23 A private septic system needs state approval, so contact the West Feliciana Parish Health Unit before planning the house site.45

At a glance

Building permit
Required for construction, renovation and listed trade work1
Zoning
Parish zoning applies; confirm the parcel's district36
Septic
A state health permit is required before installation, alteration or operation4
RV living
Not confirmed; ask Planning and Zoning about the parcel and proposed occupancy3
Tiny home
Not confirmed; zoning district and adopted building codes matter62
Owner-builder
Allowed for a qualifying personal residence with an exemption affidavit7
Water well
Use a licensed driller; state notification and registration rules apply8

Who to call

Building permits

West Feliciana Parish Development Services

Building, electrical, plumbing, manufactured housing, roofing and other parish permits

225-784-3725

[email protected]

5934 Commerce Street, St. Francisville, Louisiana 70775

Online permits →

Septic permits

West Feliciana Parish Health Unit - Environmental Health

Environmental Health services and the local contact for state onsite wastewater requirements

225-635-2165

5154 Burnett Road, St. Francisville, LA 70775

Roads & driveways

West Feliciana Parish Roads and Bridges

Parish roads, bridges and road-barn questions

225-635-6126

5934 Commerce Street, St. Francisville, LA 70775

Online permits →

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 West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana?

Yes. West Feliciana Parish requires a permit before beginning construction or renovation, electrical wiring, plumbing or gas piping, moving a manufactured, modular or portable building, reroofing or demolition.1 The parish enforces its adopted building codes for structures within parish boundaries.2 Louisiana's local code-enforcement process includes plan review, inspections and permit decisions by building officials or certified third-party providers.9

For a house, contact West Feliciana Parish Development Services before ordering plans or clearing the building pad. The parish permit page lists building, electrical, plumbing, manufactured-housing and roofing permits and directs applicants to apply online.10 The published materials do not confirm a general local certificate-of-occupancy rule, so ask Development Services which inspections and closeout documents apply to your project.

Who issues building permits in West Feliciana Parish, and how do you reach them?

West Feliciana Parish Development Services is the practical first stop for building and zoning questions. Its official permit page lists the permit categories and provides the online application route.10 Call the office at the contact shown above before submitting if the project involves a portable building, manufactured home, reroofing, demolition or multiple construction trades, because each is included in the parish permit requirement.1

Planning and Zoning also publishes construction-plan, site-plan, zoning-verification, rezoning, variance and subdivision materials.11 The parish fee schedule publishes charges for planning and zoning applications, including zoning changes, minor subdivisions, variances, flood-elevation letters and zoning-verification letters; those are not necessarily the building-permit fee.12 Ask Development Services for the current building-permit charge and the required plan set before filing.

Does West Feliciana Parish have zoning?

Yes. West Feliciana Parish has a zoning ordinance, although applicability can differ inside incorporated jurisdictions.3 The parish's zoning-verification process asks for the current zone district and anticipated building type, which means a parcel's district matters before a buyer assumes a use is allowed.6 Planning staff also checks land-use and subdivision proposals against subdivision regulations and the comprehensive land-use plan.13

We could not confirm parishwide numeric rules for minimum dwelling size, minimum lot size, setbacks, lot coverage or building height. Ask Planning and Zoning for written zoning verification tied to the parcel and proposed building. Louisiana law permits local zoning rules to vary by district, so a rule from another Louisiana municipality should not be applied to unincorporated West Feliciana Parish.14

How do septic permits work in West Feliciana Parish?

Louisiana requires a state-health permit before a private sewerage system is installed, altered or operated, and the permit process includes approval of the plans and specifications.4 Contact the West Feliciana Parish Health Unit's Environmental Health office before fixing the house location or buying a system.5 A conventional septic tank system may be used only where community sewer is unavailable and the sanitary-code requirements are met.15

Final approval requires verification that the installation complies with the sanitary code, through an onsite inspection and/or the licensed installer's certification.16 Only about 19.1% of parish soils are rated without severe limitations for a conventional drain field, so make the site evaluation an early contingency rather than assuming a standard field will work.17

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on land in West Feliciana Parish?

