FENCE RULES – LIVINGSTON (PARISH), LOUISIANA
OVERVIEW
Residential fences are permitted on private property within Livingston Parish, subject to local regulations.
This page applies to properties in the unincorporated areas of Livingston Parish; incorporated municipalities regulate fences under their own ordinances.
Fence-related standards are not collected in one standalone residential fence chapter. In Livingston Parish, the published rules relevant to residential fencing appear primarily in Chapter 117, Zoning, Chapter 125, Subdivision Regulations, Chapter 58, Roads and Drainage, and the parish’s administrative materials for Building & Permit, Planning and Development, and Compliance.
This page focuses on typical single-family residential fencing. If the jurisdiction’s adopted materials do not state a specific limit or requirement, this page notes that the code does not specify one.
Compiled From the Livingston Parish Code of Ordinances, Building & Permit, Planning and Development, and Compliance as of March 2026.
GOVERNANCE
Livingston Parish operates under a home rule charter, with the Livingston Parish Council as the governing authority for the parish code and land development regulations in unincorporated areas.
For land use administration, the zoning ordinance states that it applies in the unincorporated areas of Livingston Parish and is administered by the Livingston Parish Planning and Zoning Commission, with the director of the planning and zoning department serving as the administrative official.
The parish’s published administrative materials also identify Building & Permit as the office handling permits, plan review, and inspections, and Compliance as the department handling citizen complaints and ordinance enforcement matters.
Livingston Parish does not publish one consolidated single-family residential fence code. Fence-related requirements are distributed across zoning, subdivision, drainage, permit, and enforcement materials.
PERMIT AND APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS
• Building Permit: Building & Permit states that the Permit Department issues permits for all renovations and new residential construction. The official materials reviewed for this page do not publish a fence-specific exemption threshold nor a fence-specific permitting pathway for standard residential fences.
• Site Approval: Planning and Development states that work may not commence on any site, including clearing, until approval has been issued.
• Zoning Compliance: Building permit requirements are separate from zoning, setback, or plat requirements. Confirm any applicable zoning conditions, setbacks, and plat requirements with Livingston Parish Planning and Zoning Commission before construction.
FENCE PLACEMENT RULES
• Property Lines: The ordinance does not state a setback requirement for standard residential fences from property lines; however, fences must be located entirely on the owner’s property and must not encroach into rights-of-way or easements or servitudes.
• Servitudes and Rights-of-Way: Permanent structures, including fences, cannot be constructed or placed within servitudes or rights-of-way.
• Drainage: The parish code prohibits blocking drainage ditches and prohibits obstruction of canals, ditches, streams, waterways, drainage servitudes, and drainage rights-of-way. Fence placement cannot interfere with drainage flow.
• Utility Safety: Louisiana’s Underground Utilities and Facilities Damage Prevention Law requires the person responsible for excavation or demolition to provide notice to the regional notification center (Louisiana 811) before digging. Notice must be provided at least two (2) full business days before the proposed commencement date of the excavation or demolition. Markings are considered valid up to 20 calendar days from the “mark-by” time, as long as the marks remain visible.
FENCE HEIGHT AND VISIBILITY RULES
• Height: The parish code does not specify a maximum height for standard single-family residential fences.
• Visibility: The parish code does not specify a general sight-triangle standard or visibility measurement for standard single-family residential fences.
MATERIAL AND CONSTRUCTION LIMITS
• Materials: The parish code does not specify permitted or prohibited fence materials for standard single-family residential fences.
• Construction Details: The parish code does not specify a residential fence opacity requirement, finished-side rule, or similar construction standard for standard single-family residential fences.
PRIVATE RESTRICTIONS
HOA covenants, subdivision restrictions, and other private agreements operate independently of Livingston Parish regulations and may be more restrictive than parish rules.
REVIEW AND ENFORCEMENT CONTEXT
Fence issues are typically reviewed during permit or approval review when required, and through complaint-based code enforcement. Examples include:
• Drainage and Encroachment Issues: Published enforcement triggers include blocked drainage ditches, obstruction of drainage flow, and structures placed within servitudes or rights-of-way.
USING THIS INFORMATION
This page provides general orientation on how residential fence rules are structured and applied within Livingston Parish, based on publicly available materials reviewed as of March 2026.
In addition to local fence rules, certain Louisiana laws apply statewide. See Statewide fence laws in Louisiana.
It is not legal advice and does not replace official ordinances, permits, surveys, or professional guidance. Rules and interpretations may change, and application may vary based on zoning district, site conditions, easements, rights-of-way, and private restrictions such as HOA covenants. Before purchasing materials or beginning construction, confirm current requirements and any site-specific limitations with Building & Permit and the Livingston Parish Planning and Zoning Commission and any applicable private agreements. If this page conflicts with official ordinances, published guidance, or direction from Livingston Parish staff, the official sources control. For legal advice or legal interpretation, consult a licensed attorney.