Short-Term Rentals in Lafayette, LA

Every city handles short-term rentals a little differently. In Lafayette, Louisiana, there are 6 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Short-Term Rental Permits

Operating a short-term rental in Lafayette without a city license is unlawful. Sec. 73-15 requires a valid, current STR license tied to one specific operator and one specific address, and makes clear there's no automatic right to get one: the director can withhold or deny a license based on the application and the applicant's operational history.

Key details: Governing section: Sec. 73-15, Lafayette Code of Ordinances. License holder: Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government. Transferability: Non-transferable between people or addresses. Renewal deadline: 60 days before expiration. Expiration: December 31 each license year.

Operating without the Sec. 73-15 license is itself unlawful, separate from any conduct on the property. Under Sec. 73-27, the director can fine the operator and/or condition, suspend, or revoke a license for non-compliance, following 14 days' written notice, an informal hearing, and a written decision. An aggrieved licensee has 21 calendar days to appeal to the 15th Judicial District Court, and the director's fine or license action takes effect once that decision is final.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Lafayette actively enforces its short-term rental permits requirements.

Occupancy Limits

In Lafayette's RM zoning districts, a licensed short-term rental can offer no more than four guest rooms, and each guest room is capped at two occupants. The limit applies per license, even if the property has multiple rentable structures.

Key details: Max guest rooms (RM district): 4 per license. Max occupants per guest room: 2 persons. Minimum stay: 1 night. Appeal deadline: 21 days to 15th JDC.

Non-compliance with the RM occupancy cap is enforced through the license itself: the director may fine the licensee and/or condition, suspend, or revoke the license under Sec. 73-27(a) for non-compliance with the chapter. Before any fine or suspension/revocation, the licensee gets an informal hearing before the director on 14 days' notice (Sec. 73-27(b)), a written decision within 14 days of that hearing, and 21 calendar days to appeal the director's final decision to the 15th Judicial District Court (Sec. 73-27(c)). Fines and license actions become effective once the director's decision is final.

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

Noise Rules

Lafayette folds short-term rental noise control into its general nuisance and noise code. Sec. 73-8 requires every STR operator, licensee, and guest not to generate noise, vibration, glare, or odors that unreasonably interfere with a neighbor's enjoyment of their property, and it incorporates Chapter 34's Nuisances and Noise Control articles by reference as enforceable STR license conditions.

Key details: Governing section: Sec. 73-8, Lafayette Code of Ordinances. Standard: No noise/vibration/glare/odor that unreasonably interferes. Incorporated code: Ch. 34 Arts. II & IV (Nuisances/Noise). Agent response time: 60 min (30 min, 11p-7a). Possible penalty: Fine, suspension, or license revocation.

Because Sec. 73-8 folds noise into the general nuisance/noise code, an unreasonable-noise complaint is enforced under Chapter 34 in the first instance, but it also triggers Sec. 73-9's cooperation duty and can lead to a fine or license action under Sec. 73-27: the director can fine, condition, suspend, or revoke the STR license after 14 days' notice, an informal hearing, and a written decision, appealable to the 15th Judicial District Court within 21 days.

Short-Term Rental Parking Rules

Lafayette doesn't set a minimum parking count for short-term rentals: instead Sec. 73-16(b)(9) requires every license application to state the number and location of parking spaces legally available on the property for STR use, information the director can weigh in deciding whether to grant or deny the license.

Key details: Governing section: Sec. 73-16(b)(9), Lafayette Code of Ordinances. Requirement: Disclose number/location of legal parking spaces. Numeric minimum: None set in Chapter 73. Change reporting: Report changes within 10 days. Cross-referenced rule: Ch. 86, Art. IX parking regulations.

There's no standalone parking penalty in Chapter 73; misreporting the parking disclosure required by Sec. 73-16(b)(9), or failing to report a later change under Sec. 73-16(d), is treated as an application or licensee non-compliance under Sec. 73-27, exposing the operator to a fine or to conditioning, suspension, or revocation of the license after the standard 14-day-notice hearing process.

Lafayette is more permissive than most cities when it comes to short-term rental parking rules. That said, there are still limits.

Taxes & Fees

A Lafayette short-term rental license costs $100.00 up front, non-refundable and non-transferable, with the same $100.00 due again at annual renewal. Sec. 73-16(b) also requires proof of a current Lafayette Parish School System tax account before the license issues, since that agency collects the local sales and related taxes STR operators owe.

Key details: License fee: $100.00, non-refundable. Renewal fee: $100.00 annually. Tax registration: Current Lafayette Parish School System account required. Financial clearance: Zero balance on city fees/fines/ad valorem tax. Governing section: Sec. 73-16(b), Lafayette Code of Ordinances.

Falsifying the zero-balance certification or the school-system tax account proof required by Sec. 73-16(b) exposes an operator to license denial, and, if discovered after issuance, to a fine or to conditioning, suspension, or revocation of an existing license under Sec. 73-27, following the same 14-day notice, informal hearing, and 21-day District Court appeal process that governs every other Chapter 73 violation.

Repeat Violator Strikes

Once Lafayette revokes a short-term rental license, Sec. 73-18 bars the same licensee from getting a new one for that property for a full year, and the ban reaches anyone acting as an 'interposed person' for the revoked licensee or holding an economic interest tied to them.

Key details: Governing section: Sec. 73-18, Lafayette Code of Ordinances. Reapplication bar: 1 year from final revocation. Applies to: Same licensee, interposed persons, economic-interest transferees. Revocation process: Sec. 73-27 hearing, then finality. Appeal court: 15th Judicial District Court, 21 days.

A revocation itself follows Sec. 73-27: the director can revoke after 14 days' written notice, an informal hearing, and a written decision, appealable within 21 days to the 15th Judicial District Court. Once that revocation is final, Sec. 73-18's one-year bar applies automatically to the same licensee, any interposed person acting for them, and any successor licensee in whom the revoked party holds an economic interest.

Compared to other cities, Lafayette takes a harder line on repeat violator strikes. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

The Bottom Line

Lafayette is tougher than many cities when it comes to short-term rentals. Out of the 6 rules covered here, 3 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Lafayette, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

This guide is based on Lafayette's current municipal code. Local rules can and do change, so check the individual ordinance pages for the latest details, penalties, and FAQs.