Excavation permits and rules in Louisiana

Anyone digging in Louisiana has to notify Louisiana 811 before work starts. The notice period under La. Rev. Stat. 40:1749.11 to 40:1749.27 (Louisiana Underground Utilities and Facilities Damage Prevention Law): at least forty-eight hours, but not more than one hundred twenty hours, excluding weekends and holidays, in advance of the commencement of any excavation or demolition activity.^{1, 2}

Louisiana licenses contractors through the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors. Who needs a license: $50,000 or more (including labor and materials) for commercial projects; residential construction exceeding $50,000. Earthwork, drainage and levees, a subclassification of highway, street and bridge construction, covers excavation, grading, trenching and land clearing.^{3, 4}

A stormwater permit is needed at 1 acre, or less if part of a larger common plan of development or sale. Coverage is under the LPDES small construction general permit LAR200000 (1 to under 5 acres) and large construction general permit LAR100000 (5 acres or more).⁵