We could not confirm a West Feliciana Parish rule that generally allows or forbids living in an RV on private land. The Louisiana rule for state-park stays does not answer private-land occupancy, so ask parish Planning and Zoning about the parcel's district, duration of occupancy, utility connections and whether construction must already be underway.3

We also could not confirm a parishwide tiny-home occupancy rule or minimum dwelling size. A tiny home intended as a residence still has to be evaluated against the parcel's zoning district and the parish's adopted building codes.62 A manufactured or portable building is expressly among the moves that require a parish permit, but that fact alone does not establish residential occupancy approval.1 Get the answer in writing from Development Services before purchasing or delivering the unit.

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

  1. Ask Development Services to confirm the parcel's zoning district, proposed residential use and the plans required for a building permit.6
  1. Contact the West Feliciana Parish Health Unit for the private-sewerage review before placing the house, well and driveway.45
  1. If building as an owner-builder, submit the required exemption affidavit; the personal-residence exemption is limited to one residence per year except for the stated relocation or marital-status exception.7
  1. Apply for the building and applicable trade permits before starting work.1
  1. Obtain Public Works approval before installing a driveway pipe on a parish roadside ditch, or obtain a state access permit before work in a state-highway right-of-way.1819
  1. Schedule required code and septic verification with the issuing authorities and ask Development Services what closeout document is required.2016

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

Start with written zoning verification and confirm whether the parcel is inside an incorporated jurisdiction, because parish zoning applicability can differ there.3 Confirm legal access and drainage before closing: a parish driveway pipe needs Public Works approval before installation, while access connecting to a state highway requires a signed state permit before construction.1819

Make septic feasibility a contract contingency because only about 19.1% of parish soils are rated without severe limitations for conventional drain fields.17 For a new water well, Louisiana generally requires a licensed driller, state notification and registration after completion, with different timing for domestic wells and other listed exceptions.8 Check flood status with Development Services because the parish enforces floodplain-management requirements for substantially improved or substantially damaged buildings.21 Finally, budget around an effective property-tax rate of about 0.5% and a median annual property-tax bill of about $1,359, while verifying the actual assessment for the parcel.2223

Watch-outs

  • Do not start construction, renovation or listed trade work before the parish permit is issued.1
  • Do not assume an RV or tiny home is approved for occupancy; ask Planning and Zoning for a parcel-specific written answer.36
  • Do not install a parish-road driveway pipe before Public Works approves it.18
  • Treat conventional septic feasibility as an early due-diligence item because most parish soils carry severe drain-field limitations.17

Sources

  1. West Feliciana Parish Hazard Mitigation Plan, quoted and re-checked
  2. West Feliciana Parish Hazard Mitigation Plan, quoted and re-checked
  3. West Feliciana Parish Hazard Mitigation Plan, quoted and re-checked
  4. Louisiana Administrative Code Title 51, Part XIII, Public Health—Sanitary Code (Louisiana statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  5. West Feliciana Parish Health Unit - Environmental Health (ldh.la.gov)
  6. Application for Zoning Verification, quoted and re-checked
  7. Louisiana Revised Statutes §2157. Exemptions, quoted and re-checked
  8. Louisiana Administrative Code, Title 43, Part VI, §701 (Louisiana statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  9. RS 40:1730.23 — Enforcement of building codes by municipalities, parishes, and the fire marshal (Louisiana statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  10. West Feliciana Parish Development Services (wfparish.org)
  11. Planning and Zoning, quoted and re-checked
  12. Planning and Zoning Fees, quoted and re-checked
  13. Planning and Zoning, quoted and re-checked
  14. Louisiana Laws — creation of parish zoning districts (Louisiana statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  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. Apply for a Permit, quoted and re-checked
  19. LaDOTD Access Connections Policy (Louisiana statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  20. R.S. 40:1730.23 — Enforcement of building codes by municipalities, parishes, and the fire marshal (Louisiana statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  21. West Feliciana Parish Hazard Mitigation Plan, quoted and re-checked
  22. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  23. 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

