Bolthole Index

Bossier Parish, Louisiana

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in the Town of Haughton, Louisiana

The Town of Haughton, Louisiana administers building permits for regulated residential construction and has adopted construction codes.12 Haughton has local zoning, so confirm the parcel’s district with the Haughton Metropolitan Planning Commission.34 Haughton requires public-sewer connection where its mandatory-connection conditions apply; individual septic systems instead require Louisiana state-health-officer approval.56

At a glance

Building permits
Town-administered for regulated residential construction12
Zoning
Local zoning; ask Haughton MPC for the parcel’s district34
Sewer and septic
Mandatory public-sewer connection under town conditions; state approval for individual systems56
RV living
Flood-zone conditions apply; general private-land occupancy remains unconfirmed7
Owner-builder
State contractor-license exemption for a personal residence; building permits still apply8
Private wells
Licensed driller and state registration; domestic wells have different notification timing9

Who to call

Building permits

Town of Haughton Permit Administration

Town construction applications, contractor registration and building inspection questions

+1 (318) 949-9401

lanebrown@haughtonla.gov

Online permits →

Zoning

Haughton Metropolitan Planning Commission

Local planning and zoning inquiries, district maps and application forms

+1 (318) 949-9401

shorton@haughtonla.gov

Septic permits

Louisiana Department of Health, Onsite Wastewater Program

State onsite wastewater program; local applications through parish health-unit sanitarians

Septic permits

Bossier Parish Health Unit

Contact the health unit and ask for the onsite wastewater sanitarian

(318) 741-7314

3022 Old Minden Road, Bossier City, LA 71112

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 11, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Town of Haughton means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Do you need a building permit in the Town of Haughton, LA?

Haughton administers building permits for residential construction covered by Louisiana’s construction-code mandate, including new construction, reconstruction, qualifying additions and extensive alterations.1 Haughton adopts the construction-code editions adopted by Louisiana, subject to the stated manufactured-housing exceptions.2 Required inspections are performed by the town building official or accepted through contracted agents or certified third-party providers.10 Ask Town Permit Administration which building and trade applications your project needs before scheduling work.11 Haughton’s board of aldermen sets construction permit fees from time to time; the cited town fee provision does not establish current dollar amounts.12

Does the Town of Haughton have zoning and setback rules?

Haughton has local zoning: the town’s construction-fee ordinance expressly requires fences to comply with the zoning chapter.3 The Haughton Metropolitan Planning Commission page supplies a town map, zoning-amendment application and Haughton UDC link.4 Ask Haughton MPC to identify the parcel’s district and provide the applicable use, lot-size, setback, height and dwelling-size standards before choosing a house plan.4 We could not confirm the residential dimensional standards or a town-specific tiny-home or accessory-dwelling allowance. Louisiana authorizes municipal regulation of structure size, so a statewide minimum-size assumption cannot settle the Haughton parcel question.13

How do septic approvals work inside the Town of Haughton?

For human-occupancy properties in Haughton, connection to an abutting public sanitary sewer is mandatory when the sewer is within 300 feet of the property line.5 After public-sewer connection, existing septic tanks and similar disposal systems must be destroyed, filled or removed before final inspection.5 Where an individual system is eligible, Louisiana requires state-health-officer approval before installation, alteration or operation, including a determination that community-sewer connection is not feasible and the site is suitable.6 Parish health-unit sanitarians administer the onsite permitting system; contact the Bossier Parish Health Unit and ask for the sanitarian.1415 Final approval requires compliant-installation verification by inspection and/or installer certification.16

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in the Town of Haughton?

Haughton’s floodplain RV rule applies in the mapped flood zones identified in the ordinance: an RV must be onsite fewer than 180 consecutive days, be fully licensed and ready for highway use, or satisfy the referenced floodplain permit, elevation and anchoring requirements.7 Those floodplain alternatives do not establish a general right to occupy an RV on every Haughton lot.7 We could not confirm general private-land RV occupancy, temporary camping or tiny-home occupancy inside town limits. Ask Haughton MPC whether the proposed dwelling type and use are allowed at the exact address, then ask Permit Administration about construction applications and inspections.411

Building a home in the Town of Haughton: what should you do first?

