Animal Ordinances in St. Tammany Parish, LA (2026)
10 rules for unincorporated St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Unincorporated St. Tammany Parish allows chickens, other poultry and livestock as a "Household Agriculture" accessory use in every residential zoning district under UDC Sec. 100-5 and Exhibit 400-1, as long as the animals are housed so they don't create a nuisance to neighbors by sight, smell or sound. Parish-wide, though, cattle, goats, hogs, horses and other stock can never be left to rove loose under Code of Ordinances Sec. 10-22.
St. Tammany Parish Backyard Chickens & Livestock
Light RestrictionsSt. Tammany Parish Code of Ordinances § 100-5
Agriculture, Household. That growing of vegetables, poultry, and livestock for the use of the residents of the property whereon it is grown or kept. Permitted animals and insects include, but are not limited to, those raised for consumption or as food producers (cows, goats, bees, rabbits, chickens, etc.) or those used for pleasure (horses, birds, turtles, dogs, cats, etc.). Poisonous, wild, or...
Dog Leash Laws
St. Tammany Parish bans letting any animal run loose, free or at large on a street, sidewalk or unenclosed land, or trespass onto someone else's property, unless it is under a competent person's immediate control on a substantial chain or leash. Code of Ordinances Sec. 10-647 backs this with a misdemeanor fine of $250.00 to $500.00 and detailed tethering rules for owners who keep dogs on a line.
St. Tammany Parish Leash & At-Large Law
Some RestrictionsSt. Tammany Parish Code of Ordinances § 10-647
It shall be unlawful for any person to suffer or permit any animal in his possession, or kept by him about his premises, to run loose, free or at-large on any street, sidewalk, alleyway, highway, common or public square, or upon any unenclosed land, or trespass upon any enclosed or unenclosed lands of another. The term "running loose, free or at large" means not under the immediate control of a...
Breed Restrictions
St. Tammany Parish doesn't restrict pets by breed; instead it declares an individual animal "dangerous," "potentially dangerous," or "vicious" based on documented bite or attack history under Code of Ordinances Secs. 10-659 and 10-664. A dangerous-animal designation triggers a $250-$500 annual permit, mandatory muzzling and $200,000 liability insurance, while owning a declared vicious animal is outright unlawful.
St. Tammany Dangerous & Vicious Dog Rules
Significant RestrictionsSt. Tammany Parish Code of Ordinances §§ 10-659, 10-664
As used in this section, the term "dangerous animal" means: (1)Any animal which, when unprovoked, on two separate occasions engages in any behavior that requires a defensive action by any person to prevent bodily injury that occurs when the person and the animal are off the property of the owner or keeper of the animal;(2)Any animal which, when unprovoked, bites a person causing an injury and i...
Exotic Pets
Owning, keeping or exhibiting a wild or exotic animal anywhere in unincorporated St. Tammany Parish requires a permit from the parish department of animal services under Code of Ordinances Sec. 10-669, and venomous snakes are banned outright except at zoos, universities and government agencies. Permits cost $200.00 a year and require $200,000.00 in liability insurance.
St. Tammany Parish Wild Animal Permit
Significant RestrictionsSt. Tammany Parish Code of Ordinances § 10-669
No person may own, possess, or have custody of any wild or exotic animal unless that person first obtains a permit from the director or is exempted from obtaining such a permit as set forth herein. ... No person shall own, keep or harbor any venomous snake in the parish, except institutions of higher learning, zoos or governmental agencies. ... Fees. The fee per permit is $200.00 annually. ... ...
Wildlife Feeding
Feeding an alligator within 500 feet of a residence is a misdemeanor in unincorporated St. Tammany Parish under Code of Ordinances Sec. 10-693, punishable by a $300.00 to $500.00 fine, up to 30 days in the parish jail, or both. Licensed alligator farmers, exhibits and government wildlife personnel are exempt; every day of feeding is a separate offense.
St. Tammany Parish Alligator Feeding Ban
Heavy RestrictionsSt. Tammany Parish Code of Ordinances § 10-693
(a)It shall be unlawful for any person to feed an alligator within 500 feet of a residence.(b)For the purposes of this section, the term "residence" shall mean a structure used as a dwelling place or abode, and shall also include camps which are inhabited on an occasional basis.(c)Exempt from this section are duly authorized personnel of local, state and federal wildlife agencies, licensed alli...
