A small contained backyard recreational fire burning clean wood is generally tolerated, but any real open fire requires a Fire Department operational permit. You may never burn leaves, yard waste or trash, and fires must be attended and kept well away from structures.
New Orleans does not carve out a formal 'recreational fire' exemption in its posted permitting, so under the Fire Prevention Code an operational permit is required to kindle or maintain an open fire on private ground. In practice a small store-bought fire pit or chiminea burning clean seasoned wood is tolerated when kept modest, attended and clear of buildings, fences and overhanging trees. What is firmly prohibited is the fuel: Louisiana's LAC 33:III.1109 bars residential burning of waste and, because Orleans Parish exceeds 300,000 residents, does not allow the leaf-and-yard-waste burning that smaller parishes permit. Keep water or an extinguisher on hand and never leave a fire unattended.
NOFD can order an unsafe or nuisance fire extinguished; unpermitted open fires or burning prohibited materials can bring fire-code citations and LDEQ enforcement.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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See how Orleans Parish's backyard fires rules stack up against other locations.
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