IN GENERAL

New Orleans City Code ch. 14, art. I

in effect

New Orleans City Code § 14-1 Permit required for music or other entertainment.

Sec. 14-1. - Permit required for music or other entertainment. (a) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, it shall be unlawful to keep any piano, organ or other musical instrument whatsoever for the purpose of performing upon it or having it performed upon in any public park or place of public resort or recreation or in any regularly licensed theatre or restaurant or having any other character of entertainment in such places, unless and until the applicant shall have first applied for and obtained from the director of the department of safety and permits a permit authorizing music or other form of entertainment in such place and location, and subject to any conditions imposed by law. (b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no special event permit shall be issued for an event to occur on property which does not already have an occupational license until the city confirms that the property upon which the event will occur is free and clear of all outstanding property taxes, final administrative judgments and municipal liens. (Code 1956, § 63-1; M.C.S., Ord. No. 29257, § 1, 11-17-22; M.C.S., Ord. No. 30681, § 2, 6-24-26)

New Orleans City Code § 14-2 Amusement games in outdoor amusement parks.

Sec. 14-2. - Amusement games in outdoor amusement parks. (a) Amusement games of skill or amusement games where skill predominates or where the player has the dominant control of the outcome, whether mechanical or manual, whether the contestants participate against each other or not, and which through the outcome of such amusement game or contest do not return to the player or contestant thereof anything but additional free games or awards of merchandise prizes are hereby sanctioned; provided, that the aforesaid games are conducted and operated at outdoor amusement parks, as defined in R.S. 47:354, and licensed to operate in accordance with the provisions of such section. (b) The provisions of this section shall not apply to any game or games requiring a federal coin-operated gaming device stamp or gaming stamp as presently provided for under existing federal laws. (Code 1956, § 63-1.1)

New Orleans City Code § 14-3 Bungee jumping prohibited.

Sec. 14-3. - Bungee jumping prohibited. (a) Definitions. The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this section, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this subsection, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning: Bungee catapulting or reverse bungee jumping means the sport, activity or practice whereby a person is attached to a bungee cord which is stretched and then released, thus catapulting or otherwise launching the jumper into the air from a fixed position, ultimately intending to bring the person to a stop at a point above the surface. Bungee cord means the elastic rope made by rubber, latex or other elastic type materials, whether natural or synthetic, to which the jumper is attached. It lengthens and shortens and thus produces a bouncing action. Bungee jumping means the sport, activity, or other practice of jumping, diving, stepping out, dropping or otherwise being released into the air while attached to a bungee cord, whereby the cord stops the fall, lengthens and shortens, allows the person to bounce up and down, and is intended to finally bring the person to a stop at a point above the surface. (b) Prohibition. It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in the act, sport, or practice of bungee jumping or bungee catapulting or to conduct bungee operations whether mobile or stationery, permanent or temporary, on property owned or leased by the city. (1) No person shall place equipment utilized in bungee jump operations including cranes, platforms or towers, etc., on property owned or leased by the city. (2) No person shall use air-space above property owned or leased by the city, such that, should an accident occur, a person would fall on property owned or leased by the city. (c) Violations. Whoever violates the provisions of this section shall be subject to a mandatory sentence of six months incarceration and/or a fine of not less than $500.00. (Code 1956, § 63-1.1a)

New Orleans City Code § 14-4 Places reserved for mayor and police.

Sec. 14-4. - Places reserved for mayor and police. Managers of places of amusement shall reserve, free of charge, places for the mayor, the judges of the municipal court and the superintendent of police and such other of the police as may be necessary to preserve order. (Code 1956, § 63-2)

New Orleans City Code § 14-5 Duties of policemen on guard at theatres, etc.

Sec. 14-5. - Duties of policemen on guard at theatres, etc. The police officers on guard at theatres, shows, balls or exhibitions of any kind shall be and remain within such balls, theatres or other places of amusement or at or about the entrance thereto and any person connected with such entertainment as owner, agent or employee who shall refuse permission or attempt to interfere with such police officers in the performance of such duty shall be liable to a fine and imprisonment. (Code 1956, § 63-3)

New Orleans City Code § 14-6 Officers may enter theatres, etc.

Sec. 14-6. - Officers may enter theatres, etc. The mayor, the judges of the municipal court and the superintendent of police or any corporal, sergeant or other officer of the police force, specially designated by the superintendent of police, may at any time and at all times enter during performances, theatres, balls and other public entertainments to inspect them and receive reports of police officers on duty. (Code 1956, § 63-4)

New Orleans City Code § 14-7 Reserved.

