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Ouachita Parish, LA Public Conduct: Outdoor Smoking Restrictions (2026)

Heavy Restrictions

Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Outdoor patios: Not exempt; smoking banned
Bars/gaming halls: State exemptions removed locally
First offense fine: $25
Repeat offense fine: $50, then $100 within 5 years
Coverage area: Unincorporated Ouachita Parish only
Enacted by: Ordinance No. 9023, Oct. 7, 2013

Summary

Ouachita Parish bans smoking in the unincorporated parish to the full extent of Louisiana's Smokefree Air Act, but goes further than the state law by stripping out the outdoor-patio exemption: smoking is prohibited even on outdoor patios where food or drinks are served. Bars and gaming halls lose their state exemptions too, under Sec. 15-12.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Ouachita Parish. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

(a)Prohibition on smoking. Smoking shall be prohibited within the unincorporated areas of Ouachita Parish to the full extent now provided by R.S. 40:1300.251 et seq. (as from time to time hereafter amended), and particularly as provided in R.S. 40:1300.256A. The exemptions provided by R.S. 40:1300.256B shall likewise be exemptions under this section, except that the following exceptions shall not be applicable within the unincorporated areas of Ouachita Parish:(1)R.S. 40:1300.256B(5) [any bar];(2)R.S. 40:1300.256B(8) [gaming operations, including bingo halls];(3)R.S. 40:1300.256B(13) [any outdoor patio where food or beverages are served].

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Full Breakdown

Sec. 15-12(a), enacted by Ordinance No. S. S. 256A. S. S. S. S. 256B(13)). That third carve-out is what makes the parish's rule reach outdoor seating: a restaurant patio that would be exempt under state law is smoke-free under this local section. The definition of smoking is expanded to include e-cigarettes, e-cigars, e-pipes, vape pens and any other device that heats a battery-powered element to produce nicotine vapor simulating smoking. Enforcement runs through the parish's administrative adjudication procedure established by Ordinance No. 8786, in addition to any state-law enforcement mechanism.

The section applies only within the unincorporated parish; Monroe and West Monroe operate under their own municipal smoking rules, so a patio inside either city is not governed by this parish provision.

Violations & Fines

A first violation of Sec. 15-12 draws a $25 fine. A second violation within five years is $50, and a third or subsequent violation within that same five-year window rises to $100. Each day a violation continues counts as a separate offense, and the parish may pursue the case through the administrative adjudication process created by Ordinance No. 8786 instead of, or alongside, standard enforcement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I smoke on a restaurant patio in unincorporated Ouachita Parish?

No. Sec. 15-12 removes the state law's outdoor-patio exemption, so smoking is prohibited on any outdoor patio where food or beverages are served, the same as inside the building. This is stricter than the baseline Louisiana Smokefree Air Act, which normally allows patio smoking.

Are bars exempt from the smoking ban?

No. While the Louisiana Smokefree Air Act generally exempts bars, Sec. 15-12 specifically removes that exemption for the unincorporated parish, along with the exemption for gaming operations and bingo halls. All three are treated as smoke-free premises under the local ordinance.

Does the ban cover vaping and e-cigarettes?

Yes. Sec. 15-12 defines smoking to include any electronic device with a heating element and battery that produces nicotine vapor simulating smoking, covering e-cigarettes, e-cigars, e-pipes and similar products under the same prohibitions and fines as traditional cigarette smoking.

Sources & Official References

[1]Ouachita Parish Code of Ordinances, Ch. 15

Other rules in Ouachita Parish

Parking Rules: Street Parking LimitsSome Restrictions Noise Ordinances: Quiet HoursSome Restrictions Aggressive PanhandlingSignificant Restrictions Public Alcohol UseSome Restrictions Noise Ordinances: Barking DogsSome Restrictions Noise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Outdoor SoundSome Restrictions Parking Rules: Commercial & Oversized VehiclesSignificant Restrictions Parking Rules: Abandoned VehiclesHeavy Restrictions

All Ouachita Parish rules

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