West Feliciana Parish in Louisiana

70
County map
West Feliciana Parish highlighted among the Louisiana counties · colored by Index score

How West Feliciana Parish scores

Seclusion75100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency64100% ev.
Admin Boringness45100% ev.
Durability56100% ev.
Property Autonomy44100% ev.
Carry Cost8396% 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 →

$390kTypical home
0.5%Property tax
$3,197Land / acre
61.8"Annual rain
7.4% of yrsSevere drought
6.2 / yr (+5.9)Mid-century 100°F days
16.5 daysMid-century dry spell
3.3" (+6%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.35×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$2,643Home insurance / yr
1.3% / yrInsurance growth
0.55%Nonrenewal rate
single ZIP shrunk to state medianInsurance basis
5,265People within 30 min
1,602,924People within 2 hr
24,961Radius comparison (15 mi)
38.1People / sq mi
4.5%Federal land
76.6%Land at 15% slope or less
19.1%Septic soil without severe limits
45,779 acWorkable land screen
73.8%Wooded land
59.9 tonsBiomass / forest ac
67.2°FAvg temp

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Answers from the rulebook for West Feliciana Parish

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

West Feliciana Parish rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Construction and listed renovation, utility, manufactured-building, roofing, and demolition work within West Feliciana Parish.

    • Required before beginning construction or renovation projects, electrical wiring installation, plumbing or gas piping, moving manufactured/modular or portable buildings, reroofing, or demolitions.
    “Building permits are required before beginning any construction or renovation projects, electrical wiring installation, plumbing or gas piping, moving manufactured/modular or portable buildings, and reroofing or demolitions.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Adopted building codes enforced for structures in West Feliciana Parish.

    • The source states that all adopted building codes are enforced and in compliance; it does not identify each code edition.
    “As of the 2024 update, West Feliciana Parish and its jurisdictions ensure that all adopted building codes are enforced and in compliance relating to the construction of any structure within the boundaries of the Parish.”
  • County-wide zoningPresent (with conditions)

    West Feliciana Parish zoning and land-use regulation.

    • The parish hazard mitigation plan identifies a zoning ordinance for the parish; applicability may differ in incorporated jurisdictions.
    “West Feliciana Parish St. Francisville Comments [...] Zoning Ordinance Yes Yes”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Parish zoning districts and zoning verification.

    • The parish zoning-verification application requests the current zone district and identifies required use standards or limitations for special-use-permit approval.
    “Current Zone District Current Building Type(s) Anticipated Building Type (s) (if different)”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision development in West Feliciana Parish.

    • The planning department verifies compliance with subdivision regulations and the comprehensive land use plan.
    “This office will address land use situations and subdivision regulations verifying compliance with the Subdivision Regulations and Comprehensive Land Use Plan.”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    Driveway pipes and roadside-ditch access work under West Feliciana Parish Public Works jurisdiction.

    • Driveway pipe approval is required before installation.
    • No enclosure of the front roadside ditch is permitted.
    • Silt fencing and erosion control are required to keep disturbed earth out of drainage systems and roadways.
    “NOTE: No enclosure of front roadside ditch is permitted. Driveway pipe must be approved prior to installation by the West Feliciana Parish Public Works Department. Silt fencing and erosion control is required to keep disturbed earth out of drainage system and roadways.”
  • Building in a floodplainLimited

    Development subject to West Feliciana Parish floodplain-management requirements.

    • The parish hazard mitigation plan identifies a floodplain ordinance and enforcement of substantial-damage/substantial-improvement determinations including floodplain management requirements.
    “In addition, as a participating community of the National Flood Insurance Program, the Parish is responsible for making substantial improvements/substantial damage determinations and requires owners to obtain permits to bring substantially improved or substantially damaged buildings into compliance with the floodplain management requirements.”
  • Permit feesPublished

    West Feliciana Parish planning and zoning application fees.

