Lafayette Parish, LA Right to Farm: Farm Nuisance Protection (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Sec. 34-31, nuisance definition exemption
- Protected activities
- Crop, livestock, poultry, forestry production
- Exempted conditions
- Smoke, fumes, gas, soot, stagnant water
- Territorial reach
- Applies in city and unincorporated parish
- Other parish cities
- Broussard, Carencro, Scott not covered
Summary
Lafayette's nuisance ordinance exempts agricultural activities from its nuisance definition, so dense smoke, noxious fumes, gas, soot, cinders, or stagnant water buildup caused by farming can't trigger a nuisance citation in the city or parish.
Nuisance means the maintaining, using, placing, depositing, leaving or permitting to be or remain on any public or private property of any of the following items, conditions or actions; provided, however, this enumeration shall not be deemed or construed to be exclusive, limiting or restrictive, nor shall it include dense smoke, noxious fumes, gas, soot, cinders, or accumulation of stagnant waters which occur as a result of agricultural activities:
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 65).
Full Breakdown
Section 34-31 of the Code of Ordinances defines 'nuisance' for the city-parish's property-nuisance and junked-items article, then carves out agriculture: the definition 'shall not include dense smoke, noxious fumes, gas, soot, cinders, or accumulation of stagnant waters which occur as a result of agricultural activities.' 'Agricultural activities' covers crop, livestock, poultry and forestry production plus aquacultural, floricultural, horticultural, silvicultural and viticultural operations. Section 34-32 makes the whole article, including this exemption, apply in both the City of Lafayette and the unincorporated parish, not just outside city limits.
Violations & Fines
No violation risk from the exempted byproducts themselves; property owners still face nuisance enforcement, fines and abatement orders under Chapter 34 for conditions outside this agricultural carve-out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does normal farm smoke or odor count as a nuisance violation in Lafayette?
Does this protection apply to farms in Broussard or Youngsville too?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lafayette Parish
Compare Lafayette Parish to another location·View the Louisiana right to farm overview
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