Lafayette Parish, LA Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)
Short-term rental permit rules in Lafayette Parish, LA, also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration, list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Key Facts
- License fee
- $100, non-refundable
- Territorial scope
- City of Lafayette only
- Issuance
- Discretionary, not automatic
- Enforcing office
- Dept. of Community Development, Director
Summary
Operating a short-term rental in the City of Lafayette without a valid license issued by Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government is unlawful; the rule applies only inside city limits, not the unincorporated parish or other parish municipalities.
It shall be unlawful to operate a short-term rental within the City of Lafayette without a valid and current Short-Term Rental license issued by the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government. No license issued under this chapter shall operate as a valid license for the operation of a short-term rental for any person(s)/entity(ies) other than those listed on the license and for any location other than the specific location for which it is issued.
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
The Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government requires a Short-Term Rental license before anyone rents a dwelling for stays under 30 days within the City of Lafayette. Sec. 73-15 makes unlicensed operation unlawful, and the director may withhold or deny a license at his or her discretion -- there's no automatic right to one. Operators pay a $100 non-refundable application fee, and STRs are allowed only in zoning districts where Table 89-21-2 permits them, chiefly certain residential and bed-and-breakfast use categories. Per Sec. 73-2, this chapter reaches only the City of Lafayette; the unincorporated parish and the parish's other towns -- Broussard, Carencro, Duson, Scott, Youngsville and Milton -- aren't covered.
Violations & Fines
Operating without a license is a chapter violation; the director can fine the operator or condition, suspend, or revoke the license, with appeal to the 15th Judicial District Court within 21 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the STR license rule cover the whole parish?
How much does a short-term rental license cost in Lafayette?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lafayette Parish
How Lafayette Parish compares: Most Airbnb-Friendly Cities in America·Compare Lafayette Parish to another location·View the Louisiana short-term rentals overview
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