    • The schedule separately identifies zoning changes, minor subdivisions, major subdivisions or PUD phases, variances, flood elevation letters, and zoning verification letters.

    zoning change including posting: 175 USD · minor subdivision: 50 USD · variance: 50 USD · flood elevation letter: 75 USD · zoning verification letter for previously zoned property: 75 USD

    “Zoning Change, Including posting $175.00 Minor Subdivision $50.00”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    West Feliciana Parish planning, zoning, subdivision, and permit application processes.

    • The parish publishes pre-application, construction-plan, preliminary-plat, final-plat, minor-subdivision, zoning-verification, rezoning, variance, fee, subdivision, and administrative-appeal materials.
    • Incomplete zoning-verification submissions may be deferred to the next posted deadline date.
    “Pre-Application Conference Request Construction Plan Checklist Preliminary Plat Checklist Final Plat Checklist Minor Subdivison Checklist Site Application Plan Zoning Verification Application Rezoning Request Zoning Variance Application Fees Subdivision (Major/Minor) Application Appeal of Admin Decision”

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
    • Available (with conditions) — Owner-supervised construction on the owner's property under Louisiana contractor-licensing exemptions.
      “Owners of property who supervise, superintend, oversee, direct, or in any manner assume charge of the construction, alteration, repair, improvement, movement, demolition, putting up, tearing down, or maintenance of their personal residences, if the homeowner does not build more than one residence per year.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Commercial and residential structures subject to Louisiana State Uniform Construction Code enforcement.

    • Inspections are conducted by a building code enforcement officer or certified third-party provider.
    • Except for roofing inspections, the inspector or provider must be present on site.
    • A certified third-party provider may accept location-verified geotagged photographs or videos for required roofing and reroofing inspections.
    • The parish, municipality, regional planning commission, or third-party provider administering the inspection may prescribe lawful fees.
    “For purposes of code enforcement pursuant to this Section, a building code enforcement officer or a certified third-party provider shall conduct all inspections of any commercial or residential structure and for all inspections, other than roofing inspections, shall be present on site for such inspections.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • 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
  • 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”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    Certain subdivisions outside incorporated areas consisting of single-family lots owned by one owner or co-owners, subject to the parish and population exclusions in R.S. 33:106.1(A).

    • Minimum lot area is 22,500 square feet.
    • Minimum frontage is 125 feet.
    • For nonrectangular lots with less than 125 feet frontage, average width must be 125 feet and frontage must be at least 60 feet.
    • Lots must support sewage-disposal systems and individual water systems meeting Louisiana Department of Health suitability requirements.
    • The statutory planning-commission exemption does not apply in the parishes listed in R.S. 33:106.1(A), municipalities within those parishes, or jurisdictions with a population greater than 300,000.
    • The exemption preserves planning-commission authority over utilities, drainage, sewerage disposal, and street-planning dimensions, composition, and alignment.

    minimum lot area: >= 22500 square feet · minimum frontage: >= 125 feet (Nonrectangular lots may have less than 125 feet frontage only if average width is 125 feet and frontage is at least 60 feet.)

    “minimum square footage of twenty-two thousand five hundred square feet, with a minimum width of one hundred twenty-five feet of frontage”
  • 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.”
  • 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 — RV occupancy on land in West Feliciana Parish.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping in West Feliciana Parish.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy in West Feliciana Parish.
  • Manufactured homes — Manufactured-home occupancy in West Feliciana Parish.
  • Accessory dwellings — Accessory-dwelling occupancy in West Feliciana Parish.
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 West 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 West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana

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

West Feliciana Parish scores 70/100 on the Bolthole Index, a strong county profile. Its strengths: manageable long-term carry cost and sparse surroundings — about 5,265 people within a 30-minute drive.

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

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

Land in West Feliciana Parish runs about $3,197 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in West Feliciana Parish?

West Feliciana Parish gets about 61.8" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 7.4% of years. On water rights, West 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 West Feliciana Parish?

A representative private-land location has about 5,265 people within a 30-minute drive and 1,602,924 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 West Feliciana Parish means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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How West Feliciana compares in Louisiana

Compare side-by-side →See all 64 Louisiana counties ranked →