Lafourche Parish approves new hydrant distance and tightens RV rules
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Summary
The Lafourche Parish Council voted unanimously March 24 to amend land-development rules, increasing allowable distance to a fire hydrant to 1,000 feet and adding standards for recreational-vehicle occupancy; the fire chief and council members debated enforcement and liability.
The Lafourche Parish Council on March 24 approved an ordinance amending Chapter 22 of the parish code to increase the allowable distance to a fire hydrant to 1,000 feet and to add standards addressing recreational-vehicle (RV) occupancy.
Parish President Mitchell Israel said the ordinance reflects months of work by staff and legal advisers to reduce regulatory land mines and produce workable standards. "I extend a big thanks to our team for pulling this together," Israel said, urging the council to approve the measure.
Fire Chief (unnamed) told the council that modern fire apparatus, mutual aid and large-diameter hoses reduce the need for an on-site $10,000 hydrant in some developments. "We will find water, and we will get water to a scene," the fire chief said, adding that the change should not reduce public safety and that the department supports the update.
Vice Chair Perk and other members flagged enforcement concerns for RV occupancy. Perk said the ordinance "does release the liability on the parish" in cases where an RV occupant’s actions create a hazard and that responsibility should fall to the RV owner. Council members discussed how the code will be enforced and what constitutes temporary versus permanent RV habitation.
After discussion the council put the ordinance to a voice vote; the motion carried unanimously (recorded as 9 yeas, 0 nays). The parish president said staff and the district attorney’s office reviewed the draft to ensure legal compliance; the ordinance includes standard forms and procedural elements intended to streamline permitting and enforcement.
The council did not specify an effective date during the meeting. Implementation details, including enforcement procedures and any follow-up guidance from the parish legal team, will be provided by the administration.
