CODE ENFORCEMENT

318 Court
Post Office Box 1879
Opelousas, LA 70571-1879
337-948-2533 or 337-948-2583
337-948-5220 (fax)
Email code@cityofopelousas.com

Code Enforcement Office hours - 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Permit Office hours - 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m., Monday - Friday

Margaret Doucet, Code Enforcement Officer
Stephen George, Assistant Code Enforcement Officer
Leon Guillory, Inspector

The Code Enforcement Officer's fundamental duty is to serve mankind; to safeguard lives and property; to protect the innocent against deception, the weak against oppression or intimidation, and the peaceful against violence o disorder; and to respect the Constitutional Rights of all men to liberty equality, and Justice.

This office is responsible for administrative, supervisory, and managerial work coordinating, conducting, participating in and accomplishing municipal health, safety, and insurance program objectives, including inspection of municipal facilities, property, equipment, and functions to determine compliance with state environmental health and safety regulations and the city's code of ordinances.  As Health and Safety Coordinator, incumbent is delegated the collateral duty of Code Officer, performing inspections of buildings becoming a hazard to the community in accordance with the city ordinances and resulting consequences.  Reports directly to the Mayor and Governing Authority.  Performs duties within a framework of orders, policy, procedures, and board programs, with work reviewed through periodic reports, conferences, inspections, reactions to citizens, employees, department heads, and officials.

The responsibilities of the Code Enforcement office consists of:

  1. Maintaining all city lots (cut and clean)
  2. Cutting and cleaning all median entrance and exits into city
  3. Cutting and cleaning median by Columbia Doctor's Hospital
  4. Cutting city easement (cutting property line)
  5. Land clearance and dozier work
  6. Handling all complaints
    1. Debris on property
    2. Unsanitary conditions
    3. Trash and waste
      • Located in parking lots
      • Private property
      • At road for pickup by Waste Management
    4. Abandoned homes
    5. Tall grass
      • The city notifies customers of tall grass.  If the grass is not cut within five days, we cut the lot and bill them.  If bill is not paid by the time tax season arrives, the bill is placed on the individuals taxes.
    6. Junk auto
      • More than one car not not being moved in a yard:
        • Vehicle must be covered if in good condition
        • Vehicle must not be junked
    7. Issue permits
      • Permits must be purchased upon start and completion of any change on additions, plumbing, electricity, or mechanical services on homes, businesses, storage areas.
      • Inspectors must inspect all changes done to businesses, storage areas, or the outside of residential areas.
      • The cost of each permit is based on the job that is being performed.
      • Each inspector works part-time with the city.  They are in the office fifteen minutes in the morning and fifteen minutes in the afternoon.

The City of Opelousas has available at the Code Enforcement office the following application forms. 

Application for Contractors License
Application for Building, Electrical, Mechanical, or Plumbing Permit
Application for Occupancy
Historic District Application for Certificate of Appropriateness
Computing Sign Ordinance
Procedure for Obtaining an Electrical Tag Within Municipality of Opelousas

Building Permit Fee Schedule

To establish and provide a fee schedule for permits for use in conjunction with the City of Opelousas Building Codes, the fee schedule is listed below:

Valuation . . . . . .  Fee

0 to $2,000 . . . . . . . . . . . $10.00 permit fee
$2,001 to $5,000  . . . . . . $3.00 per thousand or fraction thereof up to $15,000
$15,0001 + . . . . . . . . . . . $49.00 for the first $15,001 plus $2.50 per thousand or fraction thereof

$10.00 FEE for all re-inspections (Building)

$2,000 = $10.00
$3,000 = $13.00
$4,000 = $16.00
$5,000 = $19.00		 $6,000 = $22.00
$7,000 = $25.00
$8,000 = $28.00
$9,000 = $31.00		 $10,000 = $34.00
$11,000 = $37.00
$12,000 = $40.00
$13,000 = $43.00		 $14,000 = $46.00