Animal Ordinances in Tangipahoa Parish, LA (2026)
7 rules for unincorporated Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
In unincorporated Tangipahoa Parish, anyone raising chickens or hogs must keep new coops and pens at least 500 feet from any occupied dwelling besides their own and get a permit from the parish health unit before building. Separately, keeping livestock requires at least one acre for the first animal plus a half acre for each additional animal, per Parish Code §§ 10-57 and 10-60.
Chickens, Hogs and Livestock Rules in Tangipahoa Parish
Some RestrictionsTangipahoa Parish Code §§ 10-57, 10-60
(a)Anyone engaged in the raising of chickens and/or hogs shall erect no new structures nearer than 500 feet of any occupied dwelling other than his own.(b)Any person desiring to erect a new structure for the purpose of raising chickens and/or hogs shall be required to first secure a permit from the parish health unit before construction is started. ... (a)It shall be unlawful for any person to ...
Dog Leash Laws
Every dog in unincorporated Tangipahoa Parish must be properly restrained or supervised on and off its owner's property so it doesn't become a public nuisance or stray, per § 10-84(a); a leash is specifically required on school grounds during session and at organized public recreation events, per § 10-84(f).
Dog Restraint and Leash Rules in Tangipahoa Parish
Some RestrictionsTangipahoa Parish Code § 10-84(a), (f)
(a)Every dog shall be properly restrained and/or adequately supervised by the owner, trainer or designated keeper both on and off the premises of the owner so as not to become a public nuisance or be defined as stray. ... (f)Owners and designated keepers shall not permit dogs in their care on any school ground when school is in session, or on any public recreation area when an organized activit...
Breed Restrictions
Tangipahoa Parish has no breed ban: its ordinance classifies dogs as dangerous or vicious by behavior. Two unprovoked aggressive incidents in 36 months or one bite causing injury makes a dog dangerous; killing or seriously injuring a person after a prior dangerous finding makes it vicious, and either finding can trigger a court-ordered possession ban of up to three years under §§ 10-80 and 10-81(h).
Dangerous and Vicious Dog Rules in Tangipahoa Parish
Heavy RestrictionsTangipahoa Parish Code §§ 10-80, 10-81(h)
Dangerous dog means: (1)Any dog which when unprovoked, on two separate occasions within the prior 36-month period, engages in any behavior that requires a defensive action by any person to prevent bodily injury when the person and the dog are off the property of the owner of the dog; or(2)Any dog which, when unprovoked, bites a person causing an injury; or(3)Any dog which, when unprovoked, on t...
Exotic Pets
Owning, possessing, selling or keeping any wild or exotic animal as a pet is prohibited across unincorporated Tangipahoa Parish, covering species like lions, tigers, leopards, hyenas, primates, bears, elephants, bison, antelope, deer and poisonous snakes, with exceptions only for state-permitted wildlife, zoos and wildlife preserves, under § 10-98.
Wild and Exotic Animal Pet Ban in Tangipahoa Parish
Heavy RestrictionsTangipahoa Parish Code § 10-98
No person shall own, possess, sell, or keep any wild (other than what is permitted by the state) or exotic animal as a pet in the parish. Exotic animals are all species of vertebrate animals not naturally occurring in any ecosystem in the United States, including hybrids thereof, including, but not limited to, lions, tigers, leopards, hyenas, primates, bears, elephants, bison, antelopes, deer o...
Cat Rules
Cat owners in unincorporated Tangipahoa Parish may license a cat over six months old with animal control by submitting a rabies certificate under § 10-91, and any cat off its owner's premises and not restrained is legally "at large" under § 10-80, which also separately defines an unsocialized colony cat as "feral."
Cat Licensing and At-Large Rules in Tangipahoa Parish
Some RestrictionsTangipahoa Parish Code §§ 10-80, 10-91(a), 10-91(c)
At large. An animal shall be deemed to be at large if it is not under the restraint of a person capable of controlling it and off the premises of its owner or designated keeper. ... Feral means a domestic species of animal which has reverted to or which exists in an untamed state and is unsocialized to humans. ... (a)Any person owning, keeping, harboring or having custody of any dog or cat over...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Tangipahoa Parish requires sterilization in two specific circumstances: every dog or cat adopted from the animal control shelter must be spayed or neutered before release or per the adoption contract under § 10-89, and any fertile animal impounded twice within six months must be spayed or neutered at the owner's expense under § 10-92(b).
Mandatory Spay/Neuter Rules in Tangipahoa Parish
Significant RestrictionsTangipahoa Parish Code §§ 10-89, 10-92(b)
As a matter of public policy, all dogs and cats adopted from the animal control shelter shall be sterilized prior to release to an adopter or as required in the adoption contract signed by an adopter, as required by state law. Failure of an adopter to have the animal sterilized shall be considered a breach of contract and may result in legal action to seize the animal and to collect penalties. ...
Microchipping
Animal control requires a microchip in two circumstances: any dog or cat taken into an area open to the public must be licensed and microchipped with a current rabies vaccination under § 10-91(k), and any animal impounded twice within six months must be microchipped and licensed at the owner's expense under § 10-92(a).
Microchipping Requirements in Tangipahoa Parish
Some RestrictionsTangipahoa Parish Code §§ 10-91(k), 10-92(a)
(k)Any animal in areas open to the public shall be licensed and micro-chipped, with a current rabies vaccination. Failure to possess the correct licenses and vaccinations will result in the animal being removed from the public area by the owner or an animal control officer upon refusal of the owner. ... (a)Any animal that is impounded two times in a six-month period shall be microchipped and li...
All Tangipahoa Parish ordinances
See every category we cover for Tangipahoa Parish: parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
Tangipahoa Parish Ordinance Hub →