Plaquemines Parish

Plaquemines Parish covers approximately 2,429 square miles, with about 780 square miles of land and the remainder consisting of water and coastal wetlands. As of the 2020 Census, the population stands at approximately 23,515 residents. The parish is renowned for its critical role in oil and gas production, commercial fishing, and maritime industries.

Major landmarks include Fort Jackson, a pre-Civil War fortification; the Venice area, known as the end of the road and a world-class fishing destination; and the extensive network of levees protecting communities along the river. The parish government operates from Belle Chasse, with the Plaquemines Parish Clerk of Court located at 8056 Highway 23, Belle Chasse, LA 70037. The Plaquemines Parish Assessor's Office maintains property tax records at the same complex.

The parish has faced significant challenges from hurricanes, including Katrina (2005), Gustav and Ike (2008), Isaac (2012), and Ida (2021), which have shaped its modern infrastructure and emergency preparedness systems. What makes Plaquemines Parish unique is its strategic position controlling Mississippi River traffic, its vibrant Cajun and Creole cultural heritage, its critical energy infrastructure including numerous oil refineries and offshore platforms, and its status as Louisiana's southernmost jurisdiction.

The roster typically includes booking photos (mugshots), charges, bond amounts, and booking dates. Municipal law enforcement within the parish is limited, as Plaquemines is primarily a rural parish without incorporated municipalities; however, the Sheriff's Office maintains substations in Port Sulphur and other communities along Highway 23. Arrest records in Plaquemines Parish are considered public records under Louisiana Public Records Law (La.

R.S. 44:1 et seq.), which establishes the right of citizens to inspect and copy public records. Requests for arrest records, incident reports, and booking information can be submitted directly to the Plaquemines Parish Sheriff's Office either in person at the main office in Belle Chasse, by mail, or through the Sheriff's Office records division.

The parish does not have tribal police jurisdiction, but the Sheriff's Office coordinates with federal agencies including the U.S. Coast Guard, which maintains a significant presence due to the parish's extensive coastline and maritime traffic.

Louisiana Revised Statutes 44:1 through 44:41 establish the Louisiana Public Records Law, which governs access to court records and ensures that judicial proceedings remain transparent to the public, with certain exceptions for sealed records, juvenile matters, and cases involving protected information. The parish has multiple Justice of the Peace divisions serving different geographic areas along the east and west banks of the Mississippi River. These courts are crucial for resolving minor civil disputes and providing accessible justice to residents throughout the parish's long, narrow geography.

Traffic violations and minor criminal matters may also be heard initially in Justice of the Peace Court before advancing to District Court for more serious charges.

Documents recorded with the Clerk include acts of sale (deeds), mortgages, mortgage cancellations, judgments, liens, oil and gas leases, servitudes, and plat maps. Louisiana operates under a civil law system derived from French and Spanish law, which differs significantly from common law states, particularly in property conveyancing and mineral rights. Property tax records and assessments are maintained by the Plaquemines Parish Assessor's Office, located at 8056 Highway 23, Belle Chasse, LA 70037, phone (504) 297-5575.

The Assessor maintains parcel data for all real property in the parish and conducts regular reassessments as required by Louisiana law. This system displays parcel boundaries, property characteristics, and assessment history, providing valuable information for property research, real estate transactions, and land use planning.

Louisiana eliminated its three-day waiting period for marriage licenses in 2018. Birth and death certificates are primarily maintained by the Louisiana Department of Health, Vital Records Registry, P.O. Box 60630, New Orleans, LA 70160.

Applicants must provide valid government-issued photo identification and demonstrate a direct and tangible interest in the record (such as being an immediate family member, legal representative, or having a court order). Birth records less than 100 years old and death records less than 50 years old are restricted to authorized individuals under Louisiana Revised Statutes 40:32 and 40:34, which govern access to vital records and protect privacy while ensuring legitimate access for legal, genealogical, and administrative purposes. Divorce records are maintained by the Plaquemines Parish Clerk of Court as part of the court record for each divorce case and can be accessed through the same procedures as other court records.

For historical vital records or records from before statewide registration systems were implemented, researchers may need to consult parish church records, which historically maintained baptismal, marriage, and burial records.

