Administrative overview · FIPS 22093
St. James Parish County permit authority
The first compliance decision is jurisdictional: identify the office with statutory authority over your parcel, then use its filing and inspection sequence to keep the project moving.
Jurisdictional status
County
This county profile is the primary starting point for unincorporated-area permitting.
Responsible agency
St. James Parish Government Planning and Permitting Office
For a project in or near St. James Parish, this office is the identified point of contact for permit intake, statutory code enforcement, plan review coordination, and inspection release conditions. Confirm the parcel’s boundary and project type before relying on the county lane.
Direct contact
(225) 562-2500; residential application also lists (225) 562-2243
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
5800 Highway 44, 3rd Floor of the Courthouse, Convent, LA 70723; a Vacherie Courthouse Annex is at 2631 Highway 20, Vacherie, LA 70090
Operating hours
Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Friday, 7:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Review expectation
Ask the agency for its current review estimate
Compliance workbench
Choose the next project decision.
Apply online
Open the verified digital gateway, application form, and review timeline.
Open guide →Fees & penalties
Understand fee schedules, enforcement exposure, and stop-work liabilities.
Open guide →Codes & exemptions
Read the code framework, minor-work exemptions, and inspection lane.
Open guide →Agency website
Visit the primary public source for current notices and contact changes.
Open guide →Source trail
Official sources for this profile
Use these direct agency or licensing links to confirm current instructions before you file, pay, or schedule work. External pages control if their information differs from this directory.
Project questions
Frequently asked questions for St. James Parish
Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?
St. James Parish Government Planning and Permitting Office is the identified county-level authority for this profile. Confirm that the property is in its service area before filing.
How should I begin an application?
Begin with the online permit gateway listed in the application guide. If the portal does not recognize the address or project type, contact (225) 562-2500; residential application also lists (225) 562-2243.
How long might review take?
A typical review timeline was not verified. Ask the agency for its current completeness and review estimate.
How are inspections scheduled?
The parish requires inspections for compliance with State Building Codes before a certificate of occupancy. Contact the Planning and Permitting Office at (225) 562-2500 for current inspection scheduling; elevation and finished-construction certificates may be required before utilities are released.
Which codes and exemptions should I review?
Louisiana State Uniform Building Code / State Uniform Construction Code, plus parish Building, Electrical, Health, and Plumbing regulations; the accessible current parish sources do not identify specific 2026 editions. N/A. The parish requires permits for new homes, mobile-home movement, new buildings, residential renovations/additions, and commercial construction; it does not publish a general minor or cosmetic exemption list.