House elevation questions,
Houma
Straight answers on heights, grants, slab homes, permits and licensing for homeowners in Terrebonne and Lafourche. Where a rule or a price depends on your parish or your program, we say who to ask.
Heights
The height you must reach is set by the strictest rule that applies to your lot.
Do I have to elevate my house?
It depends on your flood zone, local code and any grant you accept. If you take Restore Louisiana money, its standard includes elevating to at least 2 feet above base flood elevation. Your parish permit office can tell you what applies to your lot.
What is base flood elevation (BFE)?
The flood height FEMA's maps set for your lot. It is printed on an elevation certificate. After big storms, advisory BFEs are sometimes adopted in its place. Restore Louisiana's standard uses BFE plus 2 feet as one of its heights.
How high will my house go?
High enough to meet the strictest rule that applies to you: the parish's required height for your lot, and any grant program's standard. Restore Louisiana's standard is the highest of several heights, including base flood elevation plus 2 feet. Your elevation certificate and the permit office give you the numbers.
Want to see the arithmetic? The height calculator on the house elevation page turns your BFE and floor height into a target.
Grants and insurance
We can't tell you whether you qualify. Contractors can quote work built to your program's rules.
Can a grant pay to raise my house?
Sometimes. Terrebonne Parish runs FEMA-funded programs to elevate, or demolish and rebuild, qualifying homes, and applicants must carry NFIP flood insurance. Application windows open and close, so check with the parish. We can't tell you whether you qualify; contractors can quote work built to your program's rules.
Will a grant cover the whole cost?
Read your award letter for what the program pays and what you pay. Ask contractors to price to the program's scope so the numbers line up. We can't tell you whether you qualify or how much a program will pay.
Do I need flood insurance to get help?
For Terrebonne Parish's current elevation program, yes: applicants must hold an NFIP flood insurance policy. Grant or not, ask your insurance agent how elevating changes your policy.
Slab homes
Slab-on-grade houses follow a different route from houses on piers.
Can a slab house be elevated?
Restore Louisiana says it will not fund elevating a slab-on-grade house. Where elevation is required, slab homes are generally demolished and rebuilt on a raised foundation instead. Contractors can quote either route.
More on that route: slab homes and elevated rebuilds.
Permits and licensing
Permits are local. Licenses are state. Both are worth checking before you sign.
Who pulls the permit?
Ask whether the quote includes pulling the building permit from the parish or city, and get the answer in writing. Permits are issued locally, and a grant program can require more than local code.
How do I check a contractor?
Ask for their Louisiana contractor license number and look it up with the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC). Ask for proof of liability insurance and workers' compensation, and get the price and scope in writing.
Cost and timing
We don't publish prices. Each contractor prices the job after seeing the house.
How much does it cost to raise a house?
We don't publish a price because we haven't found a reliable local range. Cost depends on the size of the house, its foundation, how high it goes, which utilities move and how easy the site is to reach. Contractors price it after seeing the house, and asking is free.
How long does house elevation take?
It varies with the house, the foundation and the height. Ask for a written schedule. On grant-funded jobs, approvals and inspections set much of the timeline, so build those into your plans.
Can I stay in the house while it's raised?
Ask each contractor how long utilities will be off and when you can move back in. It depends on the house and the job, so get the plan in writing with the quote.
About us
Who are you, exactly?
A free quote-request service. We don't own jacks or employ crews. We pass your request to independent, licensed and insured contractors who work in your parish, and they quote you directly.
The long version is on the how it works page.
Still have a question?
Send the details of your house and contractors in Terrebonne and Lafourche answer for your lot, or message us on WhatsApp.
Free to request, no obligation. We pass your request to independent, licensed and insured local contractors who quote you directly. We can't tell you whether you qualify for a grant; contractors can quote work built to your program's rules.
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