Lafayette Parish, LA Parking Rules: EV Charging (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing sections
- Secs. 86-176.21–86-176.24
- Space designation
- By city-parish council resolution
- Signage requirement
- Signs must be posted first
- Charging time limit
- 4 hours maximum
- Territorial reach
- City of Lafayette plus unincorporated parish
Summary
Lafayette Consolidated Government can designate public parking spaces reserved for electric vehicles at posted charging stations; parking a gas vehicle, an unplugged EV, or an EV charging over four hours in a marked space draws a police citation or vehicle removal, and the city can charge per-session use fees.
Where a sign designating a parking space for the exclusive use of charging electric vehicles is posted, no person shall park in that space any nonelectric vehicle, electric vehicle that is not connected to the electric vehicle charging station, electric vehicle that is not charging, or electric vehicle that has been charging for more than four hours.
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
Division 8 of the traffic chapter, Secs. 86-176.21 through 86-176.24, lets the public works director propose electric-vehicle-only parking spaces at charging stations, which the city-parish council designates by resolution before signs go up. Once a space is posted, parking a non-electric vehicle, an unplugged EV, or an EV that has charged more than four hours there is a violation, and police can cite or remove the vehicle. The director also sets per-session charging fees on top of regular parking rates. This is Lafayette Consolidated Government code, so it applies inside the City of Lafayette and unincorporated parish alike, not in Broussard, Carencro, Duson, Scott, Youngsville or Milton.
Violations & Fines
Parking a non-electric vehicle, an unplugged EV, or an EV charged over four hours in a posted EV space is a citable violation; police can cite the driver and have the vehicle towed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I park a gas car in an EV charging space in Lafayette?
Does this rule cover Broussard or Youngsville too?
How long can I charge before I have to move?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lafayette Parish
Compare Lafayette Parish to another location·View the Louisiana parking rules overview
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