Homelessness & Encampment Rules in Louisiana (2026)
8 rules on the books across Louisiana, 6 cities and counties. Select a rule to read the full details.
Severity: Few Restrictions · Light Restrictions · Some Restrictions · Significant Restrictions · Heavy Restrictions
Sit-Lie Rules
Citywide rules against sitting or lying on public sidewalks during specified daytime hours in commercial corridors, including how courts have constrained enforcement.
New Orleans
Significant RestrictionsNew Orleans Code § 146-493 bars anyone from depositing, storing or placing tents, household furniture or other…
Read full rule →Lafayette Parish
Some RestrictionsLafayette City-Parish bans crowds or activities that block sidewalks, alleys or rights-of-way; police can order people…
Read full rule →Lake Charles
Some RestrictionsCity Code Section 13-19 makes it a crime to willfully obstruct any public sidewalk, street, alley or passageway, or the…
Read full rule →Encampment Sanitation
How cities provide trash, hygiene, and bulky-item pickup at encampments, the CARE/CARE+ cleanups in LA, and the storage-of-belongings rules from Lavan v. LA.
Jefferson Parish
Heavy RestrictionsJefferson Parish bans camping, sleeping overnight, or storing belongings in any public area or on someone else's…
Read full rule →Lake Charles
Heavy RestrictionsLake Charles bans camping and overnight shelters in its parks outright. Sec. 15-65 prohibits tents, shacks, house…
Read full rule →Gretna
Significant RestrictionsIn the City of Gretna, camping in any public area, including streets, parks, underpasses and rights-of-way, is…
Read full rule →New Orleans
Significant RestrictionsNew Orleans Code §§82-693–82-703 lets the Department of Health inspect and remediate homeless encampments on public…
Read full rule →Terrebonne Parish
Some RestrictionsTerrebonne Parish Code Sec. 19-7 bars camping in any public area not designated as a campground, covering streets…
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