The Plaquemines Parish Clerk of Court maintains filings for trade names (DBAs - doing business as) and other business-related documents at 8056 Highway 23, Belle Chasse, LA 70037. Formal business entity registrations, including corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs), partnerships, and nonprofit organizations, must be filed with the Louisiana Secretary of State's Commercial Division. The Secretary of State maintains a free, searchable online database at www.sos.la.gov/BusinessServices where users can search for registered business entities, view formation documents, check registered agent information, and verify business status.

This database includes information on domestic and foreign entities authorized to conduct business in Louisiana, with documents available for download or purchase. Professional licenses (such as contractors, plumbers, electricians, and cosmetologists) are issued by respective Louisiana state licensing boards, not the parish. Building permits, zoning approvals, and development permits are issued by the Plaquemines Parish Department of Building and Permitting, located in Belle Chasse.

These permits are required for new construction, renovations, electrical work, plumbing, and mechanical systems. The Plaquemines Parish Planning and Zoning Department reviews development proposals for compliance with parish zoning ordinances and comprehensive plans. The Greater New Orleans Inc.

(GNO, Inc.) serves as the regional economic development organization, though the parish also has a Plaquemines Parish Economic Development office promoting business growth and industrial development. Information about starting a business, expansion opportunities, and economic incentives can be obtained through the parish economic development office at (504) 934-0650.

Voter registration requires Louisiana residency, U.S. citizenship, age 18 or older (or will be by the next election), and no current felony conviction or adjudication of mental incompetence. The registration deadline is typically 30 days before any election, though online registration closes approximately 20 days before election day.

Voters can find their polling location, verify registration status, and view sample ballots through the GeauxVote portal by entering their name and date of birth. Plaquemines Parish operates multiple polling places distributed throughout the parish's long geography, with locations on both the east and west banks of the Mississippi River to ensure accessibility for residents from Belle Chasse to Venice. Election records that are public in Louisiana include voter registration lists (with certain information redacted for privacy), campaign finance reports filed with the Louisiana Board of Ethics and local clerks of court, candidate qualification documents, and precinct-level election results.

The Louisiana Secretary of State publishes detailed election results by parish and precinct on its website following each election. In the November 2024 general election, Plaquemines Parish reported voter turnout of approximately 62%, reflecting the parish's typically engaged electorate, particularly for presidential and statewide contests. The next major election is scheduled for November 3, 2026, featuring midterm elections for the U.S.

House of Representatives and U.S. Senate, along with various Louisiana state offices including statewide positions and state legislative seats. Absentee voting by mail is available to Louisiana voters who meet specific criteria, including being 65 or older, having a disability, being absent from the parish during early voting and on election day, or being hospitalized.

Absentee ballot applications must be submitted to the Plaquemines Parish Registrar of Voters, and applications are available on the Secretary of State's website or at the Registrar's office. Louisiana also offers early voting at designated locations typically beginning 14 days before an election and ending seven days before election day. Plaquemines Parish typically operates early voting locations in Belle Chasse and other population centers.

R.S. 44:1 et seq.), though certain personal voter information is protected from disclosure to prevent identity theft and harassment.

Major employers include Belle Chasse Naval Air Station (now Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans), which provides substantial military and civilian employment, and several large energy companies operating refineries and terminals along the Mississippi River. Plaquemines LNG operates a major liquefied natural gas facility in the parish, representing billions of dollars in capital investment and providing high-wage jobs. The commercial fishing industry remains vital to the parish economy, with Venice and Empire serving as homeports for shrimp boats, oyster harvesters, and charter fishing operations.

Plaquemines Parish is one of Louisiana's leading producers of seafood by volume and value, particularly brown and white shrimp, oysters, and various finfish species. According to U.S. Agriculture, particularly citrus production (oranges and other citrus fruits), has historically been important, though hurricanes have repeatedly damaged groves.

The parish's economy also benefits from river pilots, maritime support services, shipyards, and vessel traffic management associated with the Port of South Louisiana, which extends through Plaquemines Parish and is consistently ranked among the nation's busiest ports by tonnage. Unemployment in Plaquemines Parish typically tracks close to state averages but can fluctuate based on energy sector conditions and hurricane impacts. Major economic development projects include ongoing levee improvements, coastal restoration efforts funded through various sources including Deepwater Horizon settlement funds, and renewable energy initiatives.

The parish has been working to diversify its economic base while maintaining its traditional strengths in energy, maritime industries, and natural resource extraction. Tourism, particularly recreational fishing and eco-tourism, represents a growing sector, with the parish marketing itself as a premier fishing destination.