Cat Rules
St. Tammany Parish exempts community cats from licensing and at-large enforcement under Code of Ordinances Sec. 10-670, but only after a veterinarian confirms the cat is sterilized, microchipped, rabies-vaccinated and ear-tipped. Caregivers can feed and shelter a colony without becoming its legal owner. The parish can still order removal of a colony that becomes a genuine nuisance, though running at large alone never qualifies as one.
St. Tammany Parish Community Cat Rules
Some RestrictionsSt. Tammany Parish Code of Ordinances § 10-670
(a)All cats that are part of the community cat management programs shall be: (1)Assessed by a veterinarian and deemed healthy; (2)Sterilized; (3)Microchipped; (4)Vaccinated against the threat of rabies; and (5)Ear-tipped for easy identification. ... (c)If the requirements of subsections (a)(1)—(5) and (b) are met, the community cat is exempted from licensing, stray, at-large, and other provisio...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
St. Tammany Parish Code Sec. 10-671 bars owning, keeping or harboring an intact cat or dog anywhere in the parish unless the department of animal services has issued a no-fee waiver. Kittens 26 weeks and younger and puppies 52 weeks and younger are exempt outright. An intact animal impounded for another violation triggers escalating fines, from $25.00 up to mandatory sterilization on a second offense.
St. Tammany Parish Mandatory Spay/Neuter Law
Significant RestrictionsSt. Tammany Parish Code of Ordinances § 10-671
(c)Except as provided in subsection (d) below, no person may own, keep, reside with or harbor a cat or dog within the parish that has not been spayed or neutered.(d)Waiver.(1)These provisions shall not apply to any kittens 26 weeks or younger or any puppies 52 weeks or younger.(2)Any pet owner may obtain a no-fee intact waiver of the provisions of this section from the department of animal serv...
Microchipping
St. Tammany Parish doesn't require microchips for every household pet, but it does mandate them for specific categories: licensed animal establishments like pet shops, kennels and grooming shops must microchip every animal six months or older under Sec. 10-668, and cats enrolled in the parish's community cat program must be microchipped under Sec. 10-670 before they qualify for the program's licensing exemption.
St. Tammany Parish Pet Microchip Rules
Some RestrictionsSt. Tammany Parish Code of Ordinances §§ 10-660, 10-668, 10-670
(13)Animal establishments shall be required to microchip all animals who are six months of age or older. ... Sec. 10-670. - Community cat management. (a)All cats that are part of the community cat management programs shall be: (1)Assessed by a veterinarian and deemed healthy;(2)Sterilized;(3)Microchipped;(4)Vaccinated against the threat of rabies; and(5)Ear-tipped for easy identification. ... S...
Pet Groomer Rules
Any grooming shop operating in unincorporated St. Tammany Parish needs an animal establishment permit from the parish department of animal services before it can bathe, clip or pluck a single animal. Code of Ordinances Sec. 10-642 defines "grooming shop" and requires zoning compliance, while Sec. 10-668 sets the $250 annual permit fee and inspection regime that applies to it.
St. Tammany Parish Grooming Shop Permit
Some RestrictionsSt. Tammany Parish Code of Ordinances §§ 10-642, 10-668
Grooming shop means a commercial establishment where animals are bathed, clipped, plucked or otherwise groomed. Grooming shops must be in compliance with all applicable zoning, land use and permit regulations, and must obtain a permit. ... (a)(6)The annual permit fee shall be $250.00. A report of the number of animals bred the prior year is also required along with the annual permit fee. (7)A p...
Bird Protection
St. Tammany Parish has designated four residential subdivisions as bird and wildlife sanctuaries: Lake Village, Magnolia Forest, The Woods, and Brier Lake. Inside those boundaries, Code of Ordinances Sec. 10-85 makes it unlawful to hunt, trap, shoot, snare, cage, intimidate or molest any bird or rob a wild bird's nest, and Sec. 10-87 additionally bans discharging any firearm within 400 feet of the Lake Village sanctuary line.
St. Tammany Parish Bird Sanctuary Ban
Some RestrictionsSt. Tammany Parish Code of Ordinances §§ 10-85, 10-87
Sec. 10-85. - Prohibited acts, exceptions; encouraged treatment of birds. It shall be unlawful and a violation of this article for any person to hunt, trap, shoot, snare, cage, intimidate or molest any bird, or to rob the nests of any wild bird within the above described area; provided however, that same shall not apply to any bird kept and maintained as a house pet and sold for such purpose by...
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