Louisiana, Is It Illegal to Blow Grass Clippings Into the Street?

Lafayette, La (KPEL) - Summertime in Louisiana brings hot days, backyard BBQs, and, of course, plenty of yard work.

But before you blow those fresh grass clippings into the street, you might want to think again.

What seems to be a harmless act could be illegal and carry hefty fines.

Is It Illegal To Blow Grass Clippings Into The Street In Louisiana?

I get it...after spending a few hours in the blazing hot Louisiana Summer sun, you just want to be done.

You just want to put the lawnmower and weedeater away, take a shower, and grab a cold beer to sip as you survey your lawn and beam over what a great you did.

I know I'm not the only one that does that, right?

The point is, after everything is cut and trimmed, the last thing you want to do is sweep all of the grass clippings into piles and bag them up.

You might be tempted to just grab the leaf blower and blow all the grass clippings into the street.

You should think twice before doing that.

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Across many parts of Louisiana, blowing or leaving grass clippings in the roadway is considered a safety hazard and, in some municipalities, even classified as illegal dumping or littering.

That could mean fines of up to several thousand dollars, depending on local ordinances.

Aside from legal trouble, there are real dangers to consider. Wet grass clippings can become extremely slippery, putting drivers, bicyclists, and especially motorcyclists at serious risk.

Sure, it’s tempting to skip the extra step after hours of mowing in the Louisiana heat.

But taking a few minutes to sweep or bag your clippings is worth it—for safety, for your wallet, and for keeping our Louisiana roads clean.

Then there's the issue this causes during Hurricane Season in Louisiana.

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From lafayettela.gov -

"Grass clippings and leaves blown or swept into storm drains or into the street harms waterways and our river.

Storm drains flow into coulees and into the Vermilion River. Grass clippings in the river rob valuable oxygen from our Vermilion River.

When leaf and grass clippings enter the storm drain, flooding can occur. Only rain must enter the storm drain. When anything but rain goes down the storm drain, it can become a drainage problem."

So, when you're cutting the grass this weekend, make sure you don't just blow your grass clippings into the street, or could cost you way more than a sore back.