About St. Tammany Parish
St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana (referred to as a parish rather than parish in Louisiana's political structure) is located on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain in the southeastern portion of the state. The parish seat is Covington, a historic city established in 1813. St. Tammany Parish includes approximately 1,124 square miles and has a population exceeding 260,000 residents, making it one of the fastest-growing parishes in Louisiana. Major municipalities include Mandeville, Slidell, Abita Springs, and Madisonville.
The parish is named after Tamanend, a chief of the Lenape Native American nation. Geographically, Covington features diverse terrain including pine forests, wetlands, and waterways such as the Bogue Chitto River and Tchefuncte River. The parish is home to significant landmarks including Fontainebleau State Park, the Tammany Trace rails-to-trails project, and historic downtown areas that attract tourists year-round.
The St. Tammany Parish Clerk of Court, located at 701 North Columbia Street in Covington, maintains court records and vital statistics. The St. Tammany Parish Assessor's Office, situated at 21454 Koop Drive in Mandeville, handles property assessments and tax rolls.
The parish's unique character stems from its blend of New Orleans metropolitan influence, small-town Southern charm, and thriving arts communities, particularly in Abita Springs and Covington. Post-Hurricane Katrina, St Tammany experienced substantial population growth as residents relocated from Orleans and Jefferson parishes.
Sheriff, Police & Law Enforcement
Sheriff & Law Enforcement
The St. The office oversees patrol operations, criminal investigations, and community policing initiatives. It also manages the St. Tammany Parish Jail, where individuals arrested in the parish are detained. The sheriff's office is known for its proactive approach to crime prevention and community engagement, offering programs such as neighborhood watch and youth outreach initiatives to foster public safety and trust.
Police Departments
In addition to the St. These include the Covington Police Department, Slidell Police Department, and Mandeville Police Department. Each department is responsible for law enforcement within its respective city limits, handling local crimes, traffic enforcement, and community policing. The sheriff's office and municipal police departments often collaborate on major crime investigations and emergency response efforts, making sure of full law enforcement coverage across the parish.
Law Enforcement & Arrests
The St. Sheriff Randy Smith leads the department, which operates a modern detention facility known as St Tammany Parish Correctional Center located at 102 Jail Drive in Covington.
- Requests for arrest records should be submitted in writing to the specific law enforcement agency that made the arrest, with fees typically charged for copying and certification.
Citizens can conduct inmate searches and view booking information through the STPSO website at www.stpso.com, which features a jail roster with current detainees, booking dates, charges, and bond information. Mugshot photographs are typically included in online booking records. Municipal police departments operate independently in incorporated areas: Slidell Police Department, Mandeville Police Department, Covington Police Department, Abita Springs Police Department, and Madisonville Police Department.
Arrest records and incident reports are considered public records under Louisiana Public Records Law, La. R.S. 44:1 et seq, which grants citizens the right to inspect and copy public records with certain exemptions for ongoing investigations and confidential informant information.
The STPSO also maintains specialized divisions including narcotics, marine patrol for waterway enforcement, and K-9 units. Booking photos and arrest logs are updated regularly on the sheriff's office website, providing transparency in law enforcement operations throughout St Tammany Parish.
Criminal, Arrest & Jail Records
Criminal Records
Criminal records in St Tammany County, LA are maintained by local law enforcement agencies and the court system. Background checks are typically obtained through state-level repositories or authorized vendors. For an authoritative source, see St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana Criminal Records | StTammanyParishRecords.us.
Arrest Records
Arrest records in St Tammany County, LA are public under most state public-records laws unless sealed or expunged by a court. They are maintained by the arresting agency, primarily the County Sheriff's Office and municipal police departments.
Jail & Inmate Records
The St Tammany County jail is operated by the County Sheriff's Office and houses pretrial detainees and short-sentence inmates. Inmate locator tools allow public searches by name or booking number.
- Look up current inmates and booking information at St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana Inmate Search | StTammanyParishRecords.us.
- Sheriff's Office: St. Tammany Parish - Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections.
- The bond and bail process allows release of detainees under conditions set by the court; inquiries about recently arrested individuals can be directed to the jail's administrative office.
