City building department · Louisiana
Monroe building department
Permits, inspections, and official contacts for City of Monroe Inspections and Permitting.
Verified Checked against 5 official sources
Contacts & online services
- Phone
- (318) 329-2200
- Office
- 400 Lea Joyner Expressway, Monroe, LA 71201
Get directions (opens in a new tab) - Serves
- Monroe · Ouachita Parish
- Online services
- Applications · Permit search · Inspections
Check your address first. City of Monroe Inspections and Permitting handles building permits for property inside Monroe city limits. Property outside city limits is usually served by Ouachita Parish or another municipality, even when the mailing address says Monroe.
On this page
In Monroe, permits come from the Inspections and Permitting office, which is part of the city’s Department of Engineering. The office reviews applications for construction, renovation and land development, then inspects the work for building code and zoning compliance. Its authority covers Monroe city limits only, so property elsewhere in Ouachita Parish goes to the parish or to whichever municipality has jurisdiction.
Applying through MGO Connect
Monroe runs all commercial and residential permits, and all planning and zoning projects, through MyGovernmentOnline (MGO Connect). The city’s portal is jurisdiction JID 263. To set up an account:
- Go to mgoconnect.org/cp?JID=263 and click New Account.
- Enter your email, name and a working phone number.
- Answer the automated verification call that comes right after sign-up. MGO uses your phone number to link you to your projects.
Once your account is active, you can apply and pay, track status, request inspections, and apply for or renew contractor registrations. MGO’s help desk is (985) 851-0760.
The Inspections and Permitting page also posts these forms:
- the floodplain development permit
- a substantial improvement or damage review form
- generator requirements
- utilities requirements
Roofing permits and licensing changes
Monroe points applicants to recent changes in state law:
- Act 239, effective August 1, 2025, requires permits and inspections for residential and commercial roof construction and reroofing.
- Act 422 bars contractors from starting work without a permit, misrepresenting the scope of work, or working under an unlicensed name.
- From January 1, 2026, residential roofing jobs over $7,500 need a residential roofing license, or a residential construction license with the roofing subclassification.
The city’s contractor licensing chart, based on LSLBC thresholds, lists these limits (labor and materials included):
| Project | License or registration | Threshold |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial construction | Commercial license | $50,000 or more |
| New residential construction | Residential license | $75,000 or more |
| Home improvement on an existing home | Home Improvement Registration | $7,500 to $75,000 |
| Commercial electrical, mechanical, plumbing | Commercial license with subclassification | $10,000 or more |
| Residential swimming pools | Residential pool subclassification | $7,500 or more |
| Hazardous materials or mold remediation | Subclassification or mold license | Any amount |
A homeowner acting as their own general contractor must sign the state Affidavit Claiming Exemption from Licensure (revised 6/1/2025), and the affidavit must be notarized. By signing, the owner confirms that:
- the house will be their primary residence after the certificate of occupancy is issued or work is complete
- they won’t permit another residence within one year, except after a change in marital status or employment
- they will supervise the work on site
- they won’t hire an unlicensed person to run the job
The exemption does not cover subcontractors who need a license.
Fee schedule highlights
Monroe’s posted fee schedule took effect July 2, 2018. Some key items:
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Residential new construction or addition | $250 plan review + $75 permit + $25 driveway and drainage + 24¢/sq ft (non-heated area included) |
| Commercial new construction or addition | $300 plan review + $250 permit + $25 driveway and drainage + 36¢/sq ft for the first 5,000 sq ft, 24¢ for the next 5,000, 18¢ above 10,000 |
| Third-party plan review administrative fee | $200 |
| Residential alteration or remodel | $75 permit + a valuation charge from $25 (up to $2,000) to $360 ($50,001 to $100,000) |
| Roof replacement | $75 permit + $12 for the first 10 squares |
| Swimming pool | $75 + 12¢/sq ft |
| HVAC, plumbing, electrical base permit | $75 each, plus per-item charges |
| Residential sewer tie-in | $280 |
| Zoning certificate (when required) | $75 |
Re-inspection and penalty fees
- Failed inspections cost $35 for the first re-inspection, $50 for the second and $75 for each one after that.
- After-hours inspections cost $100. Weekend and holiday inspections cost $200.
- Working without a permit costs $75 for a first offense and $250 for a second. A third offense costs $500 plus a one-year suspension of your Monroe occupational license.
- All fees must be paid before the city issues a final certificate of occupancy.
Contact
The Inspections and Permitting office is at 400 Lea Joyner Expressway. Call (318) 329-2200 or email [email protected]. The city lists (318) 329-3300 as its fax line. For sewer pre-treatment questions tied to tie-in fees, the fee schedule gives 329-2463.
Planning a project?
These guides explain the national model-code rules most departments start from. City of Monroe Inspections and Permitting decides what applies in Monroe, so use them to prepare your questions.
More Louisiana building departments
Not the right office? If your property is outside Monroe city limits, one of these may handle it.