Parish Ordinances
Sec. 13-101. – Curfew established for bars and nightclubs; violations and penalties.
(a) The curfew for barrooms and nightclubs within the city is hereby established as follows:
(1) Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday: 12:00 midnight.
(2) Friday and Saturday: 2:00 a.m. the following morning.
(3) For the following holidays, New Years Eve, Mardi Gras, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Halloween, Christmas Eve: 2:00 a.m. the following morning.
(b) Members of the city police department are authorized to remove any persons from such establishments and to advise the owner to close the same.
(c) Whoever violates the provisions of this section may be fined up to $200.00 or imprisoned up to 30 days, or both such fine and imprisonment, in the discretion of the court. Each failure to abide by the provisions hereof shall constitute a separate offense.
(Ord. of 5-27-69; Mo. of 8-26-69; Ord. No. 1-1991, § 1, 7-2-91)
City and local ordinances may limit the actions of an alcoholic beverage server/seller or may provide additional rules that govern this type of transaction. Please check with your local authorities or government bodies to ensure that you are following the local laws and are in compliance with any requirements that they have set forth. Generally, local laws and ordinances are in line with the state’s rules but may further restrict the sale of alcoholic beverages to certain days and/or hours. They may also limit the location and other variables such as seller’s age, package contents, etc. Also remember that their laws are not limited to the sale of alcoholic beverage products. Tobacco products, including CBD, may also be covered in the local ordinances. The list of local ordinances provided by ABSEC is based upon the ordinances published by the individual parishes, cities and towns, and may not be current. It is recommended that you verify the accuracy of the information presented on this website prior to the sale of any alcohol or tobacco/CBD product.
If you have any questions about an issue or situation, please do not hesitate to reach out to your local authority and/or the Louisiana ATC for further clarification.
ABSEC LLC is also available should you have any additional questions or simply wish to get some guidance on a particular scenario or situation. We have assembled a team of subject matter experts in this area and have experience in a large majority of the situations in which you may have questions. lease use our contact us page to submit a message. A response can be expected within one business day.
Parish Ordinances
Sec. 10-2013. Hours of sale.
(a) Except as provided by law, it shall be unlawful for any person to sell or offer for sale or give away alcoholic beverages as defined by this chapter, between the hours of 12:00 midnight, Saturday, and 5:00 a.m. Monday, and 12:00 midnight of any weekday, to 5:00 a.m. the following morning.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) above, any person holding a restaurant establishment Class R license shall be entitled to sell, serve, or allow the consumption of alcoholic beverages of low content or light wine in conjunction with the service of meals to be consumed on the premises between the hours of 12:00 noon and 10:00 p.m. on Sundays.
(Code 1976, § 10-2013; Ord. No. 2091, § 2, 3-12-85; Ord. No. 2713, § 1, 11-28-95)
State law reference— Causes for suspension or revocation of permit, R.S. 26:89, 26:286; Sunday laws, penalty, R.S. 51:191 et seq.
City and local ordinances may limit the actions of an alcoholic beverage server/seller or may provide additional rules that govern this type of transaction. Please check with your local authorities or government bodies to ensure that you are following the local laws and are in compliance with any requirements that they have set forth. Generally, local laws and ordinances are in line with the state’s rules but may further restrict the sale of alcoholic beverages to certain days and/or hours. They may also limit the location and other variables such as seller’s age, package contents, etc. Also remember that their laws are not limited to the sale of alcoholic beverage products. Tobacco products, including CBD, may also be covered in the local ordinances. The list of local ordinances provided by ABSEC is based upon the ordinances published by the individual parishes, cities and towns, and may not be current. It is recommended that you verify the accuracy of the information presented on this website prior to the sale of any alcohol or tobacco/CBD product.
If you have any questions about an issue or situation, please do not hesitate to reach out to your local authority and/or the Louisiana ATC for further clarification.
ABSEC LLC is also available should you have any additional questions or simply wish to get some guidance on a particular scenario or situation. We have assembled a team of subject matter experts in this area and have experience in a large majority of the situations in which you may have questions. lease use our contact us page to submit a message. A response can be expected within one business day.
