Lafayette Parish, LA Parking Rules: Street Parking Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Curb clearance
- within 18 inches of curb
- Parking direction
- must face direction of traffic
- Fine, Sec. 86-125
- $20 to $30
- Driveway buffer, Sec. 86-132
- 3 feet from curb return
- Territorial scope
- City of Lafayette plus unincorporated parish
Summary
Vehicles must park parallel to the curb, headed with traffic, wheels within 18 inches of the edge. Parking the wrong way or away from the curb draws a $20 to $30 fine, in force citywide and parish-wide.
No person shall stand or park a vehicle on a street other than parallel with the edge of the street headed in the direction of lawful traffic movement. The wheels of the vehicle nearest the curb shall be within 18 inches of the curb or edge of the street except where angular parking is permitted as indicated by signs or pavement markings.
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
Sec. 86-125 of the Lafayette City-Parish Code requires vehicles parked on a street to sit parallel with the curb, wheels within 18 inches of the edge, headed in the direction of legal traffic flow, angle parking only where signs or markings allow it. Violating this wrong-way/curb rule draws a $20 to $30 fine. A related provision, Sec. 86-132, separately bars stopping within three feet of a driveway's curb-return radius. Both apply in the City of Lafayette and the unincorporated parish alike under the Code's Sec. 1-3 territorial-applicability clause, not in Broussard, Carencro, Duson, Scott, Youngsville, or Milton, which run their own codes.
Violations & Fines
Wrong-way or non-parallel curb parking (Sec. 86-125): $20-$30 fine. Blocking a driveway curb-return within three feet (Sec. 86-132): $25-$35 fine. Unpaid fines add an equal penalty and can trigger a boot or tow.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this rule apply outside the City of Lafayette?
Can I park facing against traffic to avoid a U-turn?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lafayette Parish
Compare Lafayette Parish to another location·View the Louisiana parking rules overview
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