Animal Ordinances in Lafayette, LA (2026)
7 verified animal ordinances for Lafayette, Louisiana, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Lafayette allows backyard chickens, turkeys, geese, guineas, ducks and pigeons under § 10-191, but they cannot run at large and must be kept in a pen, coop or enclosure at least 25 feet from any building used for sleeping, dining, living or working. Pigeon keeping gets extra rules in § 10-192.
Lafayette Backyard Chicken and Fowl Coop Rules
Some RestrictionsLafayette City-Parish Code § 10-191
(a)It shall be prohibited for any person raising or keeping chickens, turkeys, geese, guineas, ducks, pigeons or other fowl or rabbits to allow or permit the fowl or rabbits to run at large or be at large.(b)It shall be the duty of every person raising or keeping chickens, turkeys, geese, guineas, pigeons or other fowl, except pigeons and migratory waterfowl being raised or kept pursuant to a p...
Dog Leash Laws
Lafayette bans dogs from running at large anywhere in the city under § 10-121, whether tagged or untagged, on public or private property, with only a narrow exception for voice-controlled dogs inside a designated Moore Park training area. Cats, by contrast, are expressly allowed to run at large.
Lafayette Dogs Cannot Run at Large
Some RestrictionsLafayette City-Parish Code § 10-121
(a)Prohibited. No dog shall be allowed to run at large, whether he is tagged or untagged or whether he is on private or public property, except where such private property is the private property of such owner or person in charge and such property precludes the escape or possible escape of such animal, and except as provided in subsection (b) of this section.(b)Exception.(1)The immediate area o...
Breed Restrictions
Lafayette has no breed-specific ban; instead § 10-262 defines 'dangerous' and 'potentially dangerous' animals by their actual conduct, such as biting or aggressive behavior, regardless of breed. A declared dangerous dog then faces mandatory secure enclosure, muzzling, insurance and a $100,000 bond under § 10-267.
Lafayette Dangerous Dog Rules Are Behavior-Based
Significant RestrictionsLafayette City-Parish Code § 10-262
Dangerous animal or dog means: (1) Any animal, on two separate occasions within the prior 24 month period, engages in any behavior that requires a defensive action by any person to prevent bodily injury when the person and the animal are off the property of the owner of the animal or dog; or (2) any animal bites a person conducting themselves peacefully and lawfully causing an injury; or (3) an...
Exotic Pets
Lafayette City Code § 10-122(d) makes it a crime to knowingly bring a wild or exotic animal that could threaten public safety into the City of Lafayette or unincorporated Lafayette Parish, punishable by up to a $500.00 fine and six months in jail. Section 10-71 separately defines the 'wild animal' and 'exotic animal' categories that trigger the ban.
Lafayette Bans Bringing Wild or Exotic Animals Into City
Significant RestrictionsLafayette City-Parish Code § 10-122(d)
(d)It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly bring into the City of Lafayette or the unincorporated areas of the Parish of Lafayette any animal infected with any contagious disease or any wild or exotic animal which may constitute a threat to the safety of citizens and whoever is convicted of this crime shall be punished by a fine not exceeding $500.00 or imprisonment for a term not exce...
Cat Rules
Lafayette's Parish Council runs a community cat diversion program under § 10-120 that prioritizes trap-neuter-return for free-roaming cats over impoundment. Sterilized, ear-tipped and vaccinated community cats are exempt from licensing, stray-hold and at-large rules, and cats generally may run at large under § 10-121(c).
Lafayette Community Cat Trap-Neuter-Return Program
Light RestrictionsLafayette City-Parish Code § 10-120
(a)The Lafayette Parish Council adopts the community cat diversion program.(b)Trap-neuter-return is the preferred method for controlling the community cat population through the community cat diversion program. The animal care center and any contracted shelter organizations shall prioritize the trap-neuter-return method as the preferred outcome for community cats by directing any impounded, non...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Lafayette does not require spaying or neutering pets generally, but § 10-267(5) mandates that any animal declared potentially dangerous or dangerous be sterilized at the owner's expense within 30 days of the classification, with proof submitted to the Animal Care Center Supervisor.
Lafayette Requires Sterilizing Declared Dangerous Dogs
Some RestrictionsLafayette City-Parish Code § 10-267(5)
(5)Sterilized. If not already sterilized, the potentially dangerous or dangerous animal shall be rendered incapable of reproduction at the owner's expense within 30 days of the designation and proof of the sterilization shall be submitted to the Animal Care Center Supervisor.(6)Micro-chipped. If not already micro-chipped, the potentially dangerous or dangerous animal shall be micro-chipped for ...
Bird Protection
Lafayette's entire corporate limits are declared a bird sanctuary under City Code § 10-75, making it unlawful to hunt, trap, shoot or molest any bird, wildfowl, or their nests anywhere in the city. Even nuisance flocks like starlings can only be destroyed after a formal meeting with conservation groups.
Lafayette's Citywide Bird Sanctuary Ban
Heavy RestrictionsLafayette City-Parish Code § 10-75
(a)The area embraced within the corporate limits of the City of Lafayette, as those limits now stand or as may be amended in the future, is hereby designated as a bird sanctuary. (b)It shall be unlawful to hunt, trap, shoot or attempt to hunt, trap, shoot or molest in any manner any bird or wildfowl or to rob bird nests or wildfowl nests. However, if starlings or similar birds are found to be c...
Looking for Lafayette Parish county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Lafayette city rules.
Animal Ordinances in Lafayette Parish →