Animal Ordinances in Gretna, LA (2026)
8 verified animal ordinances for Gretna, Louisiana, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
The City of Gretna does not name backyard chickens directly, but it does restrict farm animals: Gretna Code of Ordinances § 8-3 bans keeping a goat, cow, horse or other livestock within 300 feet of any residence, church or school, and § 8-2 bans keeping swine anywhere in the city.
Livestock Keeping Distance Rule in Gretna
Some RestrictionsGretna Code of Ordinances §§ 8-1, 8-2, 8-3
It shall be unlawful for any person to allow any animal or fowl under his care, custody or control to run at large in the city. Any animal or fowl found at large shall be impounded under such rules and regulations as may be established by the mayor and city council. The provisions of this section shall not apply to dogs or cats. ... It shall be unlawful for any person to keep, maintain or harbo...
Dog Leash Laws
In the City of Gretna, a dog or cat must stay confined to its owner's yard or enclosure, and if it leaves that enclosure it must be on a leash and accompanied by its owner or keeper, under Code section 8-38. Violations of this section share a combined maximum fine of $500.00 with the pit bull and vicious-animal provisions.
Dogs and Cats Must Be Leashed in Gretna
Some RestrictionsGretna Code of Ordinances § 8-38
It shall be the duty of the owner or keeper of a dog and/or cat to have such dog and/or cat confined within his yard or enclosure, or if such dog and/or cat is allowed outside of such enclosure, it shall be under leash and shall be accompanied by its owner or keeper. ... Each violation of sections 8-35, 8-36, and 8-38 shall be punishable by a maximum fine of $500.00.
Breed Restrictions
In the City of Gretna, pit bull dogs must stay inside a code-compliant chain-link kennel whenever they are not on a leash with their owner, under Code section 8-36. The kennel must be at least six feet high, at least five feet from any property line and at least twenty feet from a neighboring home. Violating any part of the section draws a $250.00 fine.
Gretna's Pit Bull Confinement and Kennel Rules
Significant RestrictionsGretna Code of Ordinances § 8-36
(a)Pit bull dogs shall be kept confined in kennels when not accompanied by their owners or on a leash in accordance with section 8-38.(b)All such kennels shall be:(1)Constructed of a chainlink fencing material.(2)At least six feet in height.(3)No closer than five feet from any property line; and(4)No closer than 20 feet from any neighboring home.(c)Nothing in this section shall be construed to ...
Wildlife Feeding
Feeding coyotes is against the law in the City of Gretna. Gretna Code of Ordinances § 8-6 bars knowingly or intentionally feeding wild coyotes, and the ban reaches even pet food left outdoors when the person knows or should know a coyote will eat it.
Coyote Feeding Ban in the City of Gretna
Some RestrictionsGretna Code of Ordinances § 8-6
No person shall knowingly or intentionally feed coyotes in the city. The feeding of coyotes shall mean the intentional placement of food for consumption by wild coyotes and/or the placing of food for domesticated animals when the offender knows or should know that the food will be consumed by wild coyotes.
Cat Rules
In the City of Gretna, every dog or cat owner must register the animal with the Jefferson Parish health unit by buying a numbered license tag showing the current calendar year, under Code section 8-33. Removing another owner's tag maliciously is separately punishable, and a vicious cat that cannot be safely captured may be destroyed by city agents.
Cat Registration Required in the City of Gretna
Some RestrictionsGretna Code of Ordinances § 8-33
It shall be the duty of the owner or keeper of a dog or cat to register same with the parish health unit by the purchase of a license tag which shall be numbered and shall indicate the current calendar year.
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Gretna's code sets no blanket spay-or-neuter mandate for pet owners. The only reference is discretionary: under Code section 8-53(i)(2), a Mayor's Court hearing officer may order an animal neutered or spayed only after a third or subsequent verified nuisance complaint against it within twelve months, as one remedy among several.
Gretna Orders Spay/Neuter as Nuisance Remedy
Light RestrictionsGretna Code of Ordinances § 8-53
(f)Any person issued a citation for a nuisance shall be fined as follows: $100.00 for a first offense, $200.00 for a second offense and for a third or subsequent offense within a 12 month period, a fine of $500.00. ... (i)In cases where a violation notice has been issued upon a third or subsequent verified nuisance complaint and a public nuisance is found to exist, the administrative hearing of...
Microchipping
Gretna's code does not require pet owners to microchip their animals generally. The only mention of microchipping is a discretionary remedy: under Code section 8-53(i)(3), a Mayor's Court hearing officer may order it after a third or subsequent verified animal-nuisance complaint against the same animal within twelve months.
Gretna Can Order Pet Microchipping
Light RestrictionsGretna Code of Ordinances § 8-53
(i)In cases where a violation notice has been issued upon a third or subsequent verified nuisance complaint and a public nuisance is found to exist, the administrative hearing officer may order:(1)A reduction in the number of animals kept by an owner, or require whatever reasonable restrictions in the keeping of animals he may deem necessary to eliminate or mitigate a public nuisance;(2)Neuteri...
Bird Protection
The City of Gretna has designated the Old Garden Park, New Garden Park and Third District areas as bird and wildlife sanctuaries. Gretna Code of Ordinances § 8-4 makes it unlawful to trap, hunt, shoot or molest any bird, wild fowl or wildlife, including squirrels, or to rob nests inside those areas.
Bird and Wildlife Sanctuary Protections in Gretna
Some RestrictionsGretna Code of Ordinances § 8-4(a), (b)
(a)Areas. The following areas are hereby designated as bird and wildlife sanctuaries:(1)Old Garden Park, New Garden Park and Street and Derbes Areas. ... (2)Third district area. The entire area in the city bounded by the third district line at Newton Street, 21st Street, the Heebe Canal and the Westbank Expressway is hereby designated as a bird and wildlife sanctuary.(b)Activities regulated. It...
Looking for Jefferson Parish county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Gretna city rules.
Animal Ordinances in Jefferson Parish →