Lafayette, LA Special Events & Permits: Parklets (2026)
Key Facts
- Footprint
- 1 on-street space, 20 ft. long (§78-435(2))
- Apron clearance
- 12 in. from parking apron (§78-435(3))
- Overhead clearance
- 84 in., kept obstruction-free (§78-435(5))
- Safety gear
- wheel stops + red reflectors (§78-435(6))
- Seating setback
- ≥18 in. from vehicular lanes (§78-435(7))
- Vested rights
- none granted by permit (§78-435(10))
Summary
A Lafayette parklet permit converts one on-street parking space into public outdoor seating; § 78-435(2) caps each site at 20 feet long with a bollard or bulb-out barrier, requires 12 inches of clearance from the parking apron, and an 84-inch clear height that must stay free of tree branches, signage and structural overhangs.
(2)A parklet site shall be: (i) located within one on-street parking space; (ii) 20 feet in length; and (iii) protected by a bollard, sidewalk bulb-out, or other similar feature. Exceptions may be considered by the downtown management committee on a case-by-case basis, and the downtown management committee is hereby authorized to condition the granting of an exception on such conditions as it deems appropriate under the circumstances.(3)The parklet shall provide a minimum clearance of 12 inches from the edge of any existing parking apron, where there is parallel, diagonal or perpendicular parking.(5)The parklet shall be constructed and maintained to provide a clearance height of 84 inches from the floor (i.e., the level of the parklet intended for pedestrian traffic). The permittee shall at all times be responsible for maintaining the clearance height and keeping the parklet area within the clearance height free from overhanging obstructions, including, without limitation, architectural and structural components of the parklet, tree branches, foliage, and overhanging sign panels.
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 78-402 defines a parklet as a constructed platform in the public right-of-way occupying one or more on-street parking spaces, sponsored as an open public amenity; a restaurant or snack/beverage bar may sponsor one for its own exclusive outdoor dining use, in which case § 78-435(1) subjects it to the outdoor-dining rules of § 78-432. Beyond the size, bollard, and clearance standards, § 78-435(4) requires construction to follow applicable building codes and the Americans with Disabilities Act; (6) requires wheel stops at adjacent parking spaces and red reflectors visible to oncoming traffic; (7) requires seating at least 18 inches from vehicular travel lanes; and (8) bars any parklet structure from covering or obstructing a manhole, catch basin or drain.
Section 78-435(9) lets the downtown management committee revoke the permit and remove a noncompliant parklet outright. Section 78-435(11) additionally lets the Lafayette City-Parish Council direct revocation if parking capacity in the area is insufficient or the parklet creates an unsafe condition: the permit fee is refunded in that case, unless the unsafe condition traces back to the permittee's own violation under § 78-415(2)(b), in which case there's no refund. Section 78-435(10) makes clear a parklet permit confers no vested right to use or occupy the space.
Violations & Fines
Section 78-435(9) authorizes the downtown management committee to revoke the permit and physically remove a parklet that isn't constructed, operated or maintained as required. Section 78-435(11) lets the City-Parish Council direct revocation for insufficient parking capacity or an unsafe condition, refunding the fee unless the unsafe condition stems from the permittee's own violation, in which case the fee is forfeited. The Division 2 progressive-fine schedule in § 78-416 (warning, then $250.00, then $500.00) also applies to parklet violations.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big can a Lafayette parklet be?
What overhead clearance must a parklet keep open?
Can Lafayette revoke my parklet permit?
Do I get my permit fee back if my parklet is revoked?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lafayette
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