Do You Need a Permit for a Metal Building in Louisiana?

Louisiana has a statewide building code that every parish and city must enforce, with a few important exemptions for farm buildings and small accessory buildings. Here is how it works for a metal carport, garage or barn.

Last checked: November 2026. Rules change, and cities and parishes set many of their own, so always confirm with your local office before install day. This guide is general information, not legal advice.

The Short Answer

• Most buildings: plan on a permit. The Louisiana State Uniform Construction Code applies in every parish and city.
• Farm structures: a barn, shed or similar building on a farm, used for farming, is exempt from the code.
• Small accessory buildings: a detached building of 500 square feet or less may be exempt, depending on your wind zone and city.
• Either way: your parish or city may still require a permit, and floodplain rules still apply.

The Statewide Code

The Louisiana State Uniform Construction Code is based on the International Building Code, International Residential Code and other national codes (La. R.S. 40:1730.28). State law says all parishes and municipalities shall enforce it, using certified building officials or certified third-party providers for plan review, inspections and permits (La. R.S. 40:1730.23).

That means you will usually need a permit for a carport, garage or shop whether you live in town or out in the parish.

Farm Structure Exemption

Parishes and cities may not enforce the code on a farm structure: a non-residential building on a farm, used for farm purposes, such as a barn, shed or poultry house (La. R.S. 40:1730.30). It does not cover a home, anything attached to a home, public livestock areas, or a farm building later converted to another use. The same exemption covers private outdoor recreational structures, such as a hunting or fishing camp.

Even for an exempt farm building, the law says a parish or city can still require a permit before you build.

Small Accessory Buildings

The same law also exempts a residential accessory structure: a building that is not attached to the house, has a footprint of 500 square feet or less, and serves the home. For example, a 20×24 carport is 480 square feet. The exemption has limits:

• It does not apply in areas where the code’s basic wind speed is 100 mph or more in hurricane-prone regions, or 110 mph or more elsewhere.
• Cities with more than 45,000 people can still enforce the code on accessory structures.

Your permit office can tell you whether your area is below these wind speeds, and whether it requires a permit for exempt accessory buildings.

Permits That Can Still Apply

• Floodplain permit. If any part of your site is in a FEMA flood zone, communities in the National Flood Insurance Program must require a permit for new construction there (44 CFR 60.3). Look up your address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center and call your local floodplain administrator. This applies in the parish as well as in town, wherever the parish takes part in the National Flood Insurance Program. Louisiana law also requires residential construction to meet National Flood Insurance Program standards.
• HOA and deed restrictions. Many subdivisions limit building size, color, height or placement, even outside city limits. Get written approval before you order.
• Buried utility lines. Ground anchors go into the soil, so have lines marked before install day. Louisiana law requires notice to the notification center at least 48 hours, but not more than 120 hours, before digging, not counting weekends and holidays (La. R.S. 40:1749.13). Call 811.

What to Have Ready

• Building size (width × length × height) and type: open carport, partly enclosed or fully enclosed
• A simple site plan with property lines, your house, and the distance from the new building to each
• Engineered drawings for your building (we provide these)
• Your anchor type and surface: concrete, asphalt, gravel or dirt. See our anchors guide.
• Your HOA approval letter, if you have an HOA

Bring the size and location when you first call your permit office. Most offices can tell you in one call whether you need a permit and what to send.

How We Help With Permits

We provide the engineered drawings most permit offices ask for. Our 14-gauge frames are rated for winds up to 120 mph, and our 12-gauge frames up to 140 mph with certified anchors. Some areas call for a higher rating, so tell us what your permit office requires. Learn more in our wind and snow load guide.

Have a permit question? Call (903) 234-8922 and press 2 for support, scheduling and permits. When your permit is in hand, our site prep guide shows how to get ready for install day.

Who to Call

If your property is…	Start with
In a city or town	The city’s permit office
In the parish, outside city limits	The parish permit office or its third-party code provider
A farm building	Your parish permit office, to confirm the farm-structure exemption
In a flood zone	Your local floodplain administrator

Building in another state? See our permit guides for Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, Mississippi, or the general permit guide.

See where we install on our Louisiana service area page.

Sources

• La. R.S. 40:1730.23 (enforcement by parishes and municipalities)
• La. R.S. 40:1730.28 (codes adopted)
• La. R.S. 40:1730.30 (farm and accessory structure exemptions)
• La. R.S. 40:1730.24 (third-party providers)
• La. R.S. 40:1749.13 (dig notice)
• 44 CFR 60.3 (floodplain management permits)