Louisiana burn bans › What is a burn ban?

What is a burn ban in Louisiana?

A burn ban is a legal order that prohibits or restricts outdoor burning in a parish while drought and weather conditions make wildfires likely. It is not advice or a recommendation — it is enforceable, and violating one carries real penalties.

Who issues a burn ban in Louisiana?

In Louisiana, a burn ban is issued by the parish president — in police-jury parishes, the police jury president acting in that capacity — by declaring a local state of emergency, acting under La. R.S. 29:727. Each of Louisiana's 64 parishes decides independently, which is why neighbouring parishes often have different statuses on the same day.

State-level bans

Separately from parish bans, the State Fire Marshal may prohibit or limit private outdoor burning anywhere in Louisiana under La. R.S. 40:1602, often alongside an order from the Commissioner of Agriculture covering agricultural and prescribed burning. During the 2023 statewide ban, earlier exceptions were removed and the ban was extended to agricultural and prescribed burning.

How long does a burn ban last?

A parish state of emergency may not run longer than 30 days unless the parish president extends it, and no continuous state of emergency may exceed 90 days without the approval of the parish governing authority, under La. R.S. 29:727(D)(1).

What does a burn ban cover?

Burn bans generally cover open outdoor burning: brush and debris piles, household trash, leaves, grass and field burning, and open campfires and bonfires. The precise list comes from the individual order.

Common exceptions

Prescribed burning, as defined in La. R.S. 3:17, is exempt from State Fire Marshal burning orders by statute under R.S. 40:1602(C). Parish orders commonly carry the same exemption, but not always.

Louisiana parish orders frequently ban all outdoor burning, including campfires and trash fires, with no exemption for propane grills or welding. Do not assume an exemption exists — read your parish's proclamation or call the parish office.

What is the penalty?

Under La. R.S. 29:727(G), violating a parish emergency order carries a fine of up to $500, up to six months in parish jail, or both. Many parish proclamations state no penalty of their own, in which case this statutory default applies — but check your parish's order, which may set its own terms.

How do I know if my parish has one?

We publish the current status for all 64 Louisiana parishes, refreshed daily from Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry data. Find your parish, or sign up below for an email the moment your parish's status changes.