No Wake Zones

Below is a list of these zones located within Jefferson Parish. If you know of one that could be added please email me.

In addition to speed limits established by any governing authority of any parish or municipality under the provisions of this Section, there are hereby established certain "no-wake" zones where each vessel shall operate at bare steerage speed, the slowest speed the vessel can travel while allowing the operator to maintain directional control of the vessel to produce the minimum water surface turbulence.  The "no-wake" zones are established on all waterways within three hundred feet of any of the following facilities:

(1)  A boat launch accessible by the public.

(2)  A docking facility adjacent to a boat launch accessible by the public.

Other specific areas,

1) All areas along the Bayou Segnette State Park cabins located on Marcello Canal.

2) The complete length of camps located along Bayou Segnette.

The following is from the Jefferson Parish Municipal Code.

Sec. 39-11.  "Idle only" zones created.

(a)   It is hereby prohibited in the Parish of Jefferson, State of Louisiana, for any person to operate a vessel at greater than idle speed on waterways designated by council ordinance, pursuant to R.S. 34:851.27.

(b)   Any vessel or watercraft within the Bonnabel Boat Launch, or within the harbor area of the 17th Street Canal or other waterways to be determined in the future by council ordinance shall be subject to the provisions of this section. "Idle only" zones shall be marked on any waterways affected by this section or by other such ordinances.

(c)   For purposes of this section, "idle speed" shall mean that speed attained by a vessel using only the minimum amount of fuel necessary to keep the vessel's engine running. In no case however, shall idle speed be greater than five (5) miles per hour.

(d)   Additional "idle only" zone markers may be placed by council ordinance.

(e)   Governmental officers, law enforcement officers, U.S. Coast Guard, fire and rescue personnel and other such persons who operate vessels in the performance of their official duties are exempted from the provisions of this section. Other persons, such as participants in sanctioned races, may be exempted from the provisions of this section by council resolution.

(f)   Law enforcement personnel may use mechanical, electronic or photographic devices to regulate "idle only" zones in Jefferson Parish.

(g)   Penalties for the violation of this section shall be as provided in section 1-10 of the Jefferson Parish Code of Ordinances.

Sec. 39-8.  Wake action on designated waterways restricted.

(a)   No person shall operate a vessel, in a "No Wake" zone on any designated waterway within the parish, at a speed in excess of that which creates a wake greater than fifteen (15) inches in vertical height measured from the ambient tide level to the crest of the vessel's bow wave at a distance not less than twenty-five (25) feet from the vessel, pursuant to R.S. 34:851.27. "No Wake" zones shall mean those portions of any designated waterway where appropriate "No Wake" signs giving notice thereof are erected pursuant to the provisions of this section.

(b)   Bayou Segnette, and that part of Bayou Barataria within the jurisdiction of the parish, where appropriate signs giving notice thereof are erected, are designated "No Wake" zones. The Jefferson Parish Marine Fisheries Advisory Board or the Jefferson Parish Economic Development and Port District (JEDCO) shall recommend to the Jefferson Parish Council additional waterways which are to be designated as "No Wake" zones. Any vessel or watercraft traveling on those posted portions of the designated waterways shall be subject to the provisions of this section.

(c)   A "wake" is defined as all changes in the vertical level of the water's surface caused by the passage of a vessel, including, but not limited to, a vessel's bow wave, stern wave, and propeller wash. No authorization is given for a vessel with a wake of fifteen (15) inches or less to travel at a speed in excess of the posted speed limit when in restricted areas.

(d)   "No Wake" zone signs may be placed on those portions of designated waterways upon direction of the parish council. Such direction shall be by ordinance or resolution adopted by a majority of the council. The location of the "No Wake" zone signs shall be recommended to the Jefferson Parish Council by the Jefferson Parish Marine Fisheries Advisory Board or the Jefferson Parish Economic Development and Port District (JEDCO).

(e)   Operators of certain vessels such as participants of a sanctioned race and governmental officers, law enforcement officers, U.S. Coast Guard, fire and rescue personnel in the performance of their official duties are exempted from the provisions of this section.

(f)   Law enforcement personnel may use mechanical, electronic or photographic measuring devices to regulate wakes in Jefferson Parish.

(g)   Penalties for the violation of this section shall be as follows:

(1)   First offense--One hundred dollar ($100.00) fine;

(2)   Second offense--Two hundred dollar ($200.00) fine;

(3)   Third and all subsequent offenses--Five hundred dollar ($500.00) fine.

(Ord. No. 16164, § I, 8-22-84; Ord. No. 19815, § 1, 9-11-96; Ord. No. 20241, § 1, 12-17-97; Ord. No. 20333, § 1, 4-15-98)

Editor's note:  Section 1 of Ord. No. 16554, adopted Aug. 21, 1985, suspended the action of Ord. No. 16164, included in this section.  

Sec. 39-3.  Docking at public wharf on Bayou Segnette regulated.

A time limit is hereby imposed for any vessel docking at the public wharf on Bayou Segnette, such time to be one (1) hour in duration, and the hour shall be interrupted by not less than a four-hour period in order that commercial vessels shall not untie from the facility, drifting into midstream and retieing, thus constituting another hour of docking time.

(Code 1961, § 12-46)

Sec. 39-9.  Docking of watercraft at Bonnabel Boat Launch Facility.

(a)   Regulated.   

(1)   No person shall dock any watercraft for longer than four (4) hours' duration at the Bonnabel Boat Launch.

(2)   No person shall anchor within three hundred (300) feet of the Bonnabel Boat Launch Facility for longer than four (4) hours' duration.

(3)   The four (4) hours shall be interrupted by not less than four-hour period, in order that watercraft shall not untie from the facility or raise anchor, drifting out and retieing or reanchoring, thus constituting another four (4) hours of docking or anchoring time.

(b)   Removal.   

(1)   The owner of any watercraft which is in violation of subsection (a), in addition to any penalty provided for the violation thereof, shall remove the watercraft within twelve (12) hours from receipt of written notice to remove the watercraft by the governing authority. If the watercraft is not removed as provided herein, the governing authority may have the watercraft removed and stored at owner's expense.

(2)   Such notice may be attached to the watercraft and shall contain the date and time of its attachment.

(3)   If not claimed, all watercraft removed and stored shall be held for a period of not less than sixty (60) days. Thereafter, the watercraft may be disposed of according to the procedure for disposing of unclaimed motor vehicles [section 36-143 et seq.].

(c)   Definition.  As used herein, "watercraft" means any contrivance used or designated for navigation on water. 

(d)   Fishing pier.   

(1)   No person shall operate any watercraft within two hundred (200) feet of the fishing pier at the Bonnabel Boat Launch or within the area around said fishing pier marked by signs prohibiting the operation of watercraft should such signs be placed around the pier by the parish or any other authorized enforcement agency.

(2)   Each violation of this provision shall constitute a separate offense punishable as per the provisions of section 1-10 of the Jefferson Parish Code of Ordinances.

(Ord. No. 17252, §§ 1--3, 4-29-87; Ord. No. 20096, § 1, 8-6-97)

This is just a partial list. Any corrections should be emailed to me.