A.

On-Site Commercial Sign Standards.

1.

Purpose. This section is intended to ensure that commercial signs in the parish do not pose hazards to automobile, truck, or pedestrian traffic and do not constitute a visual blight which may reduce property values in the parish. This section applies only to on-site commercial signs. As used in this section, an "on-site sign" is a sign which advertises a business or development located on the lot. This section does not apply to commercial signs which are erected off the site of a business or residential development.

2.

Commentary. This section is designed to regulate signs which are erected on the premises of a commercial business or residential development. This ordinance does not impose restrictions on billboards or off-site commercial signs.

3.

This ordinance does not extend to signs, which fail to conform to the provisions of this ordinance on the date of enactment. The lawful use of any sign existing as of the date of enactment of this ordinance may be continued, although such use does not conform with the provisions of this ordinance.

4.

General Provisions. No person shall develop, install, locate or construct any on-site sign on the site of a commercial, residential, recreational, institutional, or industrial use except as authorized in this section and section 17-2090(D): Sign permits required. The requirements of this section shall not be varied or modified by a development permit granted under section 17-2090(B): Development permits required.

5.

Any owner, authorized agent, or contractor who desires to construct, install, enlarge or erect an on-site sign (other than for home occupations) must receive a sign permit issued under section 17-2090(D). Site drawings shall be submitted with the application for a sign permit. The drawings shall show the size and location of the proposed sign and the location of all buildings, existing signs and boundary lines. Measurements shall include the distance from property lines to improved streets.

6.

Regulations for on-site signs.

a.

Location of signs.

i.

No portion of any sign shall be located or installed in such manner as to create a traffic hazard.

ii.

No portion of any sign or sign structure shall be located within a distance of five feet from the right-of-way line or within 20 feet of the edge of pavement or roadway surface of any public street or highway and provided further that no portion of any sign shall project or extend into or over any public right-of-way.

b.

Maximum height. No portion of any sign or structure shall exceed the following maximum heights:

i.

Freestanding signs or sign structures shall not exceed a height of 20 feet, except along Airline Highway (U.S. 61) where they shall not exceed a height of 30 feet, and within 500 feet of Interstate Highway 10 where the height maximum limit for all signs shall be 60 feet above grade elevation or 35 feet above the height of an elevated roadway.

ii.

Signs mounted on or integrated into the facade of a building shall not extend above the top of the building facade. Signs erected on a roof are not permitted.

c.

Permitted freestanding signs. Not more that one freestanding sign structure shall be located on any parcel of land. However, parcels with more than one frontage on streets shall be permitted one freestanding sign structure for each frontage. For the purpose of this paragraph, a "freestanding sign" means a sign which is not attached to a building.

d.

Amount of sign face.

i.

Subject to the provisions of paragraphs (B), and (C) below, the total amount of sign face area visible from any single point of view shall not exceed the average of the following two factors or a minimum of 50 square feet of sign, whichever is greater.

a)

One square foot per 50 square feet of gross floor area;

b)

One square foot per two linear feet of street frontage.

ii.

Home occupations shall be allowed one freestanding sign structure not to exceed two square feet in area visible from one direction.

iii.

Subdivision sign structures shall be allowed one freestanding sign with sign face not to exceed ten feet in height and 200 square feet.

e.

Portable signs.

i.

Portable signs may not be allowed for more than 30 calendar days in any six-month period.

ii.

Upon notification by the zoning official that a portable sign has been displayed for a period longer than the period allowed by this section, the sign owner or the owner or lessee of the property shall remove the sign within ten days.

iii.

If the sign is not taken down, the zoning official may direct an agent of the parish to remove the sign at cost to the sign owner, the owner of the property, or the lessee of the property. The parish may charge the sign owner, the owner of the property, or the lessee of the property for the removal and storage of the sign. After storing a portable sign for 60 days, the parish may dispose of the sign.

iv.

Portable signs shall not be allowed in the conservation district (C).

v.

As used in this section, a "portable sign" means a sign, whether on its own trailer, wheels, or otherwise, designed to be movable and not attached to the ground, a building, a structure or another sign.

f.

Obsolete signs. Any sign which advertises a business or event no longer in existence shall be removed within 30 days of the date that the business ceased operation or the event was held. A business which ceases operations for a period of six months is no longer in existence. Upon notification by the Zoning Official that a sign is obsolete, the sign owner or the owner or lessee of the property shall remove the sign within 30 days. If the sign is not taken down, the Zoning Official may direct an agent of the parish to remove the sign at cost to the sign owner, the owner of the property, or the lessee of the property.

g.

Signs for adult businesses. An adult business may not use a neon, flashing, or internally lighted sign with a face area of larger than six square feet. As used in this section:

i.

An internally lighted sign uses electricity, gas, or other artificial light on the interior of the sign for illumination.

ii.

A flashing sign uses intermittent lights to attract attention.

iii.

Commentary. The Parish Council finds that adult businesses pose a serious threat to the public health and safety, especially to children. See section 17-2049, adult business standards.

h.

Change in ownership. Upon change in ownership of a business, all signs shall be brought into compliance with this section.

(DC03-01, 1/9/03; DC09-09, 12/17/09)