New Orleans City Code § 14-8 Closing permanently place of public resort.

Sec. 14-8. - Closing permanently place of public resort. The mayor shall cause to be closed any place of public resort whenever the maintenance of order and the public safety or tranquility may require it. (Code 1956, § 63-6)

New Orleans City Code § 14-9 Prohibition against selling unassigned seating admission tickets.

Sec. 14-9. - Prohibition against selling unassigned seating admission tickets. It shall be unlawful for any promotion corporation, management firm, entrepreneur or sponsoring organization to sell admission tickets to any concerts, programs, plays or events that do not specify a particular reserved seat in any assembly center, auditorium, stadium, theatre or any other place of assembly in the city when the seating capacity of the facility is 2,000 or more. (Code 1956, § 63-6.1)

New Orleans City Code § 14-10 Exemptions from unassigned seating prohibition.

Sec. 14-10. - Exemptions from unassigned seating prohibition. The prohibition in section 14-9 shall not apply to high school and college athletic events, including club sponsored athletic events; nor to religious events sponsored by bona fide religious organizations; nor to events where the sponsor has applied for and received a specific exemption from the superintendent of police or his designated agent. (Code 1956, § 63-6.2)

New Orleans City Code § 14-11 Criteria for granting exemptions to the unassigned seating prohibition.

Sec. 14-11. - Criteria for granting exemptions to the unassigned seating prohibition. In determining whether an event shall be exempt from the prohibition in section 14-9, the superintendent of police, or his designated agent, shall consider the following factors: The facility where the event is to be scheduled; the size, age and anticipated conduct of the audience; and the hazard to the health, safety and welfare of participants, spectators and the community associated with exempting this particular event. Applications for exemptions to section 14-9 shall be filed with the superintendent of police, or his designated agent, at least 30 calendar days prior to the event date. (Code 1956, § 63-6.3)

New Orleans City Code § 14-12 Authority of officer in charge.

Sec. 14-12. - Authority of officer in charge. For crowd control purposes inside or outside of assembly centers, auditoriums, stadiums, theatres and other places of assembly in the city, the police officer in charge of the scene of the event shall have the authority to order the placement or removal of barriers, the opening or closing of doors or other passageways, the establishment of checkpoints, or any other crowd control measures deemed necessary. The size, manner, nature and conduct of the crowd, in light of all other facts and circumstances at the time including the number of personnel on the scene to control and/or accommodate the crowd, will be taken into consideration by the police officer in charge when determining appropriate crowd control measures. (Code 1956, § 63-6.4)

New Orleans City Code § 14-13 Liabilities of the events management and sponsors.

Sec. 14-13. - Liabilities of the events management and sponsors. Nothing in sections 14-1 through 14-12 shall be construed in any way to lessen in any fashion the liability of those responsible for the management and operation of the event. Those responsible for the management and operation of an event shall employ enough personnel to ensure adequate levels of security, safety, health and sanitation. (Code 1956, § 63-6.5)

New Orleans City Code § 14-14 Obscene, etc., entertainments.

Sec. 14-14. - Obscene, etc., entertainments. No person shall, as owner, manager, director, agent or in any other capacity, prepare, advertise, give, present or participate in any obscene, indecent, immoral or impure show or entertainment or in any show or entertainment manifestly tending to corrupt morals. (Code 1956, § 63-16)

New Orleans City Code § 14-15 Showing obscene pictures prohibited.

Sec. 14-15. - Showing obscene pictures prohibited. It shall be unlawful for any person, whether as owner, agent, lessee, employer or employee, to operate or exhibit at any moving picture show, theatorium, nickelodeon, theatre or other similar place of amusement in the city any obscene, lewd or vulgar picture, film, slide, view or other representation. (Code 1956, § 63-17)

New Orleans City Code § 14-16 Conduct of spectators.

Sec. 14-16. - Conduct of spectators. All persons attending any public spectacle are forbidden to commit, either at the doors or in the theatre, lobbies, galleries or corridors, any disorderly acts, to behave riotously, to make any noise, to use violence, insult, indecency or to offer any kind of aggression, to have their hats on while the curtain is raised or to smoke in the theatre, the galleries, lobbies or corridors. Every person who, on being thereto required by any police officer on duty at the public spectacle shall neglect or refuse to observe what is prescribed in this section shall be guilty of an offense. (Code 1956, § 63-19)

Source: City of New Orleans, Code of Ordinances and Home Rule Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/la/new_orleans/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICO_CH14AMEN_ARTIINGEFetched: 10/28/2026