Courts & Case Records
St. Tammany Parish operates under Louisiana's judicial district system as part of the 22nd Judicial District Court, with the main courthouse located at 701 North Columbia Street in Covington, Louisiana. St. Tammany Parish Court handles felony criminal cases, civil matters exceeding $50,000, family law including divorce and child custody, successions (probate), and appeals from lower courts. Judges preside over divisions handling specific case types. St Tammany Parish Clerk of Court maintains all court records and provides public access to case filings, judgments, and dockets.
- Court records can be searched online through the Clerk of Court's website, though full document access may require in-person visits or written requests with applicable fees.
- City Courts operate in Covington, Mandeville, and Slidell, handling misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, and civil matters under $50,000.
- The Clerk of Court charges fees for certified copies, typically $2.00 per page plus certification fees.
- Online case searches are available at no charge for basic information, though downloading documents may incur costs.
Property & Public Records
Property and land records for St. Tammany Parish are maintained by multiple offices. The St. Tammany Parish Clerk of Court is the ex-officio Recorder of Mortgages and Conveyances, with the main office at 701 North Columbia Street, Covington, LA 70434 This office maintains recorded documents including property deeds, mortgages, liens, lis pendens, judgments, UCC filings, and subdivision plats dating back to the parish's formation. The Clerk of Court offers online access to land records through their website, allowing users to search by name, instrument number, or legal description.
- Conveyance and mortgage records can be viewed online, with document images available for download at fees established by Louisiana statute.
- The Assessor provides a full online GIS mapping system and property search portal at www.stpao.org, offering free access to property characteristics, assessed values, sales history, and parcel maps.
- Certified copies of recorded documents can be requested from the Clerk of Court for fees of $2.00 per page plus $5.00 for certification.
Vital Records
Vital records for St. Tammany Parish residents are managed through both parish and state offices. The St. Tammany Parish Clerk of Court, located at 701 North Columbia Street, Covington, LA 70434, issues certified copies of birth and death certificates for events occurring within the parish. Birth certificates cost $15.00 for the first copy and $7.00 for additional copies ordered simultaneously, while death certificates cost $7.00 per certified copy. Processing typically takes 3-5 business days for in-person requests.
- The marriage license fee is $27.50, with an optional $25 fee waiver available for couples who complete premarital counseling.
- Online ordering is available through VitalChek at www.vitalchek.com with additional service fees.
Applicants must present valid government-issued photo identification and demonstrate direct and tangible interest as defined by Louisiana law. Marriage licenses are issued by the St. Tammany Parish Clerk of Court, requiring both parties to appear in person with identification and Social Security cards. Divorce records and judgments are maintained by the Clerk of Court as part of court records.
For vital records older than several years or for centralized ordering, the Louisiana State Registrar of Vital Records in New Orleans provides statewide access to birth certificates (100 years), death certificates (50 years), and marriage records. Louisiana Revised Statutes Title 40, specifically La. R.S.
40:31-40:42, governs vital records creation, maintenance, and access. Only eligible parties including the registrant, immediate family members, legal representatives, and individuals with court orders may obtain certified vital records under Louisiana law.
Business & Licensing
Business and licensing records in St. Tammany Parish are accessible through multiple governmental entities depending on the record type. The Louisiana Secretary of State maintains the statewide business entity database accessible at www.sos.la.gov, where users can search for corporations, limited liability companies, partnerships, and other registered business entities. The Commercial Division provides free online access to entity status, registered agents, formation dates, and annual report filings.
- Tammany Parish Economic Development Foundation provides business support services.
- Alcohol beverage licenses are processed through the Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control with local approval requirements.
Doing Business As (DBA) names and trade name registrations in Covington are filed with the St. Tammany Parish Clerk of Court at 701 North Columbia Street, Covington, LA 70434 These fictitious name filings are public records searchable through the Clerk's office.
Professional and occupational licenses are primarily issued by state boards and commissions rather than parish government, including the Louisiana State Board of Contractors, Louisiana Professional Engineering and Land Surveying Board, and Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners. Sales tax permits and registrations are handled through the Louisiana Department of Revenue. Local business licenses and permits vary by parish: Slidell, Mandeville, Covington, and other incorporated cities maintain their own licensing requirements administered through city halls.
Building permits, zoning approvals, and land use permits are issued by the Covington area Department of Planning and Development. The St. The St.
Tammany Parish Chamber of Commerce, located in Covington with a website at www.sttammanychamber.org, offers networking and business resources.