Animal Ordinances in New Orleans, LA: What Residents Actually Need to Know

If you live in New Orleans or are thinking about moving there, animal ordinances are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. New Orleans has 14 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of animal ordinances, and some of them might surprise you.

Beekeeping

Beekeeping is permitted in New Orleans subject to registration of all colonies with the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry under Louisiana Revised Statutes 3:2371 et seq. Hives must be set back from property lines, and water sources must be provided to discourage bees from foraging at neighbor pools. Africanized bee swarms should be reported immediately.

Key details: : All hives must be registered with LDAF under La. R.S. 3:2371. : 6-foot flyway barrier recommended near property lines. : Provide on-site water to keep bees off neighbor pools. : Africanized bee swarms must be reported. : Honey sales follow cottage food labeling rules.

Specific penalty amounts for this ordinance are not published in a publicly accessible fine schedule. Contact [New Orleans code enforcement](https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=80142) directly for current fines, enforcement procedures, and hearing options.

Cat Rules

New Orleans Ch. 4 requires cats over four months to wear current rabies tags and prohibits any cat from running at large or causing nuisance on neighboring property under city animal-control authority.

Key details: Vaccination age: 4 months and older. Shelter contractor: Louisiana SPCA. Code chapter: Ch. 4 Animals. TNR allowed: Yes, with caretaker registration.

Citations start around fifty dollars per offense plus boarding fees at the LA-SPCA shelter; repeat violations and unvaccinated cats trigger higher fines and possible court summons.

Mandatory Spay/Neuter

New Orleans Ch. 4 requires sterilization of intact cats and dogs reclaimed from the LA-SPCA shelter and of animals adopted from any city-contracted facility before release back to owners.

Key details: Trigger: Impound or shelter adoption. Exemption: Vet medical letter required. Breeder permit: Required for intact dogs. Provider: LA-SPCA contract.

Refusing sterilization forfeits the animal to LA-SPCA. Operating an unpermitted breeding kennel can bring fines and Municipal Court summons under Ch. 4 enforcement.

Microchipping

Animals released from the Louisiana SPCA shelter under New Orleans contract are microchipped before discharge, with chip information registered to the owner under Ch. 4 animal services protocols.

Key details: Trigger: Shelter impound or adoption. Provider: LA-SPCA shelter staff. Required for all pets: No, only shelter releases. Database update: Owner responsibility.

Chip implantation is performed before release. Failure to keep chip data current can delay future return of a lost pet but is not separately fined under Ch. 4.

If you are coming from a city with tighter rules, you will find New Orleans gives residents more flexibility on microchipping.

Pet Limits

New Orleans Ch. 4 caps the number of dogs and cats kept on a residential lot before kennel licensing applies, with separate Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance rules governing kennel locations and buffers.

Key details: Code chapter: Ch. 4 Animals. Zoning overlay: CZO kennel districts. Kennel permit: Health + Safety & Permits. Trigger: Pet count threshold exceeded.

Operating an unpermitted kennel exposes owners to Ch. 4 fines, Health Department orders, and CZO zoning citations. Animals may be seized if conditions endanger welfare.

Animal Hoarding

New Orleans pursues hoarding situations through Ch. 4 cruelty provisions and Louisiana Revised Statutes, with the LA-SPCA, NOPD, and Health Department coordinating seizure, sheltering, and prosecution of severe cases.

Key details: Cruelty statute: LA RS 14:102.1. Lead investigator: Louisiana SPCA. Felony tier: Aggravated cruelty. Possession ban: Court may order.

Misdemeanor cruelty carries fines up to one thousand dollars and jail under LA RS 14:102.1; aggravated cruelty is a felony with prison and forfeiture of all animals.

Compared to other cities, New Orleans takes a harder line on animal hoarding. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Pet Store Rules

Pet stores in New Orleans must hold a city occupational license, comply with Ch. 4 humane standards, and meet Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry pet-dealer rules under LA RS 3:2351 et seq.

Key details: City license: Ch. 38 occupational. State law: LA RS 3:2351 et seq.. Inspector: LA-SPCA + Animal Services. Health certificate: Required at sale.

Selling without a license, ignoring health-certificate rules, or failing inspections can lead to Ch. 4 fines, license suspension, and consumer refunds under the Louisiana pet-purchaser warranty.

Veterinary Clinic Zoning

The Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance allows veterinary clinics in commercial and mixed-use districts, with overnight boarding and outdoor runs subject to additional standards or conditional-use approval through the City Planning Commission.

Key details: Default zone: Commercial / mixed-use. Boarding tier: Often conditional use. State license: LA RS 37:1511. Reviewer: City Planning Commission.

Operating a clinic in a non-permitted zone can bring CZO citations and stop-work orders. Conditional-use violations may revoke approval after Planning Commission review.

Dog Leash Laws

All dogs in New Orleans must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet when off the owner's property under City Code Chapter 18. Dogs at large are subject to impoundment by the Louisiana SPCA. Designated off-leash dog parks include NOLA City Bark in City Park and Wisner Dog Park, where dogs may run free if they remain under voice control.

