Lafayette Parish, LA Hotels & Lodging: Transient Occupancy Tax (2026)
Key Facts
- Tax rate
- Up to 4% of room rent
- Territorial reach
- City and unincorporated parish
- Small exemption
- Rooms under $3/day exempt
- Proceeds
- Fund Convention & Visitors Commission
- Late penalty
- 1%/month interest, up to 25%
Summary
The city-parish consolidated government caps its hotel occupancy tax at 4% of room or campsite rent, applying it parish-wide, to the City of Lafayette and the unincorporated parish alike, with proceeds earmarked for tourism promotion.
The provisions of this tax shall apply to all hotels located within the parish. ... There is hereby levied and the city-parish consolidated government shall collect a tax which shall not exceed four percent of the rent or fee charged upon the occupancy of hotel rooms and overnight camping facilities located within the parish.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 65).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 82, Article VII of the code levies the parish hotel tax on every hotel located anywhere in the parish, not just inside city limits: the 4% cap on rent for hotel rooms and overnight camping facilities applies uniformly across the City of Lafayette and the unincorporated parish. "Hotel" is defined broadly as any establishment furnishing rooms or camping facilities to transient guests for dwelling, lodging or sleeping purposes, a definition wide enough to reach short-term rentals as well as traditional hotels and motels. Rooms renting for under $3 a day are exempt. Guests pay the tax at the time they pay for occupancy; proceeds go to the Lafayette Convention and Visitors Commission for tourism programs, not the general fund.
Violations & Fines
Late hotel tax draws 1% interest per month plus a penalty of 5% per 30 days of delinquency, capped at 25% of the tax owed, borrowed from the parish sales-tax collection procedure that Sec. 82-718 applies to this tax.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Lafayette's hotel tax apply outside city limits?
What is Lafayette Parish's hotel occupancy tax rate?
Where does Lafayette's hotel tax money go?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lafayette Parish
Compare Lafayette Parish to another location·View the Louisiana hotels & lodging overview
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