Written by Big Easy Windows
Key Takeaways
- St. Tammany Parish doesn’t have one permit office for window work. Unincorporated addresses go to the parish, and cities such as Mandeville and Slidell run their own departments.
- The City of Mandeville says permits are required whether a company or the homeowner does the work, and that construction must comply with the current state code.
- Old Mandeville and Olde Towne Slidell each have a local commission, as does Covington’s historic district, so exterior window changes there can need design review before a permit.
- Whether impact-rated glass or approved shutters are required follows the design wind speed for your address. Ask the permit office before you order.
- Before you sign with any installer, get in writing who pulls the permit and how inspections will be scheduled. Big Easy Windows replaces windows across the Northshore. Call (504) 384-8165.
Do You Need a St. Tammany Parish Window Permit?
Quick Answer: Whether you need a St. Tammany Parish window permit depends first on where your house sits. If it’s in unincorporated St. Tammany, the parish Department of Permits and Inspections is your office. If it’s inside a city such as Mandeville or Slidell, that city’s permit office applies instead, and a home in a local historic district may need a commission’s approval before any permit is issued. The parish’s permit page doesn’t list window replacement as exempt, so confirm with the office for your address, whether that’s Slidell, Mandeville, Covington, your own city, or the parish, before you schedule work or order custom units.
Our earlier permit guide for Orleans and Jefferson Parish covers the South Shore. This one covers the Northshore, where the city limits matter as much as the parish line.
Who Issues Permits in Unincorporated St. Tammany?
The St. Tammany Parish Department of Permits and Inspections serves unincorporated parts of the parish, with a mission built around enforcing the building codes and ordinances adopted by state and local agencies. The office is at 21454 Koop Drive, Building B, in Mandeville, and its customer phone line is 985-898-2574. Applications go through the parish’s online permit portal, and the department posts a residential permit packet on its website.
The parish page doesn’t list window replacement as exempt, so treat it as a question to ask, not a box to skip. When you call, have these ready:
- Your exact address, so staff can confirm it’s outside city limits.
- Whether the new windows fit the existing openings or the openings will change size.
- Product details for the new units, including design pressure and any impact rating.
- Whether any bedroom windows are part of the job.
A like-for-like insert and a full-frame replacement can be very different jobs. Our comparison of new construction vs replacement windows explains the difference, and it’s worth knowing which one your quote describes before you talk to the parish.
What Are the Rules Inside Northshore City Limits?
City of Mandeville
Mandeville’s building permit page is direct about it: permits are required regardless of whether a company or the homeowner does the work, and construction has to comply with the current edition of the Louisiana State Uniform Construction Code. The city asks residents who aren’t sure whether a job needs a permit to contact it. The permit office is at 3101 East Causeway Approach and takes questions at permits@cityofmandeville.com.
Old Mandeville adds a layer. The city’s Historic Preservation District Commission reviews work in its historic district under the city’s land use ordinance, and the city posts separate submittal deadlines for historic district projects. If your house is in the district, build that review into your timeline before a permit application. If you’re planning window replacement in Mandeville, ask your installer how the window order and inspections will be scheduled around that calendar.
City of Covington
Covington’s Historic District Commission reviews applications for a certificate of appropriateness covering proposed construction, material alteration, demolition, or relocation of buildings in the historic district. Replacing windows on a historic facade is the kind of material alteration to raise with the commission first. The city publishes its certificate application and historic district design guidelines online, and the commission takes questions at chdc@covla.com.
Outside the historic district, start with the City of Covington’s permit staff for a regular building permit question. Our page on window replacement in Covington covers the homes we work on there.
City of Slidell
Slidell’s Building Safety office handles construction permits from 250 Bouscaren Street and can be reached at 985-646-4323, with an online portal for applications. The city also created an Olde Towne Preservation District with its own commission, so a home in Olde Towne should expect design questions before exterior changes. See window replacement in Slidell for our local service details.
If your address is inside another town’s limits, start with that town’s office. A permit from the wrong jurisdiction won’t help you at inspection or at resale.
Why Do Wind Rules Matter So Much on the Northshore?
The lakefront has taken real surge and wind. The National Hurricane Center’s report on Hurricane Katrina found that rising water in Lake Pontchartrain pushed several feet of water into communities along the northeastern shore from Slidell to Mandeville, with high water marks showing a surge of 12 to 16 feet in those areas.
That history is part of why product ratings get attention at permit review. Wind-borne debris requirements follow the design wind speed mapped for a location, so 2 homes in the same parish can face different answers. Ask the permit office what applies at your address, and read our guide to wind-borne debris window rules in Louisiana to understand the options if impact protection is required.
The state code itself is on the move. Louisiana’s code council lists the 2021 International Residential Code as effective since January 1, 2023, with the 2024 editions scheduled for January 1, 2027. A project permitted late next year could be reviewed under a newer edition than one permitted this fall.
What Else Can Turn a Window Swap Into a Bigger Permit?
A few details regularly change the scope of a Northshore window job:
- Bedroom windows. Changing the size of a bedroom opening brings emergency escape rules into play. Our post on egress window requirements in Louisiana covers the dimensions reviewers look at.
- Glass near doors and tubs. Certain locations call for safety glazing. Our guide to safety glass rules lists them.
- Structural changes. Enlarging an opening or adding a new one means reframing, and that’s a different conversation with the permit office than a same-size swap.
- Storm repairs. After a storm, document the damage before anything else. Our storm-damaged windows decision guide walks through the first steps.
Historic review on the Northshore works much like it does across the lake, where review tends to focus on material and on how the window reads from the street. Our post on historic district window rules in New Orleans is a useful primer before a commission meeting.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a window permit cost in St. Tammany Parish?
Fees are set by each office and can depend on the project, so we don’t quote them. Ask the parish or city office that covers your address for the current amount.
How long does a permit take?
Review times vary by office and by season, and historic district review adds its own meeting schedule. Ask for the current turnaround when you apply, and don’t set an install date until approval is in hand.
Can I pull the permit myself?
Mandeville notes that permits are required whether a company or the homeowner does the work. Whether a homeowner can apply depends on the office and the job, so ask. Whoever you hire, ask them in writing who pulls the permit and how inspections get scheduled.
My house is in Covington but not downtown. Do I need historic review?
Only properties inside the historic district go through the commission. If you’re unsure whether your address is in the district, ask the city before you order windows.
Plan Your Northshore Window Project the Right Way
Confirm which office covers your address and what the units need to carry for that location, then set a delivery date only after approvals are in hand. We’re glad to talk through your project when you request an estimate.
Big Easy Windows serves Mandeville, Covington, Slidell, and the rest of St. Tammany Parish. Request an estimate online or call (504) 384-8165.
