Whether you need a fence permit in St. Tammany Parish depends on where your lot sits: inside an incorporated city or town, which has its own permit office, or in unincorporated parish, which goes through St. Tammany Parish government. HOA covenants can add a second approval on top. Call the right office before you build.
Northbound Fences is a licensed and insured Louisiana fence contractor based in Covington, started by Eric Bankston in 2005 and serving St. Tammany, Tangipahoa and Washington Parishes. The crew pulls permits when they are required and follows the local code for each address. This guide does not list height limits, fees or setbacks, because those belong to each jurisdiction and they change. Instead, it explains who to call and what to ask so you get a clear answer the first time.
Who issues fence permits in St. Tammany Parish?
Northbound Fences sees two kinds of permitting authority on the Northshore: the incorporated municipalities, and St. Tammany Parish government for everything outside them. Which one applies to you is a matter of the property line, not the mailing address.
Cities and towns
Covington, Mandeville and Slidell each run their own permit and building offices. The smaller incorporated towns and villages, including Abita Springs, Madisonville, Pearl River, Folsom and Sun, have their own municipal rules too, so if you live inside one of them, start with the town hall.
Unincorporated parish
Lots outside municipal limits fall under St. Tammany Parish government and its permitting department. That covers a large share of the subdivisions and rural land between the towns.
The catch is that a Covington, Mandeville or Slidell address does not mean you are inside those city limits. Plenty of subdivisions with a city name in the address are in unincorporated parish. Your property tax bill will usually tell you, and either office can confirm it if you give them the address.
Do you need HOA approval for a fence on the Northshore?
If your home is in a subdivision with covenants, Northbound Fences treats HOA approval as its own step, separate from any government permit. Many Northshore neighborhoods have an architectural review committee that must sign off before a fence goes up.
Covenants commonly address height, material, color, style, which side of the fence faces out, and how far forward of the house a fence may run. Some neighborhoods allow wood only; others prefer vinyl or aluminum in front yards. None of that is a parish or city rule, but ignoring it can mean a violation letter and a fence that has to come down.
Get HOA approval in writing, with the approved style and height noted, before you schedule the build. Bring a copy to your estimate so the quote matches what the committee approved.
If the committee restricts materials, our wood vs. vinyl comparison can help you choose between the options they allow.
What should you ask the permit office before building a fence?
Northbound Fences suggests calling the city or parish permit office with your address and a rough sketch, then asking these questions. The answers differ by jurisdiction, which is exactly why you ask.
- Is a permit required for a fence of this height and length at this address?
- What is the maximum height for a backyard fence, and is it different in the front yard or along a street side?
- Are there rules for corner lots, such as keeping sight lines clear near an intersection or driveway?
- Does a fence need to sit a certain distance from the property line, a sidewalk or the street?
- Is there a drainage servitude, utility servitude or easement on my lot, and can a fence cross it?
- Is my lot in a flood zone, and does that affect fence design or placement?
- If there is a pool, what are the pool barrier requirements for height, gaps and self-closing, self-latching gates?
- What does the application need: a survey, a site plan, material details? Is an inspection required?
Write down who you spoke with and the date. If the answer is “no permit needed,” that note is worth keeping.
Which lot issues affect fence rules in St. Tammany?
Northbound Fences finds that a few Northshore site conditions come up again and again when permits and approvals are involved. Knowing about them before the estimate saves a redesign later.
Drainage and servitudes
St. Tammany is low and wet in many places, and a lot of subdivisions rely on ditches and drainage servitudes along rear and side lines. A fence set across one can block water or block access for maintenance. Your survey should show servitudes; the permit office can tell you what is allowed on them.
Flood zones
Much of the parish sits near the Tchefuncte, the Bogue Falaya, the Pearl River and Lake Pontchartrain, and flood zone designations are common. Ask whether your zone carries any fence requirements, such as designs that let water pass through.
Corner lots and front yards
Corner lots and fences forward of the house are where height questions come up most, because a tall solid fence can block a driver’s view. Expect different answers for the front yard than for the back.
Pools
A pool enclosure is a safety barrier, not just a fence, and the gate hardware matters as much as the height. Northbound Fences builds pool enclosure gates through its gate installation service, and aluminum is a common choice for pool fencing. See the best fence for Louisiana humidity and termites for why.
What if you live in Tangipahoa or Washington Parish?
Northbound Fences also builds in Tangipahoa and Washington Parishes, and the same rule applies there: check with your own city or parish. Hammond, Ponchatoula, Independence, Amite City and Kentwood in Tangipahoa, and Bogalusa and Franklinton in Washington Parish, are incorporated and handle their own permitting. Rural lots outside those limits go to the parish government. Rural and farm properties in these parishes often have different rules than subdivision lots, so ask specifically about the kind of fence you plan, whether it is a backyard privacy fence or pasture and ranch fencing.
How does Northbound Fences handle permits on a fence job?
Northbound Fences pulls the permit whenever one is required for your address and builds to the code that applies there. At the free estimate the crew walks the fence line, notes servitudes, slopes, trees and gate locations, and talks through any HOA requirements you already have.
- You confirm your jurisdiction and HOA requirements (the questions above help).
- Northbound Fences gives you a transparent written quote. The price you are quoted is the price you pay.
- If a permit is required, Northbound pulls it before the build.
- Most residential fences are then finished in one to three days.
Permits and HOA requirements can also affect price, which our Covington fence cost guide explains. If you are replacing a storm-damaged fence, the hurricane-season fence prep guide covers documenting damage first. When you are ready, see fence installation for the fence types Northbound builds.
Fence permit questions
Does Northbound Fences pull the fence permit for me?
Yes. When a permit is required for your address, Northbound Fences pulls it as part of the job and builds to the local code that applies. HOA approval is different: the homeowner submits that, and the written estimate can help your application.
How do I know if my house is inside Covington or Mandeville city limits?
A mailing address is not proof. Many homes with a Covington or Mandeville address sit in unincorporated St. Tammany Parish. Check your property tax bill or call the city or parish permit office with your address and ask which jurisdiction you are in.
Do I need HOA approval if the city or parish does not require a permit?
Usually, yes. HOA covenants apply whether or not a government permit is needed. Many Northshore subdivisions require architectural review of height, material, color and placement before a fence goes up. Get the approval in writing before the build date.
Can I build a fence on a drainage servitude or easement?
Sometimes, with conditions, and sometimes not at all. Servitude holders may need access, and a fence that blocks water flow can cause trouble. Ask the permit office and check your survey before you set posts on or near one.
Do farm and pasture fences need a permit?
Rules for agricultural fencing can differ from residential yard fences, so ask the city or parish office about your specific property. Northbound Fences builds farm and ranch fencing and follows whatever requirements apply.
