Ouachita Parish adopts ordinance requiring single garbage provider for multi‑unit developments in Garbage District No. 1

The Ouachita Parish Police Jury adopted Ordinance No. 9518 on July 7, 2025, requiring that multi‑unit developments in Garbage District No. 1 arrange for a single residential garbage provider for all units. The ordinance will take effect August 1, 2025.

Vice‑President Lonnie Hudson, District F, offered the ordinance and Mr. Larry Bratton, District C, seconded it; the measure passed by roll call vote (YEAS: 5; NAYS: 0; ABSENT: 1). The ordinance supplements Chapter 8 of the Compiled Ordinances of Ouachita Parish by adding Sec. 8‑32.1.

Under the new rule, developers receiving a Site Development Permit or subdivision approval after the ordinance's effective date must arrange for a single provider of garbage service to reduce concentrated and repetitive garbage truck operations on parish roads. The ordinance defines "multi‑unit developments" to include apartment complexes, mobile home parks, townhouse or duplex developments, and single‑family developments where units remain under developer ownership rather than being sold to unrelated owners.

Compliance can be shown by a developer/owner contract with a qualified provider or, if individual residents contract directly, by lease provisions or building restrictions requiring all units to maintain service with the same provider. The ordinance is intended to mitigate road wear, traffic disruptions and neighborhood impacts associated with multiple garbage pickups.

The Police Jury recorded the vote and set the ordinance to take effect Aug. 1, 2025. No public speakers appeared during the ordinance's public hearing at the meeting.