Parish Ordinances
ORDINANCE NO. 2011 – 05 (ABC)
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 2006-09 (ABC) ARTICLE I –
DEFINITIONS #18 WHICH ALLOWS CLASS R DEALER TO SELL, SERVE OR
ALLOW THE CONSUMPTION OF LOW AND/OR HIGH ALCOHOL CONTENT
WITH THE SERVICE OF MEALS TO BE CONSUMED ON SUNDAYS AND ARTICLE
III – OPERATIONAL REGULATIONS #3 WHICH ALLOWS SELLING, SERVE,
DISPLAY, OR PERMIT TO BE DISPLAYED FROM THE HOURS OF 12:00 P.M.
UNTIL 6:00 P.M. ON SUNDAYS.
ARTICLE I – DEFINITIONS #18
- Class R dealer shall mean any person operating a restaurant meeting the requirements of
Article 1 (19), who has obtained a class R license (in conjunction with a class A or class
C license or defined above) to sell, serve or allow the consumption of low and/ or high
alcohol content in conjunction with the service of meals to be consumed on the premises
between the hours of 10:00 am and 10:00 p.m. on Sundays.
ARTICLE III – OPERATIONAL REGULATIONS #3
- Exceptions, merchandise to be concealed during such hours
The provisions of Article III (1) shall not apply to any bona fide cigar stand, newsstand,
drugstore, restaurant, hotel, motel, or grocery store; provided no cigar stand, newsstand,
drugstore, restaurant, hotel, motel, or grocery store herein exempted from the provisions
of Article III (1) shall sell, serve, display, and is hereby prohibited from selling, serving,
displaying or permitting to be displayed, in on, or about such premises any alcoholic
beverages from 12:00 a.m. Saturday until 11:59 a.m. on Sunday. During the period
hereinabove provided, such places of business shall keep all alcoholic liquors or
beverages covered up. The provisions hereof are not intended to permit any place
of business herein designated to remain open where that business is forbidden to
remain open by any other provision of this code or ordinance of the town. The
above establishments are permitted to sell, serve, display, or permit to be displayed
from the hours of 12:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. on Sunday.
BE IT ORDAINED by the Town of Sterlington in legal and regular session that
Article I number 18 amends the alcohol content to low and/or high; and Article III number 3
amends to allow Sunday sales during the hours of 12:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.
The above ordinance was introduced by on the 25th day of January 2011,
and advertised in the Official Journal. Also, this ordinance was read by title, duly considered
and passed (Miranda Russ, Caesar Velasquez) on the 8th day of February 2011, with an
effective date of February 9, 2011.
Parish Ordinances
Sec. 2-18. – Closing hours—Times stipulated.
All places of business where alcoholic beverages are kept, sold, stored for sale at retail, served or consumed, including without limitation thereto, cabarets, nightclubs, road houses, saloons and public dance halls where alcoholic beverages are kept, sold, stored for sale at retail, served or consumed, shall close their places of business at 12:00 midnight and remain so closed until 6:00 a.m. of the following morning, except that they shall be closed from 12:00 midnight Saturday until 6:00 a.m. on the following Monday morning; and, during the hours when same shall be closed, all business activities on the premises shall cease.
Notwithstanding the provisions of the aforementioned paragraph, any person holding a Class “R” restaurant establishment license shall be entitled to sell, serve, or allow the consumption of alcoholic beverages of low content or light wine in conjunction with the service of meals to be consumed on the premises between the hours of 12:00 noon and 10:00 p.m. on Sundays.
(Ord. No. 8095, 12-21-87; Ord. No. 8395, 5-15-95)
Sec. 2-19. – Same—Exemptions; bottle clubs.
The closing hours as set forth in section 2-18 shall not apply to bottle clubs.
(Ord. No. 8095, 12-21-87)
Sec. 2-20. – Same—Exceptions; merchandise to be concealed during such hours in certain premises.
The provisions of section 2-18 shall not apply to any bona fide cigar stand, newsstand, drugstore, restaurant, hotel, motel or grocery store; provided no cigar stand, newsstand, drugstore, restaurant, hotel, motel or grocery store, herein exempted from the provisions of section 2-18 shall sell, serve, display, and is hereby prohibited from selling, serving, displaying or permitting to be displayed, in, on or about such premises any alcoholic beverages from 12:00 midnight until 6:00 a.m. of the following morning, and from 12:00 midnight Saturday until 6:00 a.m. on the following Monday morning. During the period hereinabove provided, such places of business shall keep all alcoholic liquors or beverages covered.
