East Baton Rouge Parish, LA Public Conduct: Public Marijuana Use (2026)
Key Facts
- Marijuana counted as "smoking"
- Sec. 12:600 covers natural or synthetic marijuana
- Banned indoors
- All enclosed public places and workplaces
- Banned outdoors
- Within 25 ft of city-parish building entrances
- Also banned
- Outdoor service lines, playgrounds, parks
- Individual fine
- Up to $50 per violation
- Ordinance
- Ord. No. 16611, effective June 1, 2018
Summary
Baton Rouge City-Parish's Clean Air Act defines 'smoking' to expressly include marijuana, 'whether natural or synthetic, in any manner or in any form.' That folds marijuana into the same public-place ban that covers cigarettes: enclosed public places, city-parish building entrances, outdoor service lines, playgrounds and parks are all off-limits for it.
Smoking means inhaling, exhaling, burning or carrying any lighted cigar, cigarette, pipe, or other lighted or heated tobacco or plant product intended for inhalation, including hookahs and marijuana, whether natural or synthetic, in any manner or in any form. "Smoking" also includes the use of an electronic smoking device which creates an aerosol or vapor, in any manner or in any form.
Full Breakdown
Sec. 12:600 of the Baton Rouge/EBRP Code, added by Ord. No. ' By writing marijuana directly into the definition, the ordinance means every place the chapter closes to tobacco smoke is closed to marijuana smoke too. Sec. 12:602(a) bans smoking in all enclosed areas of any public place, Sec. 12:602(b) does the same for places of employment, and Sec. 12:602(c) extends the ban outdoors to within 25 feet of a city-parish building entrance, outdoor service lines, and playgrounds and parks. 'Public place' under Sec. 12:600 sweeps in bars, restaurants, retail stores, gaming facilities, and property owned or operated by the city-parish.
This chapter regulates only where smoking happens, not marijuana possession or use itself, which is a separate matter under Louisiana law and outside this ordinance's scope. Enforcement mirrors the tobacco rules: Sec. 1 lets any law enforcement officer issue a citation and summons to Baton Rouge City Court, and premises owners or managers must direct a violator to stop and, failing that, ask them to leave. The chapter applies parish-wide on covered property but not inside Baker, Zachary, Central, or St. George, which enforce their own municipal codes.
Violations & Fines
Anyone who smokes marijuana in a place covered by Sec. 12:602 faces a fine of up to $50 per violation under Sec. 12:601.2(d), the same penalty that applies to tobacco smoking in a restricted area. An owner, manager, or employer who allows the violation to continue after being required to intervene is separately liable under Sec. 12:601.2(c) for $500 to $900 depending on the number of offenses within 12 months, with occupancy-permit revocation possible after five violations in a year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Baton Rouge's smoking ban cover marijuana?
What's the penalty for smoking marijuana in a banned public place?
Does this ordinance make marijuana legal to possess in Baton Rouge?
Where is it illegal to smoke marijuana in East Baton Rouge Parish?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in East Baton Rouge Parish
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