Development/Electrical/Plumbing/Culvert
Permits

Before developing or starting any type of construction, moving a manufactured home on your property, or remodeling, you need to obtain a Development, Electrical, and/or Plumbing permit from the Calcasieu Parish Division of Planning and Development Office. This section explains what you need to do to obtain these parish permits. If you should have any questions not mentioned in this section, please do not hesitate to call the Division of Planning and Development at 721-3600.

If your property is located inside municipal limits, contact that municipality for their permit procedure.

The following questions & answers will hopefully help you better understand Calcasieu Parish's permit procedure.

WHO NEEDS A PERMIT?
Anyone outside the municipal limits of Calcasieu Parish who is planning any type of construction, moving a manufactured home or any other structure on their property, or anyone adding on or remodeling, needs to obtain a permit.

NOTE TO CONTRACTORS:

Have you obtained your certification through the Department of Revenue?  For further information, click here http://www.rev.state.la.us.

For more information on licensing and registration through the State Contractors Board, please click http://www.lslbc.state.la.us.
 

ATTENTION CONTRACTORS AND DEVELOPERS:

Are you out of the loop?  Would you like to be "in the know" about changes concerning the permit process or construction codes?  To add your contact information to our mailing list, please email your name, company, address, phone number, and email address to us at permits@cppj.net.

NEED A CULVERT? Click here for culvert installation permit information.

IS THERE A FEE FOR ANY OF THE PERMITS?
Yes, there are fees for all permits, which may be paid with cash or personal check. For information concerning the permit fees see fee schedule below.

Fee Schedules

WHERE DO I GET THE PERMITS?
Permits are obtained in the Division of Planning and Development Office on the 3rd Floor of the Parish Government Building located at 1015 Pithon Street, Lake Charles. Office hours 8:00am-12:00pm and 1:00pm-5:00pm, Monday thru Friday.

WHAT DO I NEED TO DO TO OBTAIN MY PERMITS?

Manufactured Home Check List

Residential Home Check List

Commercial/Light Industrial Development Check List

High Wind Building Plans Checklist

Non-High Wind Building Plans Checklist

Building Inspection Checklist

Accessory Building Checklist

You need to call the Division of Planning and Development Office as soon as you decide to develop your property. Have the legal description of your property at hand when you call so the staff can check on the flood zone and zoning classification, to be sure you can proceed with your plans. Portions of the parish are located in flood hazard areas; therefore, some structures must meet elevation requirements. The next step is to contact the Calcasieu Parish Health Unit to obtain approval of your sewage system. After obtaining sewage approval from the Health Unit, come into the Division of Planning and Development Office with the following information to complete your permit application:

1. Approval from the Health Unit on the sewage system (480-2550)

2. Legal description of the property (i.e. abstract, tax assessment, or deed)

3. Square footage under roof

4. Estimated cost of development (excluding land)

5. Number of circuits in panel box when structure is complete (excluding manufactured homes)

6. Building plans required (2 sets to scale with details)

7. Name of utility company that services your area

8. Number of plumbing fixtures

9. Elevation surveys, if applicable
   (a) elevation of ground survey submitted with application
   (b) elevation of floor and electrical equipment to be submitted when structure is moved on or floor constructed

10. Site plan for all development.

11. State Fire Marshal approval for all non-residential development and apartments (800) 256-5452, or visit their website at http://www.dps.state.la.us/sfm/index1024.htm.

AFTER I GET MY PERMITS WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
Once you've obtained the proper permits, you're ready to proceed with your project. Post your permit at the work site and call the Permit Office as soon as you're ready for each inspection.

The parish will assign a municipal address that must be displayed on the structure at the time of inspection. The house numbers must be made of permanent material and contrasting color so it can be easily seen (wood and metal numbers). If the structure is set back more than 50 feet from the street, put the numbers at the driveway on one of the following: gate post, fence post, mailbox post, or other permanent structure.

THE BUILDING INSPECTION PROCESS IS AS FOLLOWS:

New residences, moved on houses, accessory buildings, commercial, light industrial and heavy industrial development will have to meet the 100 or 110 MPH wind load requirements of the 2006 International Building Code.  These types of development will need the following three inspections:

a)  "Foundation" Inspection:  Call with permit number before slab is poured and when the forms, footings, reinforcements, etc...have been installed.

b)  "Open Wall" Inspection:  Call before ceiling and walls are covered.

c)  "Final" Inspection:  Call when completely finished.

**Final electrical power will be released only after the final electrical and final building inspection has been approved and all outstanding fees have been paid.

THE ELECTRICAL INSPECTION PROCESS IS AS FOLLOWS:

1. Manufactured home, barn, storage building, water wells, or any other permanent shelter or accessory building needs only one inspection, if approved. Call for this inspection when the manufactured home is on site, the service pole is set and completely wired, sewage system installed, and your municipal address is displayed on the structure.
   

