Ouachita Parish, LA Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)
Outdoor burning rules in Ouachita Parish, LA, also called the burn ban, open burning, or fire restriction ordinance, set when you can burn yard waste, debris, or run a recreational fire.
Key Facts
- Standing setback rule
- No burning within 100 feet of a home
- Burn-ban trigger
- State fire marshal, ag dept, or Governor
- Sec. 15-16 penalty
- Up to $100 fine or 10 days jail
- Sec. 15-23 penalty
- Up to $500 fine or 30 days jail
- Permitted exception
- State- or fire-district-licensed burning allowed
- Coverage area
- Unincorporated Ouachita Parish only
Summary
Ouachita Parish bans burning any material that releases regulated contaminants within 100 feet of a residential structure in the unincorporated parish under Sec. 15-16. A second rule, Sec. 15-23, automatically shuts down all open-air burning of trash, leaves and debris whenever the state fire marshal, the Department of Agriculture and Forestry, or the Governor orders a burn ban.
(a)It shall be unlawful for any person to burn any material which releases any contaminants as defined under R.S. 30:2053, within one hundred (100) feet of a residential structure.(b)Any person or persons who violates the provisions of this section shall be subject to a fine not to exceed one hundred dollars ($100.00), or imprisoned for a term in the parish jail not to exceed ten (10) days or both.
Full Breakdown
Sec. 15-16(a), adopted by Ordinance No. S. 30:2053, within 100 feet of a residential structure anywhere in the unincorporated parish. That standing, year-round rule is layered with Sec. 15-23, adopted by Ordinance No. 8988 on July 18, 2011, which imposes an automatic temporary ban on all open-air burning of trash, garbage, leaves, limbs, branches or other debris the moment the Louisiana Fire Marshal, the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture and Forestry, or the Governor orders a burn ban, without the police jury needing to pass a separate emergency ordinance.
Sec. 15-23(b) exempts burning conducted under a license or permit issued by the Department of Agriculture and Forestry, the Department of Environmental Quality, or the Fire Chief of Ouachita Parish Fire Protection District No. 1, and subsection (c) exempts fireworks discharges from the automatic ban. Both provisions apply only in the unincorporated parish. The parish cross-references its separate garbage-burning rules in Sec. for household waste disposal, and Sec. S. 13:2575(B) and Police Jury Ordinance No. 8786, in addition to standard criminal enforcement.
Violations & Fines
Burning within 100 feet of a residence under Sec. 15-16 draws a fine of not more than $100, imprisonment of not more than 10 days, or both. Burning in defiance of an active state-ordered burn ban under Sec. 15-23 is punished more heavily: a fine of not more than $500 or imprisonment of not more than 30 days, and the parish may pursue the case through administrative adjudication as an alternative to court.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I burn leaves in my yard in unincorporated Ouachita Parish?
What triggers an automatic burn ban in the parish?
What's the penalty for illegal open burning in the parish?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Ouachita Parish
How Ouachita Parish compares: Cities with the Strictest Outdoor Burning Rules·Compare Ouachita Parish to another location·View the Louisiana fire regulations overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.