(Ord. No. 8095, 12-21-87)
Sec. 2-21. – Same—Frequenting places during such times.
It shall be unlawful for any person, other than the proprietor or his employee, to stay or be found in any barroom, saloon or other place where alcoholic beverages are kept and sold between the hours when such places are required to be closed.
(Ord. No. 8095, 12-21-87)
Parish Ordinances
Sec. 4-19. Closing hours.
(a) All places of business where alcoholic beverages are kept, sold, stored for sale at retail, served or consumed shall close their places of business between the hours of 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. of any Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday; and between the hours of 2:00 a.m. on Sunday until 12:00 noon on Sundays.
(b) During the hours when the premises shall be closed as provided under subsection (a), all business activity shall cease except as specifically authorized or provided by the provisions of this Code.
(Code 1958, § 4-17; Ord. No. 8097, 5-10-88; Ord. No. 9590, 4-23-96; Ord. No. 10,073, 9-26-00; Ord. No. 10,647, 12-12-06; Ord. No. 10,689, 4-24-07)
Sec. 4-19.1. Same—Exemptions—City governmental complex; hotel-motel hospitality rooms.
The closing hours as set forth in section 4-19 shall not apply to the city governmental complex or hotel-motel hospitality rooms.
(Ord. No. 7267, 4-14-81; Ord. No. 7295, 6-23-81; Ord. No. 9590, 4-23-96; Ord. No. 10,875, 12-23-08)
Sec. 4-19.2. Same—Private clubs.
A bona fide private club, as defined herein, shall be exempt from the closing hours set forth in section 4-19.
(Ord. No. 7267, 4-14-81; Ord. No. 7295, 6-23-81; Ord. No. 9590, 4-23-96)
Sec. 4-20. Same—Exceptions; merchandise to be concealed during such hours.
The provisions of section 4-19 requiring that the premises shall be closed and that all business activities shall cease shall not apply to any bona fide cigar stand, newsstand, drugstore, restaurant, hotel, motel or grocery store; provided no cigar stand, newsstand, drugstore, restaurant, hotel, motel or grocery store herein exempted from the closing provisions of section 4-19 shall sell, serve, display or allow the consumption of alcoholic beverages and is hereby prohibited from selling, serving, displaying or allowing the consumption of alcoholic beverages in or on the premises during the hours so prohibited, such places of business shall keep all alcoholic beverages covered up. The provisions hereof are not intended to permit any place of business herein designated to remain open where that business is forbidden to remain open by any other provision of this Code.
(Code 1958, § 4-18; Ord. No. 8097, 5-10-88)
Sec. 4-21. Same—Frequenting places during such times.
It shall be unlawful for any person, other than the proprietor or his employee, to stay or be found in any barroom, saloon or other place where alcoholic beverages are kept and sold between the hours when such places are required to be closed.
(Code 1958, § 4-19)
Sec. 4-22. Sale in lodging houses prohibited.
It shall be unlawful for any person to sell, offer for sale, or keep for sale, any alcoholic beverage controlled by this chapter in any place or premises used as a dwelling house, a boardinghouse, a lodging house, or a rooming house; provided, nothing in this section shall apply to duly licensed hotels.
(Code 1958, § 4-20)
Parish Ordinances
Sec. 10-405. Sales of beverages on Sundays.
Pursuant to the authority contained in R.S. 51:195, any person may engage at retail on Sundays to the extent authorized by and in accordance with the provisions of this Code, the comprehensive zoning ordinance for the city, and other applicable ordinances of the city.
Sec. 10-431. Lewd, etc., behavior prohibited.
No person shall be permitted to create any disturbance of the peace, use obscene language, behave in a lewd, immoral or improper manner or conduct entertainment of such a nature in any business premises mentioned in this chapter.
(Code 1956, § 5-72)
Sec. 10-187. Restrictions on use of force by persons employed by bars, lounges, and nightclubs located within the Vieux Carre.