2. A temporary construction pole has to be either:

   a. Underground service with a 4" x6"x10'x pole set 3 to 4 feet underground; or
   b. Overhead service with a 4"x6"x18'x treated pole set 4 feet underground and braced with two 2"x4"x12'x braces.

3. New residences, commercial, light industrial and heavy industrial development, apartments, or any other structure having electrical wiring that will be enclosed by walls, ceiling tiles, brick, or any other covering, and will have a panel type service, will need the following three inspections:

   a. Temporary construction pole inspection - call for inspection as soon as pole is set.
   b. Rough In Inspection - This inspection is of all wiring that will be concealed in any way. Request your inspection before any electrical wiring is covered up by walls, ceilings, brick, etc., and your elevation certificate has been submitted, if applicable. Rough In Checklist
   c. Final Inspection - Ready to move in (at least 95% complete) and all fixtures/appliances have been installed, sewage system installed, and your municipal address is displayed on structure, call for your final inspection. Final Checklist

4. When an electrical meter has been removed on an existing building or pole, an electrical inspection is required. If the building has been vacant for 6 months or longer, sewage approval is also required. The municipal number must be displayed at time of inspection and the building must be unlocked.
   
   For all service changes, the customer must explain what type of service is being changed (partial change or complete change).
   

5. Call all inspections in to the Calcasieu Parish Division of Planning and Development Office. If you call before 12:00 noon, an inspector can usually make the requested inspection that day; however, the parish has 24 hours to have an inspector do the requested inspection.
   

6. The inspector goes out to inspect your electrical service; if approved, a green tag will be placed on the service with the date of inspection and the signature of the inspector. If disapproved, a red tag will be placed on the service with the date of inspection, the signature of the inspector, and a list of corrections necessary to pass the electrical inspection.
   

7. If your electrical service has been disapproved, you need to make corrections within 15 days and call for a re-inspection. A re-inspection fee will be charged for every re-inspection needed.
   

8. When service is approved and all fees paid, the permit officer will contact the proper utility company. Often, a 24 hour waiting period for service from the utility company would be expected, unless line work is needed then it will be longer. You must make application with your utility company for service.

THE PLUMBING INSPECTION PROCESS IS AS FOLLOWS:

All plumbing work shall comply with the latest edition of the Louisiana Standard Plumbing Code.

1. All new construction, residential, commercial & light industrial, which has plumbing will be required to obtain a plumbing permit from the Division of Planning and Development and have said plumbing inspected. 

2. All new construction will require the following inspections:
   a. "Rough-in" - to be made after trenches or ditches are excavated, piping installed and before any backfill is put in place.
   b. "Top-out" - to be made after the roof, framing, fire-blocking and bracing is in place and all soil, waste and vent piping is complete, and prior to the installation of wall or ceiling membranes.
   c. "Final" - to be made after the building is complete, all plumbing fixtures are in place and properly connected, and the structure is ready of occupancy.
   (Note: Testing of the plumbing system shall be required prior to covering up any of the plumbing.)

3. The "Final" plumbing inspection shall be performed prior to the issuance of electrical power.

THE MECHANICAL (HVAC) INSPECTION PROCESS IS AS FOLLOWS:

1. New residences, commercial, industrial development or any other structure having mechanical equipment that will be enclosed by walls, ceilings, brick or any other covering will need the following inspections: 

a.  Rough-In:  to be made prior to concealment when equipment, ducts, drain lines, vents, and walkways are installed.

b.  Final:  to be made when all equipment is installed including grilles, disconnects, etc...and when all final connections have been made.

2. Call all inspections in to the Permit Office with your assigned permit number.  Inspection requests called in by 3:00 p.m. will be pre-scheduled for the next business day.  A disapproval will require a re-inspection once all corrections have been made.  A re-inspection fee will be assessed.

THE GAS PIPING INSPECTION PROCESS IS AS FOLLOWS:

1. New residences, commercial, industrial development or any other structure having gas piping that will be enclosed by walls, ceilings, brick or any other covering will need the following inspections: 

a.  Rough-In:  to be made prior to concealment when gas lines are installed and prior to connection.

b.  Final:  to be made when the installation of gas piping is completed and final connections have been made.

ARE THERE ANY STANDARDS FOR CALCASIEU PARISH?
Yes! Calcasieu Parish has adopted, parishwide, the National Electrical Code, Louisiana State Plumbing Code, International Residential Code, International Building Code (for commercial work), International Mechanical Code, and the International Fuel Gas Code, and will require all building, mechanical, gas, electrical, and plumbing work to comply with these codes. Electrical and Plumbing Code books are sold in the Division of Planning and Development Office.  For more information on codes and standards, click here.