Outdoor burning rules in Orleans 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.
Open outdoor burning in New Orleans requires a Fire Department operational permit ($75/day). Louisiana bans burning household trash, and the state's residential leaf-burning exception does not apply to Orleans Parish because it has more than 300,000 residents. Burning waste is effectively prohibited.
The New Orleans Fire Prevention Code requires an operational permit before kindling or maintaining any open fire on public or private ground; the Fire Prevention Division issues it for $75.00 per day. Statewide, LAC 33:III.1109 provides that no person shall cause or allow the outdoor burning of waste material or other combustible material on property they own or control. Louisiana's exception letting a private owner burn leaves, grass, twigs, branches and vines applies only in parishes of 300,000 or fewer people — Orleans Parish (383,997) is over that limit, so residential yard-waste burning is not permitted here. Burning household garbage or construction debris is prohibited anywhere in the state.
LDEQ violations can carry fines up to $100,000 and imprisonment; the city can cite unpermitted open fires and order them extinguished.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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See how Orleans Parish's outdoor burning rules stack up against other locations.
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