COMMUNITY 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.
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 Chief Building Inspector at (337) 291-8485.
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), 2021 Edition without chapters: 11, 27, & 29
- Residential Code
- International Residential Code (IRC), 2021 Edition without chapters: 25 thru 32
- Plumbing Codes
- International Plumbing Code (IPC), 2021 Edition - with State Amendments
- International Building Code (IBC), 2021 Edition - with State Amendments
- International Residential Code (IRC), 2021 Edition - with State Amendments
- Electrical Code
- National Electric Code (NEC), 2020 Edition
- Gas Code
- International Fuel/Gas Code (IFGC), 2021 Edition
- Mechanical Code
- International Mechanical Code (IMC), 2021 Edition
- Existing Building Code
- International Existing Building Code (IEBC), 2021 Edition
Loads:
- Wind – ASCE 7-16 Wind Charts
- Seismic – negligible
- Snow – negligible