Lafayette Parish, LA Special Events & Permits: Sidewalk Dining & Cafés (2026)
Key Facts
- Coverage area
- Downtown "D" zoning district only
- Application fee
- $100 plus $1.00 per sq ft
- Hours allowed
- 7 a.m.-2 a.m.; Sun. to midnight
- Permit term
- Jan. 1 through Dec. 31 annually
- Violation
- Misdemeanor; each day separate offense
Summary
Sidewalk cafes, parklets and outdoor merchandise displays need an annual city-parish permit, but only within Lafayette's Downtown "D" zoning district: the ordinance doesn't reach the rest of the parish or restaurants outside downtown.
Except as otherwise provided in this article, the provisions of this article apply only in the "D" (Downtown) zoning district. ... Except pursuant to a permit issued under this division, it shall be unlawful for any person to display, exhibit, sell or offer for sale any food, beverages, goods or wares of any kind whatsoever, by whatever name called, upon any sidewalk downtown.
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
Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government issues sidewalk cafe, parklet and pushcart permits through the development and planning department, but Sec. 78-401 limits the whole article to the "D" (Downtown) zoning district: restaurants elsewhere in the city or parish, and in Broussard, Carencro, Duson, Scott, Youngsville or Milton, aren't covered. An outdoor dining permit costs $100 to apply plus $1.00 per square foot, runs January through December, and requires a certificate of occupancy and, if alcohol is served, an ATC permit. Outdoor dining is allowed 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. (Sundays until midnight); tables must clear the sidewalk nightly unless secured on a parklet, and the downtown management committee sets placement standards.
Violations & Fines
Operating without a permit is a misdemeanor, and each day of violation is a separate offense; a law enforcement officer can order the pushcart or dining furniture removed from the sidewalk on the spot.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this permit cover restaurants outside downtown Lafayette?
What does a sidewalk cafe permit cost in downtown Lafayette?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lafayette Parish
Compare Lafayette Parish to another location·View the Louisiana special events & permits overview
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