Local Wiki · State overview
Local Government in Louisiana
How local government works in Louisiana, the kinds of local government it has, and where to look for more. For your own county or city, browse Louisiana’s Local Wiki pages below.
Louisiana calls its county-equivalent units "parishes." Most (about 41 of 64) are governed by an elected "police jury" that combines legislative and executive authority, functioning much like a commission. The rest operate under home-rule charters with other structures — some elect a separate parish president alongside a council, and four (Orleans/New Orleans, East Baton Rouge, Lafayette, and Terrebonne) have consolidated city-parish governments. Contact your police jury, or parish council/president’s office under home rule, for a meeting or records request — the exact structure and contact point genuinely varies parish to parish.
Most states structure local government as counties with a small elected commission; Louisiana instead uses parishes — most governed by an elected "police jury" functioning similarly to a commission, while a substantial minority use home-rule charters with different structures — descending from French and Spanish colonial civil-parish administration rather than the county model used elsewhere.
Local government in Louisiana
- Parish governments60
The main local government across most of the state.
Browse parish pages - Cities, towns & villages304
Incorporated municipalities with their own elected council or board.
Browse city & town pages - School districts69
Independent school districts, plus 1 school system run by a county, city, or town government. Listed on county pages where known.
- Special districts99
Single-purpose governments — fire, water, library, parks, housing, transit, and more.
Counts: U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments — Government Units listing. A consolidated city-county is counted once.
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