Animal Ordinances in New Orleans, LA (2026)
9 verified animal ordinances for New Orleans, Louisiana, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
New Orleans allows backyard hens: the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance permits up to six chickens as an accessory use without an acreage requirement. Roosters are prohibited citywide, a 2013 amendment classified roosters among wild/exotic animals that may not be kept.
Keeping chickens in New Orleans: hens yes, roosters banned
Some RestrictionsNew Orleans Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance Sec. 20.3.C.7
A minimum site size of one (1) acre is required to keep livestock. All livestock shall be kept so as not to cause any adverse impact, including but not limited to odor, noise, drainage, or pest infestation, on any other property.
Dog Leash Laws
City Code § 18-14 requires every cat and dog to stay inside a secure four-foot fence or on a proper tether unless the owner is present, and licensed, vaccinated dogs off the property must be on a secure leash. Designated dog parks and the NOLA Bark off-leash area are exempt.
New Orleans Confinement and Leash Rules for Dogs
Some RestrictionsNew Orleans City Code § 18-14(a)-(b)
Sec. 18-14. - Cats and dogs to be confined, exceptions. (a)Except as provided herein below, all cats and dogs are to be confined within a secure, enclosed fence that is a minimum of four feet tall and shelter as outlined in section 18-2.1(a)(1) or properly tethered as outlined in section 18-2.1(b) at all times, unless accompanied by an owner, driver or keeper.(b)Dogs which are properly licensed...
Breed Restrictions
New Orleans has no breed ban. City Code § 18-294 expressly says the municipal court judge classifying a dog as potentially dangerous, dangerous, or vicious "shall not base the determination on the breed of the dog": classification turns solely on the dog's own bite or attack history.
New Orleans Dangerous-Dog Rules Are Not Breed-Based
Some RestrictionsNew Orleans City Code § 18-294(a)-(b)
Sec. 18-294. - Responsibility for classification. (a)A hearing shall be conducted in the municipal court for the purpose of determining the classification of a dog as potentially dangerous, dangerous or vicious based upon all evidence introduced at hearing, including investigative reports and recommendations submitted by the agency. The burden of proof for all classifications shall rest with th...
Exotic Pets
New Orleans Code § 18-7 flatly bans keeping any wild or exotic animal as a pet inside city limits, and § 18-8 bars offering one for sale as a pet. The only carve-out is a sale between accredited zoos or educational institutions that meet state and federal rules.
New Orleans Bans Wild and Exotic Animals as Pets
Heavy RestrictionsNew Orleans City Code §§ 18-7, 18-8
Sec. 18-7. - Wild or exotic animals as pets prohibited. No person shall keep or permit to be kept any wild, or exotic animal as a pet. ... Sec. 18-8. - Display of notice where wild or exotic animals are sold. No person shall offer for sale wild or exotic animals as pets. Zoos and educational institutions that are accredited and that meet all state and federal regulations may sell wild and exoti...
Wildlife Feeding
New Orleans makes it unlawful to feed pigeons or any bird within the four-block area around Jackson Square bounded by Decatur, St. Peter, Royal and St. Ann Streets. Tossing bread, popcorn, seed or similar food on the ground there draws a police or Vieux Carré Commission summons and a fine capped at $25.00 per offense.
Feeding Birds Banned in New Orleans' Jackson Square
Significant RestrictionsNew Orleans Code of Ordinances § 18-340
(a)It shall be unlawful for any person to dispense or distribute feed for or to feed any bird or fowl or throw or place on the ground any bread, breadcrumbs, seed, bird food, popcorn, or similar food in the area bounded by Decatur Street, St. Peter Street, Royal Street and St. Ann Street in the Vieux Carré area of the city. ... (c)The provisions of this section shall be enforced by summons. The...
Cat Rules
New Orleans exempts sterilized, ear-tipped "community cats" from licensing and confinement, but every privately owned indoor/outdoor cat must be microchipped or ear-tipped under § 18-14(c), and any cat over four months old must carry current rabies vaccination under §§ 18-168–18-169.
New Orleans Community Cat and Cat Confinement Rules
Some RestrictionsNew Orleans City Code §§ 18-1 (definitions), 18-14(c)-(d)
Community cat means a feral or free-roaming cat that is without visibly-discernible identification of any kind and has been sterilized, vaccinated, and ear-tipped. Community cats are exempt from licensing, feeding bans and registration requirements. ... (c)All indoor/outdoor cats that are privately owned must be microchipped or ear tipped.(d)Community cats may be allowed outside so long as the ...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
City Code § 18-306 requires every dog over six months old to be spayed or neutered unless the owner holds an intact-dog permit. Division 5 backs the mandate with escalating per-dog fines: up to $100 for a first violation, $250 for a second, and impoundment plus $500 for a third.
New Orleans Requires Dogs Spayed or Neutered by 6 Months
Heavy RestrictionsNew Orleans City Code §§ 18-306, 18-311(a)
Sec. 18-306. - Spaying and neutering requirements. Owner or keepers must spay or neuter all dogs over six months old. Owner or keeper may obtain an intact dog permit if the owner or keeper intends to keep the animal intact. Proof of spay/neuter or of intact dog permit must be provided by the owner or keeper when requested by the society. ... Sec. 18-311. - Fines for failure to comply with permi...
Pet Store Rules
New Orleans does not ban pet stores from selling dogs or cats, but § 18-15 requires all rabbits sold or adopted in Orleans Parish to be spayed or neutered first, bans raffling or giving away any animal as a prize, and forces retail sellers to keep 12 months of source and health records on every animal sold.
New Orleans Retail Animal Sale Recordkeeping Rules
Some RestrictionsNew Orleans City Code § 18-15
Sec. 18-15. - Sale of rabbits and other animals. (a)All rabbits sold or adopted in Orleans Parish by individuals or pet shops must be spayed or neutered prior to sale or adoption unless certified by a veterinarian as unfit for surgery due to age or other medical condition.(b)The auctioning, raffling or giving away as a prize or premium or advertising device of any animal at public or private ev...
Bird Protection
City Code § 18-341 bans molesting, killing, trapping, hunting, or robbing the nests of any bird in a public square, park, or one of the code's 16 named bird sanctuaries. Section 18-339 separately bars letting pigeons run at large anywhere in the city.
New Orleans Bans Harming Birds in Parks and Sanctuaries
Some RestrictionsNew Orleans City Code §§ 18-339, 18-341(a)
Sec. 18-339. - Pigeons not to be allowed at large. It shall be unlawful for any person owning or harboring pigeons to allow them to go at large within the city. ... Sec. 18-341. - Killing animals, birds or wild fowl in public squares, parks or designated bird sanctuaries prohibited. (a)In any public square, park or designated bird sanctuary, it shall be unlawful for any person to molest or kill...