  1. Ask Haughton MPC to locate the parcel on the town zoning map and identify the applicable development requirements.4
  2. Establish whether Haughton’s mandatory public-sewer connection rule applies; if an individual system is eligible, seek state health approval before installation.56
  3. Submit the town building application and confirm contractor registration or the owner-builder affidavit route.11178
  4. Arrange required building inspections with the town building official.10

For land outside town limits, consult the Bossier Parish guide: the parish building-permit rule covers unincorporated land.18 For a private well, Louisiana requires a licensed drilling contractor and state registration; domestic wells use post-installation notification rather than the ordinary advance-notification rule.9

Watch-outs

  • A Haughton fence fee exemption is conditional on zoning compliance; a fee exemption does not remove that condition.3
  • Haughton’s floodplain RV duration alternative does not answer general residential RV occupancy on private land.7
  • We could not confirm Haughton’s certificate-of-occupancy procedure; ask Town Permit Administration before planning a move-in date.11

Sources

  1. Louisiana Revised Statutes 40:1730.23 — Enforcement of building codes by municipalities and parishes (Louisiana statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  2. Haughton Code of Ordinances, Sec. 8-5. Building code (Town of Haughton), quoted and re-checked
  3. Planning and Zoning | Haughton, LA (Town of Haughton), quoted and re-checked
  4. Haughton Metropolitan Planning Commission (haughtonla.gov)
  5. Haughton Code of Ordinances, Sec. 40-98. Mandatory connections (Town of Haughton), quoted and re-checked
  6. Louisiana Administrative Code Title 51, Part XIII, Public Health—Sanitary Code (Louisiana statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  7. Haughton Code of Ordinances, Sec. 16-84—Specific standards (Town of Haughton), quoted and re-checked
  8. Louisiana Revised Statutes § 37:2157 — Exemptions (Louisiana statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  9. Louisiana Administrative Code, Title 43, Part VI, §701 (Louisiana statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  10. Permits and Inspections | Haughton, LA (Town of Haughton), quoted and re-checked
  11. Town of Haughton Permit Administration (haughtonla.gov)
  12. Haughton Code of Ordinances, Sec. 8-27. Permit fees (Town of Haughton), quoted and re-checked
  13. RS 33:4721 — Regulation of size and use of buildings (Louisiana statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  14. Louisiana Department of Health, Onsite Wastewater Program (ldh.la.gov)
  15. Bossier Parish Health Unit (ldh.la.gov)
  16. Louisiana Administrative Code Title 51, Part XIII, Public Health—Sanitary Code (Louisiana statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  17. Permits and Inspections | Haughton, LA (Town of Haughton), quoted and re-checked
  18. Bossier Parish Building Safety Code Ordinance 4202, quoted and re-checked

Written October 11, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Town of Haughton

Town of Haughton’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Work for which Haughton requires a building or related construction permit, inside town limits.

    • Permit requirements depend on the location, type, and scope of work.
    • All required permits and approvals must issue before work begins.
    “Permit requirements depend on the location, type, and scope of the proposed work. Contact the Town before beginning a project if you are unsure whether a permit is required. Do not begin work until all required permits and approvals have been issued.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Construction of buildings and other structures in Haughton town.

    • The Town adopts the current editions adopted by Louisiana; no code appendix is adopted unless referenced by name or letter designation.
    “Pursuant to R.S. 40:1730.21 et seq., the following construction codes (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "code") are hereby adopted as the regulations governing construction of buildings and other structures in the Town of Haughton.”
  • InspectionsLimited

    Permitted construction in Haughton town for which an inspection is identified in the permitting process.

    • The contractor or owner must request required inspections at appropriate construction stages.
    • Work requiring inspection must remain visible and accessible until completed and approved.
    • Requirements vary by project.
    “Required inspections will be identified as part of the permitting process. The contractor or property owner is responsible for requesting inspections at the appropriate stages of construction.”
  • Certificate of occupancyLimited

    Projects in Haughton town for which Planning and Zoning requires a certificate of occupancy.

    • Planning approval does not automatically authorize occupancy.
    • The certificate may be needed in addition to final plans, engineering or utility approval, building permits, and inspections.
    “Planning and Zoning staff generally review zoning permits, sign permits, certificates of occupancy, temporary-use permits, and similar administrative approvals. Building permits and inspections are handled through Permits and Inspections.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land within Haughton town limits.

    • The current UDC and zoning map should be verified with the Town before reliance.
    “The Town of Haughton’s Unified Development Code, commonly referred to as the UDC, establishes the Town’s zoning, subdivision, and land-development requirements.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Zoning classifications and districts within Haughton town limits.

    • The zoning map and UDC should be reviewed together.
    • The Town cautions that a zoning classification alone does not guarantee approval of a specific project or use.
    • The online UDC and zoning map are for public convenience and should be verified with the Town.
    “The UDC and zoning map published online are provided for public convenience. Because the UDC may be amended, applicants should verify current requirements with the Town before relying on an online document or beginning a project.”
  • Living in an RVLimited

    Recreational vehicles placed within FIRM zones A1-30, AH, and AE inside Haughton town limits.

