Tangipahoa Parish, LA Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)
Outdoor burning rules in Tangipahoa 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
- Setback for debris burning
- 30 feet from road or property line
- Smolder time limit
- 4 hours maximum
- Drought ban authority
- Parish president
- Drought ban trigger
- US Weather Service severe drought
- Notice required for ban
- Published in parish's official journal
- Maximum penalty
- $500 fine or 30 days jail
Summary
Outside land-clearing fires, Tangipahoa Parish bans burning trash, garbage, leaves, limbs, branches or debris within 30 feet of a public road or neighboring property line, leaving such a fire unattended while still smoking or flaming, or letting it smolder more than four hours. During declared droughts, the parish president can ban all outdoor burning and fireworks parish-wide.
(a)Excepting for land-clearing fires, it shall be unlawful for any person to start or set any fire for the burning of trash, garbage, leaves, limbs, branches or debris of any kind within 30 feet of any public road or neighboring property line.(b)It shall be unlawful for any person to start or set any fire for the burning of trash, garbage, leaves, limbs, branches or debris of any kind and to then leave this fire unattended while flames and smoke are still active.(c)Excepting for land-clearing fires, it shall be unlawful for any person who starts or sets any fire for the burning of trash, garbage, leaves, limbs, branches or debris of any kind to allow this fire to smolder producing smoke but no flames for a period of time in excess of four hours. ... (a)In the event of a severe drought as declared for all or any portion of the parish by the United States Weather Service, the parish president shall have the authority to declare a ban on all outdoor burning and the use of fireworks by the public.
Full Breakdown
Sec. 18-1 of the Tangipahoa Parish Code limits routine outdoor burning in the unincorporated parish. Except for land-clearing fires, it is unlawful to start or set a fire to burn trash, garbage, leaves, limbs, branches or other debris within 30 feet of any public road or neighboring property line. It is separately unlawful to start such a fire and then leave it unattended while flames and smoke remain active, and, again excepting land-clearing fires, to allow the fire to smolder, producing smoke but no flames, for more than four hours.
Fire officials or law enforcement can order a fire extinguished if it is deemed a nuisance or danger to neighboring properties. Sec. 18-2 gives the parish president standby authority to escalate this during a severe drought declared by the United States Weather Service for all or part of the parish: the president may declare a ban on all outdoor burning and on fireworks use, with an exception for fire department personnel acting in their duties and for a controlled fire that stays entirely within a fenced commercial or industrial site with personnel monitoring it around the clock.
The parish council must be notified, and the burn ban must be published at least once in the parish's official journal, before it takes effect, and it can last as long as the parish president deems necessary.
Violations & Fines
Both the routine burning limits in Sec. 18-1 and a declared drought burn ban under Sec. 18-2 are misdemeanor crimes subject to the penalties in Sec. 1-13: up to 30 days in the parish jail, 100 hours of community service, a fine of up to $500.00, or a combination, with each day the violation continues counted as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I burn yard debris on my property in Tangipahoa Parish?
Who can declare a burn ban in Tangipahoa Parish?
Is there an exception during a drought burn ban?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Tangipahoa Parish
How Tangipahoa Parish compares: Cities with the Strictest Outdoor Burning Rules·Compare Tangipahoa Parish to another location·View the Louisiana fire regulations overview
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