1.3 Local Level
- Table of Contents
- Chapter 1: Government Agencies & Environmental Regulations
- Chapter 2: Public Participation in Government
- Chapter 3: Your Water
- Chapter 4: Your Air
- Chapter 5: Your Land
- Chapter 6: Emergency Preparedness
- Guide Wrap-Up
- Additional Resources & Contact Information
- Credits, Dedication & Thanks
Local governmental structure varies among parishes, towns, cities, and rural areas. Out of Louisiana’s 64 parishes, 40 are governed by a police jury association while the other 24 operate under a home-rule charter form of government.
A police jury is headed by a President and the elected members are called jurors. Most police juries are located in rural parishes. Of the 24 home-rule charter parishes, they vary between council-president, commission, consolidated, and city-parish forms of government. A home-rule charter means that the state gives legislative authority to the parish to conduct government business (pass laws and ordinances) throughout the parish, including incorporated and unincorporated areas.
Police Jury Form
| Acadia | Allen | Assumption | Avoyelles |
| Beauregard | Bienville | Bossier | Calcasieu |
| Caldwell | Cameron | Catahoula | Claiborne |
| Concordia | DeSoto | East Carroll | East Feliciana |
| Evangeline | Franklin | Grant | Jackson |
| Jefferson Davis | LaSalle | Lincoln | Madison |
| Morehouse | Ouachita | Pointe Coupee | Rapides |
| Red River | Richland | Sabine | St. Helena |
| Webster | West Carroll | Winn |
Home Rule Charter
| Council-President | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Ascension | Iberia | Iberville | Jefferson |
| Lafourche | Livingston | Plaquemines | St. Bernard |
| St. Charles | St. James | St. John the Baptist | St. Landry |
| St. Martin | St. Mary | St. Tammany | Tangipahoa |
| Washington | West Baton Rouge | West Feliciana |
| Commision | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Caddo | Natchitoches |
| Consolidated | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| East Baton Rouge | Lafayette | Terrebonne |
| City Parish | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Orleans |
Local governments make environmental decisions usually in the form of planning and zoning, public works, and emergency preparedness. To address an environmental issue or concern, start with your local government or local OHSEP office. From there, you may need to contact state or federal offices such as LDEQ or EPA. If you still need help, you may then need to contact state and federal legislators. See the Appendix for a broad listing of topics and their points of contact. Navigating this process can seem overwhelming when you are facing an environmental challenge but non-profit organizations, like LEAN, can be a valuable resource for guidance and support. Be sure to reach out, Contact Us! We are here to help.