Lafayette Parish, LA Noise from Specific Sources: Car Alarm Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Continuous alarm
- Must silence within 5 minutes
- Intermittent alarm
- Must silence within 10 minutes
- Territory covered
- City of Lafayette + unincorporated parish
- Minimum fine
- $150 (Code § 1-9)
- Enforced by
- Noise control administrator/officers
Summary
Car and building burglar or fire alarms in Lafayette Parish must automatically shut off within five minutes of continuous sound or ten minutes of intermittent sound under the city-parish noise control code.
An exterior burglar alarm and/or fire alarm of a building or motor vehicle must be activated in such a manner that the alarm terminates its operation, after activation, within five minutes if the sound is emitted without interruption and ten minutes if the sound emitted is intermittent. At all times, the limits set forth in Table I of section 34-366 do not apply.
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
Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government's noise control code applies to sound in both the City of Lafayette and the unincorporated parish (Code § 1-3, § 34-363). Section 34-369(6) singles out exterior burglar and fire alarms on buildings or motor vehicles: once triggered, the alarm must terminate within five minutes if it sounds continuously, or ten minutes if intermittent. This limit stands outside the code's normal Table I decibel caps in section 34-366, so an alarm that self-silences on time is compliant even if it exceeded ambient sound limits while sounding. Broussard, Carencro, Duson, Scott, Youngsville and Milton set their own rules.
Violations & Fines
Alarms that fail to self-terminate in time are a noise control code violation; minor violations get a correction period, major violations bring citations with fines starting at $150 under section 1-9.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this rule apply outside the City of Lafayette limits?
What happens if a car alarm sounds past the time limit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lafayette Parish
Compare Lafayette Parish to another location·View the Louisiana noise from specific sources overview
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