(a) Persons employed by bars, lounges, and nightclubs located within the Vieux Carre may not use any more physical force than necessary to protect themselves or others, including the patrons of the establishment, in accordance with the following specifications:
(1) The use of force or violence by an employee of a bar, lounge, or nightclub upon the person of another is justifiable only when committed for the purpose of preventing a forcible offense against a person or a forcible offense or trespass against property in a person’s lawful possession; provided that the force or violence used must be reasonable and necessary to prevent such offense.
(2) The use of a sleeper choke hold, which is defined as compression of the neck by the fist or other object used to occlude the upper airway resulting in collapse of the airway and the carotid arteries causing a decrease in oxygen to the brain, by any employee of a bar, lounge, or nightclub while in the actual discharge of their duties, is strictly prohibited.
(b) Every person employed by a bar, lounge, or nightclub located within the Vieux Carre in a capacity in which the job duties, in whole or in part, involve providing security, within 45 days after commencing employment, must successfully complete every two years the training course required by the Louisiana Responsible Vendor Program, R.S. 26:931 through 26:939, which shall include security personnel training modules and an appropriate course content for early identification and risk minimization of alcohol-related disorderly conduct and any other matters which compromise internal safety during business operations. This shall be in addition to the server training requirements of the Louisiana Responsible Vendor Program.
(c) In any instance when any physical force is necessary to overcome resistance or aggression, or to otherwise gain control of a patron or others, the employee shall complete a “use of force report,” which shall be executed on a form provided by the alcoholic beverage control board. The report shall be maintained on the premises for a period of three years and shall be available for review by the New Orleans Police Department or any authorized law enforcement agency upon request. In any case where injury has occurred, the New Orleans Police Department shall be immediately notified.
(d) It shall be unlawful for any person except owner/manager employed by a bar, lounge, or nightclub located within the Vieux Carre to have on his person a firearm, or other instrumentality customarily used or intended for probable use as a dangerous weapon, while in the actual discharge of their duties.
(e) Upon receipt of an application for employment, a criminal background check shall be performed by the bar, lounge, or nightclub located within the Vieux Carre prior to hiring any individual in a capacity in which the job duties, in whole or in part, involve providing security.
(f) Each owner of a bar, lounge, or nightclub located within the Vieux Carre has an affirmative obligation to secure written acknowledgement from every employee that he/she has received and read a copy of this section and that he/she understands said law. The employee’s signed acknowledgement must remain on the premises at all times.
(g) Any time that an officer of the New Orleans Police Department arrives on the scene of any incident at a bar, lounge, or nightclub located within the Vieux Carre, the owner(s)/employee(s) of the establishment must immediately cease any and all use of force and permit the New Orleans Police Department to assume control of enforcement procedures.
(h) Any city alcoholic beverage permit shall be subject to suspension, revocation, or other remedial sanctions as set forth in section 10-160 for any violation of the provisions of this section.
(i) The provisions of this section shall only apply to bars, lounges, and nightclubs located between the river, the uptown side of Esplanade Avenue, the riverside of Rampart Street and the lower side of Iberville Street. The provisions of this section are not intended to apply to restaurants and hotels as defined by the occupational license even though they might have a licensed bar on premises.
(M.C.S., Ord. No. 22027, § 1, 8-4-05)
Sec. 10-236. Restrictions as to property near schools, churches, etc.
(a) It is hereby declared the sense and policy of this section and section 10-238 that no permit shall be granted for the opening of any barroom, saloon, cabaret or other place where alcoholic beverages are sold at retail, to be consumed on the premises within 300 feet of any playground, church, public library, or school. Exempted from these provisions are the following:
(1) Those nonprofit organizations operating upon any city playground or park which sells low content alcoholic beverages during scheduled athletic recreational and/or festival events under a concession rights agreement issued by the department of recreation;
(2) Those nonprofit church or school related or associated organizations or groups which conduct on such church or school property fairs, festivals, meetings or other similar events under and by the authority of the church or school, whose proceeds are used or intended to be used for the benefit of the related church or school;
(3) Any person or corporation who are within the 300-foot prohibited limit, and who obtain by approval of a sworn affidavit of not less than 75 percent of the property owners within such 300 feet, and, which approval, if accompanied by a plan duly signed and dated by licensed surveyor or engineer, shall contain the location of the proposed business, together with the designation on such plan of the proper names, addresses and conveyance office book acquisition of such property by such owners.
(b) The word “school” as used in this section shall not include a school for business education conducted as a business college or school within the city.
