If your Old Jefferson backyard is compact, a pergola is one of the few shade structures that can fit without swallowing the yard. Before you set posts, though, a pergola on a small Old Jefferson lot has to work within Jefferson Parish’s rules for accessory structures and its expectations for lot drainage. A few feet in the wrong direction can mean redesigning after the permit review.
This guide walks through the parish’s setback and height rules for accessory structures, plus the drainage basics to settle first. It’s general information drawn from the Jefferson Parish Code of Ordinances, not a zoning determination for your lot, so confirm the rules for your address with the parish before you build.
Key takeaways
- Jefferson Parish uses the name Old Jefferson for this community, which the Census Bureau lists as Jefferson, a different place from the Old Jefferson in East Baton Rouge Parish.
- In residential districts, the parish code keeps accessory structures in a required rear yard at least 3 feet from side and rear lot lines.
- Accessory buildings or structures can cover no more than 40 percent of the required rear yard, and those in a required rear or side yard can’t exceed 13 feet in height.
- The parish’s permit guidance says structures must meet zoning distances from property lines and that no work may start before a permit is obtained.
- Once an acceptable lot grade is established, the parish code makes maintaining proper grade the owner’s responsibility.
Where is Old Jefferson, and whose rules apply?
Old Jefferson sits on Jefferson Parish’s east bank near Harahan and Elmwood, and the parish itself uses the name. Its business directory lists an Old Jefferson Community Association in Jefferson, LA 70121, and a parish FAQ describes a taxing district that “includes Old Jefferson and parts of Metairie.” The U.S. Census Bureau counts the community as the Jefferson census-designated place.
The name can confuse a search, because the Census also lists a separate Old Jefferson in East Baton Rouge Parish. Everything in this article applies to the Jefferson Parish community. Since it isn’t its own city the way Harahan is, zoning and building permits for an Old Jefferson address run through Jefferson Parish government. Our Metairie service area page covers how we work across this part of the parish.
How close to the property line can a pergola go in Old Jefferson?
Jefferson Parish’s rules for accessory buildings and structures sit in Section 33-5.3.3 of its Code of Ordinances. In a required rear yard, the code allows accessory structures as long as two conditions hold. First, “no more than forty (40) percent of the required rear yard shall be covered by accessory buildings or structures,” not counting swimming pools. Second, “in residential districts, such accessory buildings, structures, and swimming pools shall not be located less than three (3) feet from either side or rear lot line.”
The same section limits height: “Accessory buildings or structures allowed in a required rear or side yard shall not exceed thirteen (13) feet in height.” It also says no more than one accessory building or structure, other than a pool, can cover any part of a required side yard, and on a corner lot the corner or exterior side yard setback applies to the accessory structure too.
Two caveats matter on a small lot. How deep your required rear yard is depends on your lot’s zoning district, so ask the parish which district applies before you work out that 40 percent. And ask how the 3-foot setback is measured for your design, to the posts or to the edge of the roof, since pergola beams often run past the posts.
Does a pergola need a permit in Jefferson Parish?
Jefferson Parish’s permit guidance says “fencing, storage sheds, carports, etc., of any size” require a building permit, and that “no work may be done before a permit is obtained.” The same page states that “all structures and exterior equipment such as A/C units, water heaters, and generators, must comply with zoning requirements for distance from property lines.” Pergolas aren’t named on that page, so call the parish with your plans before you order materials.
Adding a structure can raise other parish questions too. If you’re thinking about a screened room instead, our guide on screen rooms and Jefferson Parish property taxes covers the assessment side.
Drainage on a small Old Jefferson lot
Small lots leave little room for water to go anywhere. Jefferson Parish’s lot grade regulations say that once an acceptable lot grade has been established, “it is the owner’s responsibility to maintain proper grade,” and that approved arrangements for handling direct runoff “shall be properly maintained by the property owner.” Lots 200 feet or more in depth need a design professional-certified lot drainage plan with the building permit application, a threshold a compact lot likely falls short of.
An open slatted pergola roof lets rain fall through much as it would on open yard. A solid or louvered roof collects that rain and sends it off at the gutters or edges, and a new slab under the pergola adds hard surface where water used to soak in. Plan where that water goes before you pour or build, and keep it moving away from the house and off your neighbor’s side of the fence. Our comparison of concrete vs. pavers covers the surface choice under a pergola.
Sizing a pergola that still leaves room to move
- Fit the coverage cap. Measure your required rear yard first, then keep the pergola and any shed within 40 percent of it.
- Stay under 13 feet. That height cap applies to accessory structures in a required rear or side yard, so design within it if the pergola sits in either one.
- Consider attaching it. A pergola attached to the house can shade the back door without adding posts near a lot line. Ask the parish how an attached pergola is classified for setbacks.
- Pick materials for humidity. Aluminum pergolas don’t rot or feed termites, while wood needs species and finishes chosen for our humid air, as our pergolas page explains.
- Plan for rain. A motorized louvered roof can close when a downpour rolls in, and our Metairie pergolas page covers those systems. Just know where the water will drain.
If you’re still deciding whether a pergola is the right structure, our look at the benefits of adding a pergola and our patio cover vs. pergola comparison can help. For screens later, see our guide to enclosing a patio in the New Orleans metro.
Frequently asked questions
How close to my fence can I build a pergola in Old Jefferson?
Jefferson Parish’s code says accessory buildings and structures in a required rear yard in residential districts can’t be less than 3 feet from a side or rear lot line. A fence may not sit exactly on the lot line, so measure from the surveyed line and confirm the rule for your lot with the parish.
How tall can a pergola be in a Jefferson Parish backyard?
The code caps accessory buildings or structures in a required rear or side yard at 13 feet. Ask the parish how height is measured for your design.
Do I need a permit for a pergola in Old Jefferson?
The parish’s permit page doesn’t name pergolas, but it requires permits for carports and similar structures of any size and says no work may start before a permit is obtained. Call Jefferson Parish with your plans to confirm.
Is this the same Old Jefferson as the one near Baton Rouge?
No. The Census Bureau lists a separate Old Jefferson in East Baton Rouge Parish. This article covers the Jefferson Parish community near Harahan and Elmwood, which the Census counts as Jefferson and the parish calls Old Jefferson.
Planning a pergola for a compact Old Jefferson or Metairie backyard? We’ll measure the lot with you and put a layout that respects the setbacks in writing. Call (504) 285-2659 or reach out through our contact page to set up a walkthrough.
