DEVELOPMENT & PLANNING
PERMITS & CODES DIVISION
220 West Willow Street, Building B
Lafayette LA 70501
Hours: 7:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Phone: 337-291-8461
MANAGERS:
John Broyles, Permitting
Bruce Williams, Codes
BUILDING CODES
The Codes Division deals with the following functions:
- Commercial Building Information
- Residential Building Information
- Unsafe Structures
- Condemnations
Residential Building Information
This type of permit is required for a single-family dwelling, a duplex, or almost any structure associated with a home, such as: a carport, shed, gazebo, RV cover, or a fence that is over 7 feet high. There are exemptions for permitting certain structures associated with a home, such as: a playhouse or shed which is detached from a house that is no larger than 200 square feet and that is on a movable foundation (piers or skids). Please note that setback regulations must be in compliance according to the Development Division guidance. Furthermore, cosmetic work does not require a permit.
A structure that is built such as a metal building (with steel columns, beams, girts, and purlins), a pre-engineered building or a pole barn requires a permit, floorplan, and an engineered stamped set of plans which includes the wind load certification. A structure that is built to the prescriptive code does not require a wind load certification.
Residential Plan Review involves meeting with or conference call with a building inspector from the Codes Division and reviewing your proposed plans for construction.
Commercial Building Information
This type of permit is required for almost every structure other than a single family dwelling, duplex, or structure associated with a single family dwelling. There are exemptions for permitting certain structures, such as: fences not over 7 feet high, a one story detached accessory building used as a shed 120 square feet or less that is on a movable foundation (piers or skids), retaining walls not over 4 feet and cosmetic work. Please note, this building must comply with all Development setback requirements & any other department that may have concerns like Drainage & Traffic, etc.
Persons moving into an existing space where no construction is required need not apply for a building permit. A certificate of occupancy can be applied for through the Permitting Division.
Any questions concerning the permitting of commercial structures can be answered by contacting the Permit Manager at (337) 291-8491 or the Building Official at (337) 291-8050.
Housing Compliance Information
The Housing Inspectors are part of the Codes Divisions and support strong property maintenance throughout the parish and enforce the International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC), 2015 Edition.
The Housing Inspectors inspect rental properties for maintenance code compliance which includes inspections of property to bring into compliance, boarding up to secure and/or condemnation.
More information pertaining to the building code regulations can be found at the following websites:
- Louisiana State Uniform Construction Code Council (lusccc.dps.louisiana.gov)
- Louisiana State Uniform Construction Code Council-State Code Amendments- (Codes & Standards) (lsuccc.louisiana.gov/codes.html)
- Building Officials Association of Louisiana (lma.org/boal)
- International Code Council (iccsafe.org)
- Louisiana State Fire Marshal (lasfm.louisiana.gov)
- National Electric Code (NEC)-(NFPA.org)
General Information-Current adopted codes by the State of Louisiana:
- Commercial Code
- International Building Code (IBC), 2015 Edition without chapters: 11, 27, & 29
- Residential Code
- International Residential Code (IRC), 2015 Edition without chapters: 25 thru 32
- Plumbing Codes
- International Plumbing Code (IPC), 2015 Edition - with State Amendments
- International Building Code (IBC), 2015 Edition - with State Amendments
- International Residential Code (IRC), 2015 Edition - with State Amendments
- Electrical Code
- National Electric Code (NEC), 2014 Edition
- Gas Code
- International Fuel/Gas Code (IFGC), 2015 Edition
- Mechanical Code
- International Mechanical Code (IMC), 2015 Edition
- Existing Building Code
- International Existing Building Code (IEBC), 2015 Edition
- Housing Compliance Code
- International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC), 2015 Edition
Loads:
- Wind – 109 mph (3 – second gust) for International Residential Code only
- Seismic – negligible
- Snow – negligible