Baton Rouge building department

Baton Rouge and East Baton Rouge Parish share a consolidated city-parish government. The Permits & Inspections Division, part of the Department of Development, handles plan review, permits, code inspections and enforcement for zoning, building, occupancy, mechanical, plumbing and electrical work. One exception: since October 16, 2024, permitting inside the City of St. George has moved to St. George’s own building department. Check which side of that line a parcel falls on before you apply.

What needs a permit

The division’s residential list covers more than many homeowners expect. You need a permit for:

Structures and additions

• any new home, any addition, and any accessory structure over 200 sq ft
• structural changes to interior or exterior walls, the roof or the ceiling
• swimming pools, in-ground and above-ground
• patio covers
• driveway additions or expansions

Exterior and envelope work

• roof replacement
• window and door replacement
• changes to stairs, handrails or guardrails on the egress path
• replacing more than 100 sq ft of exterior wall sheathing
• replacing more than 100 sq ft of sheetrock or paneling on an exterior wall or ceiling
• fence installation and repair

Trade and equipment work

• generators, solar panels and gas line work
• any new or extended electrical circuit, and replacement of meters, disconnects or other service equipment
• replacement of HVAC components (condenser, air handler, ductwork, furnace), not counting window units
• replacement of any water, vent, drain or sewer line, and of plumbing valves or shutoffs
• water heater replacement

Homeowners and the $7,500 line: residential work over $7,500 must be done by a registered home improvement contractor or a licensed residential contractor. A homeowner can still pull the permit and build their own home. To do that, they file a notarized Affidavit Claiming Exemption from Licensure, which the division forwards to the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors. The parish no longer requires local contractor registration.

Applying on MGO Connect

All applications run through MyGovernmentOnline at mgoconnect.org/cp/portal. To get started:

1. Create an account with a working phone number.
2. Answer the automated activation call and press 1. If the call doesn’t come within 10 minutes, call MGO support at 1-866-957-3764, option 2.
3. Upload documents and pay fees from the project’s Docs and Fees tabs.

Use Add Permit to Existing Project to attach electrical, plumbing, mechanical or environmental permits to an existing building permit. Flood zone determinations are a separate MGO application.

Plan review timelines

Review	Standard	Expedited
Residential initial review	7 business days	3 business days
Residential resubmittal	3 business days	2 business days
Commercial initial review	21 business days	10 business days
Commercial resubmittal	5 business days	3 business days

Expedited review costs $60 + $0.10 per sq ft under roof for residential projects and $0.19 per sq ft for commercial. On new homes, the Builders Package lets you pay the $0.60/sq ft builder portion first and defer the trade portions:

• electrical: $0.08/sq ft
• mechanical: $0.04/sq ft
• plumbing: $0.08/sq ft

Fee highlights

These come from the division’s published fee table:

Item	Fee
Technology fee (all permits)	$25
Flood zone determination	$25
Residential new building	$0.80/sq ft ($125 minimum)
Residential remodel or addition	$0.80/sq ft + $125 ($250 minimum; trades extra)
Residential trade permit (mechanical, electrical, plumbing, gas)	$125
Residential fence / driveway	$250 each
Residential pool / generator	$500 each
Residential solar	$375
Occupancy permit (residential or commercial)	$125
Re-inspection	$75
After-hours inspection	$150

Inspections and roofing

You can schedule an inspection in MGO for the next business day. After-hours inspections depend on inspector availability and carry the $150 fee. Every inspection must pass before the city-parish issues a Certificate of Occupancy.

Under Louisiana Act 239, East Baton Rouge requires permits and inspections for roof installations on jobs that began after August 1, 2025. That covers reroofs and new roofs on both residential and commercial buildings. Here’s how reroofs work:

1. The contractor applies for a reroof permit in MGO.
2. The contractor uploads the parish’s roofing information form.
3. Instead of a site visit, the contractor submits geotagged photos of the old roof material, decking and fasteners, and underlayment, combined into one PDF.

On new construction and additions, the roof is covered by the main permit, but the same form and photos are still required.

Flood information and permit records

The parish’s Flood Information page has these forms:

• proposed and final elevation certificates
• fill mitigation certification for building pads
• floodplain variance requests

It also links to the community-defined flood hazard and conveyance zone map. You can search issued permits in the EBR Building Permits open-data set on data.brla.gov. The Public Works data is updated daily and lists permit type, project value, fee and contractor.

Permits & Inspections is at 300 N. Tenth Street. Call (225) 389-3205 or fax (225) 389-3249.