NEW ORLEANS - On Tuesday, July 8, 2025, the Governmental Affairs Committee met with members of the Police Department and the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (NOHSEP) to discuss parade route safety, City Code violations during the 2025 carnival season. The Committee also recommended for approval Ordinance No. 35,160 and discussed several other ordinances related to the carnival season.
NOPD and Homeland Security Review Parade Route Safety
The New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) and the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness discussed parade route safety during Mardi Gras 2025. The NOPD acknowledged that, while there were significant changes to this year’s Mardi Gras season, including a serpentine parade route, they attempted to keep the proceedings as familiar as possible.
The NOPD acknowledged the concerns raised in the Teneo Report regarding the locations of trash bins and portable toilets along parade routes. Ensuring that parades run smoothly and on time is also a priority for both the NOPD and NOHSEP moving forward.
Additionally, the NOPD confirmed they will meet with the Faubourg, Delachaise, and Garden District Neighborhood Associations to ensure that residents and community members are not adversely affected by any major changes in the future.
Governmental Affairs Committee Discusses 2025 Carnival Season Code Violations
The Committee discussed several violations that occurred during Mardi Gras 2025, among them being the use of confetti cannons and the commercialization of parade floats.
Chairman Morrell stressed the explicit ban on commercialized parade floats, which involves the display of corporate logos during parades or the advertising of personal businesses or services through objects thrown or passed out. He also pointed out that confetti cannons caused major problems for residents this year, including a disruptive power outage produced by paper confetti debris.
Committee Removes Hip Tag Requirements for Parade Horses
The Committee recommended for approval Ordinance No. 35,160. This ordinance repeals a section of the City Code to remove requirements for horses participating in a carnival parade. Specifically, it removes the requirement for all participating horses to have a current, physical hip tag displayed at all times.
Due to unintended consequences that arose from the previous ordinance, Chairman Morrell stated that it would be in the Council’s best interest to repeal the law and take time to work with all stakeholders to ensure that the veterinarian community, SPCA, and other organizations involved with parade horses are satisfied.
Several Mardi Gras Season Ordinances up for Discussion
Committee members also discussed several ordinances surrounding the Mardi Gras season. The ordinances are as follows:
· An ordinance to establish a waitlist for a carnival parade permit and related requirements.
· An ordinance to prohibit the sale of confetti by mobile vendors during carnival season.
· An ordinance to amend the permit requirements for street closures for parades outside of carnival season, including processions, marches, and second-lines.
Committee member Harris noted that brick-and-mortar vendors should also be prohibited from selling confetti and confetti cannons to help prevent debris buildup during carnival season.
It’s important to note that these ordinances were only up for discussion, and the committee made no motions to forward them for approval during the meeting.
To view the meeting click here
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Contact:
Samuel J. Myers
Council Public information Officer
Samuel.Myers@nola.gov
504.462.4386