East Baton Rouge Parish, LA Public Conduct: Loitering Rules (2026)

Sec. 11:286 of Title 11 (Traffic Code) restricts who may use the alleys of Baton Rouge and East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana. Subsection (a) makes it unlawful for anyone who does not own or occupy property adjoining an alley to operate a vehicle in it, or to walk or loiter in or upon it, unless the person falls into one of three carved-out purposes: providing a governmental service such as trash or garbage pickup or law enforcement, servicing a utility, or gaining access to property adjoining the alley when the owner or occupant of that property has authorized the entry.

The rule applies parish-wide wherever the City-Parish's own alleys run, distinct from the separate ordinances of Baker, Central, Zachary and St. George. Because the ordinance singles out foot traffic and loitering as well as vehicle use, a person with no connection to the abutting properties who simply stands, sits or lingers in an alley without one of the three statutory purposes is in violation even if never driving through it. Sec. 00), imprisonment in jail for not more than thirty (30) days, or both, at the court's discretion.

The section traces to Ord. No. 7611, adopted August 8, 1984, and it is narrower than a general public-loitering law: it reaches only alleys, not sidewalks, streets or other public places, so loitering complaints outside an alley fall under other provisions of the Code rather than this section.