    • The RV must be on site fewer than 180 consecutive days, be fully licensed and ready for highway use, or meet Sec. 16-61(a) permit requirements plus manufactured-home elevation and anchoring requirements.
    • The quoted rule is limited to the listed FIRM zones.

    temporary on-site duration: < 180 consecutive days (One alternative to permit, elevation, and anchoring compliance.)

    “Require that recreational vehicles placed on sites within zones A1-30, AH, and AE on the community's FIRM either: a. Be on the site for fewer than 180 consecutive days; b. Be fully licensed and ready for highway use; or c. Meet the permit requirements of section 16-61 (a), and the elevation and anchoring requirements for manufactured homes in subsection (4) of this section.”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Human-occupancy properties inside Haughton town limits where public sanitary sewer is qualifying and available.

    • The property must meet Sec. 40-98's abutting-street and 300-foot conditions.
    • Existing qualifying properties have 365 days after official notice to connect.
    • Septic tanks, cesspools, and similar disposals must be destroyed, filled in with sand, or removed after public-sewer connection and before final inspection.

    public sewer distance from property line: <= 300 feet (Mandatory sewer-connection condition.)

    “All septic tanks, cesspools, and similar disposals shall be destroyed, filled in with sand or removed after connection with the public sewerage system and before final inspection.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

    Houses, buildings, and properties used for human occupancy inside Haughton town limits with qualifying public sanitary sewer availability.

    • The property must abut a street, alley, or right-of-way containing a public sanitary sewer.
    • The public sewer must be within 300 feet of the property line.
    • For existing structures, connection is due within 365 days after official notice.
    • After connection, septic tanks, cesspools, and similar disposals must be destroyed, filled with sand, or removed before final inspection.

    public sewer distance from property line: <= 300 feet (Applies to the mandatory-connection provisions.) · connection deadline after official notice: <= 365 days (Existing qualifying occupied property.)

    “The owner of all houses, buildings or properties used for human occupancy, situated within the town and abutting on any street, alley or right-of-way in which there is now located or may in the future be located a public sanitary sewer is hereby required at his expense to install suitable toilet facilities therein, and to connect such facilities directly with the proper public sewer in accordance with the provisions of this division, within 365 days after date of official notice to do so, provided that said public sewer is within 300 feet of the property line.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision, lot-combination, lot-line-adjustment, and new-infrastructure proposals inside Haughton town limits.

    • Approval is required when property is divided, lots combined, property lines adjusted, or new streets, utilities, or public improvements are created.
    • Floodplain requirements apply to subdivision proposals including manufactured-home parks and subdivisions.
    “Required when property is divided, lots are combined, property lines are adjusted, or new streets, utilities, or public improvements are created.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Subdivision development, including manufactured-home parks and subdivisions, inside Haughton town limits.

    • The proposal must meet the floodplain development permit requirements of Secs. 16-31, 16-61, and Chapter 16 Article IV.
    • The supplied section specifically covers subdivision-development proposals.
    “All proposals for the development of subdivisions including the placement of manufactured home parks and subdivisions shall meet the floodplain development permit requirements of sections 16-31, 16-61 and article IV of this chapter.”
  • Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

    Town building and construction permitting activities.

    • Fees are established from time to time by the Board of Aldermen.
    • Permit and inspection fees vary by type, size, value, and scope; plan-review, reinspection, contractor-registration, or other fees may additionally apply.
    “Permit and inspection fees vary according to the type, size, value, and scope of the work. Additional fees may apply for plan review, reinspections, contractor registration, or other services.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Town permit applications and planning/development applications in Haughton town limits.

    • A permit issues after required reviews and applicable fees are paid.
    • Required documents vary by application.
    • Planning or zoning approval does not replace permits, utility approval, or other governmental authorization.
    “Permit applications are submitted through the MGO website. Applicants can use the system to submit project information, upload documents, monitor the status of an application, and access permit records.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Town of Haughton or Bossier Parish directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential work in Haughton town.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Residential zoning districts inside Haughton town limits.
  • Minimum lot size — Residential zoning districts inside Haughton town limits.
  • Setbacks — Residential zoning districts inside Haughton town limits.
  • Lot coverage — Residential zoning districts inside Haughton town limits.
12 more unanswered
  • Building height
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • Short-term rentals

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Town of Haughton publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Bossier Parish’s page lists the county offices to call.

← All of Bossier Parish: county rules, score and offices