Bossier Parish, LA Right to Farm: Farm Nuisance Protection (2026)
Key Facts
- Animal noise exemption
- Applies to parcels zoned agricultural (Sec. 46-36(a)(4))
- Landscaping exemption
- Normal-use sounds on agriculture-zoned land (Sec. 46-36(a)(10)a)
- Scope
- Noise ordinance only, not a standalone farm act
- Adopting ordinance
- Ord. No. 4916, 11-16-2022
Summary
Unincorporated Bossier Parish exempts agricultural land from key parts of its noise ordinance: animal sounds from parcels zoned agricultural fall outside the animal-noise nuisance rule, and normal landscaping and yard maintenance sounds from agriculture-zoned uses are exempt from the equipment-hours restriction.
(4)Animals, birds, etc. The keeping of any animal, bird or fowl which by causing frequent or long continued noise shall not disturb the comfort or repose of any person in the vicinity. This provision shall not apply to animal sounds originating from any parcel zoned for agricultural use. ... (10)Landscaping.a.Commercial and industrial use of landscaping and yard maintenance equipment, excluding emergency work, shall not be operated on or within 250 feet of a regulated receiver between the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. on weekdays, or between the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. on weekends or federal holidays, unless such activities can meet the limits set forth in section 46-35. All motorized equipment used in these activities shall be operated with a muffler. At all other times, the limits set forth in section 46-35 do not apply. This restriction shall not apply to sounds originating from agriculture zoned uses when such sounds are due to normal use.
Full Breakdown
The Police Jury's noise ordinance carves agricultural land out of two of its enumerated noise restrictions. Sec. 46-36(a)(4) declares that keeping an animal, bird or fowl that causes frequent or long continued noise disturbing a neighbor's comfort is a violation, but expressly states this provision shall not apply to animal sounds originating from any parcel zoned for agricultural use, protecting livestock, poultry and other farm animal noise on agriculturally zoned land from the parish's general animal-noise rule. Separately, Sec. 46-36(a)(10)a restricts commercial and industrial landscaping and yard maintenance equipment from operating within 250 feet of a regulated receiver during specified evening, night and weekend hours, but that hours restriction shall not apply to sounds originating from agriculture zoned uses when such sounds are due to normal use, exempting routine farm equipment operation from the landscaping curfew that applies to commercial landscapers elsewhere in the parish.
These are targeted exemptions inside the parish's noise article rather than a freestanding right-to-farm statute; they shield agricultural operations specifically from the noise ordinance's animal-noise and landscaping-hours restrictions, not from other nuisance law generally.
Violations & Fines
Because these are exemptions rather than prohibitions, there is no separate violation or penalty tied to relying on them; a landowner whose activity falls outside the agricultural-use exemption remains subject to the general noise ordinance penalties in Sec. 46-38, a civil fine of up to $500.00 or 30 days imprisonment per offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Bossier Parish exempt farm animal noise from its noise ordinance?
Can farm equipment run outside the normal landscaping hours near residential areas?
Does the parish have a broader right-to-farm law protecting farmers from nuisance suits?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bossier Parish
Compare Bossier Parish to another location·View the Louisiana right to farm overview
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