No more neutral ground tents, cookouts for Mardi Gras

The New Orleans City Council on Thursday approved new rules, and restrictions, on what's allowed for Mardi Gras parade-going.

The city council is trying to get a handle on people treating public space before and during parades like their back yard: the ordinance prohibits not only tents but the portable canopies many people set up to get out of the sun or rain showers.

And the ordinance also prohibits open flames, and that would include grills.

"That's a real big thing, especially on Fat Tuesday," said Mardi Gras Guide founder Arthur Hardy.

CLICK HERE to read the ordinance.

Ladders are still allowed, with the rules in place that they be set six feet back from the edge of the street.

The  million dollar questions is: Can any of it be reliably enforced?

"That's going to be the big question, I think. You can make all the laws you want, but how do you enforce them?" asked Hardy. "Some of these are reasonable laws, but that doesn't matter if people say 'I'm not moving my tent. I'm not going to surrender this piece of ground that I came out here at midnight and parked on.'"

The council is trying to find the sweet spot between people enjoying a good time together, and getting territorial over the  public property where they enjoy parades.

In a separate vote, the council approved allowing the Krewe of Alla to move from the first Friday of parade season to Wednesday night.