(Code 1956, § 5-45)
Cross reference— Streets, sidewalks and other public places, ch. 146.
Sec. 10-237. Restrictions on package liquor stores near churches, schools, etc.
(a) No permit shall be granted for opening of any package house or package liquor store within 300 feet of any playground, church, public library, school, funeral home, or mortuary.
(b) The provisions of this section shall not apply to a package liquor store where the wholesale cost of package liquor stocked and displayed does not exceed 15 percent of the wholesale cost of other merchandise stocked and displayed and where package liquor display does not constitute more than ten percent of all display area and where package liquor is not advertised outside or off the premises. Any permit obtained under this subsection shall be limited to the type or types of establishments represented in the original application. A sworn statement of continued use shall be required before each periodic renewal of such license and the operation of any additional type or variation of type shall be a violation of this section and cause for the immediate revocation of such license by the department of finance.
(c) The provisions of this section shall not apply to package liquor store locations which are licensed to sell alcoholic beverages on the effective date of the ordinance from which this section was derived and which are continuously operated as such with no lapse in the operation for a period in excess of six consecutive months.
(d) The 300-foot distance provided for in this section shall be measured as a person walks, using the sidewalk, from the nearest point of the property line of the playground, church, public library, school, funeral home, or mortuary to the nearest point of the premises to be licensed.
(Code 1956, § 5-45.01)
Sec. 10-238. How distance measured.
(a) The 300-foot distance provided for in section 10-236 shall be measured as a person walks, using the sidewalk, from the nearest point of the property line of the playground, church, public library or school, to the nearest point of the premises to be licensed.
(b) Any permit issued to such business prior to the adoption of this and the preceding sections shall not be affected save and except that such prior existing businesses shall not face any public playground, unless such business was in operation prior to the establishment of the playground.
(c) It shall be unlawful for any person or any other legal entity who is engaged in the operation of any barroom, saloon, cabaret or other place where alcoholic beverages are sold at retail, to be consumed on the premises, to keep or allow to be kept any benches or seats on the sidewalks in the vicinity of any such business establishment.
(d) If a retail or wholesale business has an interruption of the continuity of business for a period in excess of six months, in order to reopen for business, the requirements set forth above must be complied with.
(e) The restrictions contained in this section do not apply to premises which were maintained continuously as a bona fide hotel, railway car or fraternal organization for a period of one year prior to the passage of Ordinance No. 18,537, C.C.S.
(Code 1956, § 5-46)
State law reference— Similar provisions, R.S. 26:81, 26:281.
Sec. 10-239. Section 10-236 not applicable to hotels, etc.
The restrictions contained in section 10-236 do not apply to premises which are maintained as a bona fide hotel, restaurant, fraternal organization, bus terminal or railroad station, nor to any premises licensed to deal in alcoholic beverages for a period of one year prior to May 1, 1953.
(Code 1956, § 5-47)
Sec. 10-402. Restroom facilities required for customers
No person, partnership, firm, corporation or dealer engaged in the sale of alcoholic beverages shall engage in such activity unless the premises at which such activity is to be conducted has a restroom accessible and available to the customers and staff. Each restroom shall be equipped with a commode and a sink with the sink being connected to hot and cold running water. Soap and sanitary towels, or other appropriate hand-drying devices, shall be available at the sink at all times. Common towels are prohibited.
(M.C.S., Ord. No. 21548, § 1, 5-20-04)
Sec. 10-403. Sidewalk seats not permitted.
It shall be unlawful for any person engaged in the operation of any barroom, saloon, cabaret or other place where alcoholic beverages are sold at retail, to be consumed on the premises, to keep or allow to be kept any benches or seats on the sidewalks in the vicinity of any such business establishment.
(Code 1956, § 5-68)
Sec. 10-404. Consumption of alcoholic beverages in parking lots prohibited.
Any person possessing an alcoholic beverage permit shall not permit or allow the sale or consumption of alcoholic beverages on the parking or driveway area of the licensed premises except during carnival parade season.
(Code 1956, § 5-68.1; M.C.S., Ord. No. 18,067, § 1, 2-6-97)
State law reference— Location of business limited, R.S. 26:81, 26:281; local regulatory ordinances, R.S. 26:493.
