Skip to main content
CityRuleLookup
Key FactsOrdinance TextFull BreakdownViolationsFAQSourcesMore in New Orleans

New Orleans, LA Parking Rules: Street Parking Limits (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Driveway clearance
3 ft from curb return
Fire hydrant clearance
15 ft
Crosswalk/intersection clearance
20 ft
Railroad crossing clearance
50 ft
Standard fine
$40 / $80 / $160
Bicycle lane fine
$300 / $500 / $500

Summary

New Orleans bans stopping or parking in eighteen specific locations without any sign required: within three feet of a driveway curb return, 15 feet of a fire hydrant, on a crosswalk, within 20 feet of an intersection, and in bicycle lanes among them.

(a)No person shall stop or park a vehicle or other conveyance, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the law or directions of a police officer or traffic-control device, at any of the following places:(1)On a sidewalk, except as otherwise permitted in this article;(2)In front of or within three feet of the curb return in a public or private driveway, wheelchair ramp or bicycle ramp unless authorized to do so by the owner or lessee of the property...(4)Within 15 feet of a fire hydrant;(5)On a crosswalk;(6)Within 20 feet of a crosswalk or an intersection...(17)Within a bicycle lane; or(18)Upon a shared-use trail or upon or within 20 feet of a shared-use trail crossing of a roadway.

Source: Louisiana Revised Statute 32:190View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 116 Update 1).

Full Breakdown

City Code § 154-923 lists eighteen places where stopping or parking is prohibited outright, with no signage needed to make the ban enforceable. The list includes sidewalks; within three feet of the curb return of a driveway, wheelchair ramp, or bicycle ramp (unless the property owner authorizes it, an authorization automatically revoked once the owner files a complaint with the parking division); intersections; within 15 feet of a fire hydrant; crosswalks; within 20 feet of a crosswalk, intersection, or approach to a stop or yield sign; within 50 feet of a railroad crossing; alongside a neutral-ground curb; on bridges, in tunnels, and in bicycle lanes.

Section 154-924 carves out narrow historical exceptions for specific blocks of Soraparu, Royal, Chartres, and Toulouse Streets where sidewalk delivery parking has long been designated. 00. Vehicles found in violation, and left unoccupied with three or more delinquent unpaid citations, can be immobilized or towed under § 154-777.

Violations & Fines

Most § 154-923 violations carry a $40.00 initial fine, $80.00 if unpaid after 30 days, and $160.00 after 60 days, under § 154-699 category (2). Parking in a bicycle lane, subsection (17), is penalized more heavily at $300.00 initially and $500.00 after 30 or 60 days. Unoccupied vehicles with three or more unpaid citations may be immobilized or towed under § 154-777.

Frequently Asked Questions

How close to a driveway can I legally park in New Orleans?
Not within three feet of the curb return of a public or private driveway, wheelchair ramp, or bicycle ramp, unless the property owner or lessee has authorized it, and that authorization is automatically revoked once the owner files a complaint with the parking division of the streets department.
How far from a fire hydrant must I park?
At least 15 feet, per § 154-923(a)(4); this is one of eighteen specific no-stopping locations listed in the section, alongside crosswalks, intersections, and bicycle lanes, and no sign is required for the prohibition to apply.
What's the fine for parking in a New Orleans bicycle lane?
Parking in a bicycle lane draws the steepest fine on the list under § 154-923(17): $300.00 for the initial citation, rising to $500.00 if unpaid, versus $40.00 rising to $160.00 for the section's other seventeen prohibited locations.
Can my car be towed for parking in these zones?
Yes, § 154-777 authorizes immobilization, towing, and impoundment of any unoccupied vehicle in violation of § 154-923 once it has accumulated three or more recorded, delinquent, unpaid parking citations.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in New Orleans

Loading ZonesSome RestrictionsTowing & Impound RightsSome RestrictionsCommercial & Oversized VehiclesHeavy RestrictionsEV ChargingSignificant RestrictionsAbandoned VehiclesSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Vehicle NoiseSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Wildlife FeedingSignificant RestrictionsLandscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage TreesSignificant RestrictionsLandscaping Rules: Tree TrimmingSome RestrictionsSoliciting & Door-to-Door: Solicitor PermitsSignificant RestrictionsFood Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Food Truck PermitsSignificant Restrictions

All New Orleans rules

Compare New Orleans to another location·View the Louisiana parking rules overview

Get notified when Street Parking Limits in New Orleans, LA changes

We'll email you the moment we detect a change in the code. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We'll never sell or share your email. One-click unsubscribe in every email.

See something wrong?

Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.