Property Protection & Flood Hazards

There are many proven ways to protect a building from flood damage. These include elevating, retrofitting, small floodwalls, and emergency measures such as sandbagging, storm shutters, and raising furniture and appliances. Buildings located in a special flood hazard area should consider permanent flood proofing measures, which include raising the structure, building flood walls, dry flood proofing, earthen levees, or water proofing walls and doorways. With today’s technology, even houses built on concrete slabs can be elevated to eliminate flood damages.

Building Requirements

• Building elevation certificates are required for all construction in special flood hazard areas and floodplains.
• New homes must be built so the lowest floor is 1 foot above the BFE or +6.0 MSL, whichever is higher, including servicing equipment.
• New and existing homes and businesses must carry flood insurance if they are mortgaged from a federally regulated lender or received grants or loans from a previous flood.
• Building permits must be obtained for all new construction, improvements, renovations, and other development including culvert installations.
• Any repair, reconstruction, rehabilitation, addition, or other improvement of a structure of which the cost will exceed or equal 50% of the market value counted cumulatively for at least ten years must be built to Parish flood elevation requirements.
• Any development in a floodplain area requires a local permit. On-site technical assistance is available by contacting the Parish Permitting Office at 225-562-2904. If you suspect illegal development, please contact the Permitting Office.
• Before purchasing property or making substantial improvements to existing structures, you should contact the Parish Permitting Office at 225-562-2904 to receive information on flood zones, land elevations, historical flood occurrences, and any special building requirements.