Key details: : 6-foot maximum leash length when off owner's property. : Off-leash permitted only in designated dog parks. : Louisiana SPCA impounds dogs at large. : Rabies vaccination required by state law. : Pooper-scooper rules apply on all public property.

Specific penalty amounts for this ordinance are not published in a publicly accessible fine schedule. Contact [New Orleans code enforcement](https://library.municode.com/la/new_orleans/codes/code_of_ordinances) directly for current fines, enforcement procedures, and hearing options.

Breed Restrictions

New Orleans does not have a breed-specific ban; pit bulls, Rottweilers, and other commonly restricted breeds are legal to own. However, Louisiana Revised Statutes 40:1300.51 et seq. and New Orleans City Code Chapter 18 impose strict liability and confinement rules on any dog declared dangerous or vicious after a biting incident or unprovoked attack, regardless of breed.

Key details: : No breed-specific ban in Orleans Parish. : Dangerous dog declaration triggers strict confinement. : 100,000 dollar liability insurance required for dangerous dogs. : Vicious dog designation can lead to euthanasia. : Landlord and HOA breed bans are private contracts and enforceable.

Specific penalty amounts for this ordinance are not published in a publicly accessible fine schedule. Contact [New Orleans code enforcement](https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=98910) directly for current fines, enforcement procedures, and hearing options.

The rules around breed restrictions in New Orleans lean permissive, but that does not mean anything goes.

Wildlife Feeding

Feeding wild alligators is a misdemeanor under Louisiana Revised Statutes 56:116.1, punishable by fines because fed alligators lose their fear of humans and become dangerous. New Orleans residents near City Park lagoons, Bayou St. John, and the levee canals must not feed alligators, ducks, nutria, or other wildlife. Feeding raccoons and feral cats also violates city nuisance rules.

Key details: : Feeding wild alligators is a state misdemeanor (La. R.S. 56:116.1). : Fines up to 750 dollars per violation. : Feeding waterfowl prohibited at Audubon Park and City Park. : Casual feeding of feral cats and raccoons creates nuisance. : Report large nuisance alligators to LDWF, do not engage.

Specific penalty amounts for this ordinance are not published in a publicly accessible fine schedule. Contact [New Orleans code enforcement](https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=104244) directly for current fines, enforcement procedures, and hearing options.

Compared to other cities, New Orleans takes a harder line on wildlife feeding. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Exotic Pets

Louisiana Revised Statutes 3:2101 and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries rules prohibit private ownership of big cats, bears, nonhuman primates, venomous snakes, large constrictors, and other inherently dangerous wildlife. New Orleans City Code Chapter 18 reinforces this and bans alligators, crocodiles, and other native dangerous reptiles as pets. Permits exist only for accredited zoos, sanctuaries, and licensed exhibitors.

Key details: : Big cats, bears, primates, venomous snakes prohibited (La. R.S. 3:2101). : Alligators and crocodiles cannot be kept as pets. : Large constrictors over 12 feet need state permit. : Wild-caught native animals require rehabilitator permit. : Ferrets, hedgehogs, sugar gliders are legal.

Specific penalty amounts for this ordinance are not published in a publicly accessible fine schedule. Contact [New Orleans code enforcement](https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=80088) directly for current fines, enforcement procedures, and hearing options.

This is one of the stricter rules in New Orleans's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Livestock

Cattle, horses, mules, pigs, goats, sheep, and other large livestock are prohibited in New Orleans residential and most commercial zoning districts under City Code Chapter 18. Limited keeping is permitted only in specific rural and agricultural zones, which cover a small fraction of the city near the Lower Ninth Ward and eastern New Orleans. Louisiana state law on stray and dangerous livestock applies citywide.

Key details: : No cattle, horses, pigs, goats, or sheep in residential zones. : Permitted only in specific agricultural and rural districts. : 50-foot setback from neighbor dwellings is typical minimum. : Slaughter on residential lots prohibited. : Owner strict liability under Civil Code article 2321.

Compared to other cities, New Orleans takes a harder line on livestock. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Chickens & Livestock

New Orleans permits a limited number of backyard chickens (generally up to 5 hens) for personal use under City Code Chapter 18, but roosters are prohibited because of noise. Coops must be set back from neighboring dwellings and kept sanitary. Larger livestock such as goats, pigs, cows, and horses are prohibited in residential districts citywide.

Key details: : Up to 5 hens permitted; roosters prohibited. : Coops must be predator-resistant and set back from neighbors. : No goats, pigs, cows, sheep, or horses in residential zones. : Slaughter of animals prohibited within city. : Louisiana SPCA enforces animal complaints.

Compared to other cities, New Orleans takes a harder line on chickens & livestock. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

The Bottom Line

New Orleans is tougher than many cities when it comes to animal ordinances. Out of the 14 rules covered here, 5 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in New Orleans, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

Keep in mind that New Orleans can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.